Bid and Pricing Coordinator

Hawkins Inc; Roseville (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawkins, Inc. is seeking a bids and proposals administrator to oversee bid activities, manage RFPs, and coordinate pricing strategy across the Central United States. You will engage with customers, support market insights, and collaborate with the VP of Water Treatment and Hawkins Sourcing to optimize proposals.

The role requires 0-3+ years in bid administration, strong writing and math skills, and experience with Office 365, Dynamics 365, BidNet, and AI tools. Travel is 5%–10% as needed.

Qualifications

• Bulk chemical experience preferred.
• Prior exposure to contracts and bid processes.
• 0-3+ years of project/bid administration experience.
• Software: Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Dynamics 365), subscription Bid software (e.g. BidNet and others), in-house development software systems and various AI platforms.
• Previous experience in deadline-orientated environment.
• Sales and customer service experience.
• Knowledge of water treatment chemicals and uses.
• Strong math, writing and editing skills.
• Knowledge of capabilities/resources required to put together large deals.
• Builds positive, supportive, and collaborative relationships; seeks out opportunities to increase teamwork.
• Contribute value-added content and create ideas to technical and management proposal sections.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Proactive and self-directed, yet able to work as part of a team.
• Accurate and thorough; looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple concurrent projects and multiple deals.

Responsibilities

• Oversee bid opportunities and ensure timely submission.
• Manage multiple RFPs from receipt through final response.
• Prepare budget proposals and bid packages.
• Analyze RFPs and provide guidance to the response team.
• Facilitate proposal milestone meetings and coordinate content.
• Collaborate with Sourcing and other Hawkins divisions to monitor costs and market changes.
• Develop proposed pricing changes and present recommendations to leadership.
• Ensure bids reflect Hawkins capabilities and brand/quality standards.

Skills

Project coordination

Deadline oriented

Sales and customer service

Communication

Research skills

Tools

Office Suite

Dynamics 365

BidNet

AI platforms

Job description

Hawkins, Inc. is a formulator, manufacturer, blender, distributer, and sales agent for thousands of industrial chemicals and reagent grade laboratory chemicals sold to municipalities and businesses throughout the Central United States. Thousands across a variety of industries have depended on Hawkins for the chemical products they need since 1938.

This role will work with the Regional Manager and the VP – WTG to oversee, manage and submit bids to ensure Hawkins participates in bids as determined by management, bids are complete and submitted within required timeframe and bids maximize opportunity for the company.

In addition, this individual must develop a strong understanding of markets throughout the WTG regions, suppliers, competitors, and logistics. He/she will provide inside sales opportunities, intel and support through market knowledge and research.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintaining an up to date understanding of commodity chemical costs and market trends and apply this information to decision making on bid pricing and projected profits over the duration of the bid if won.
• Manage and track online bid opportunities through multiple online applications.
• Successfully managing multiple RFPs from receipt through final response.
  • Assists in establishing and setting up new order guides and new bids.
  • Compile all elements required of the RFP, including quality analysis, operational plan, pricing, and ensure timely submittal of all bids.
  • Ensure that bids adequately describe the capabilities and products/services of Hawkins, Inc. and adequately reflect company brand/ quality standards.
  • Prepare budget proposal letters and bid packages for submittal.
• Analyze RFP and other customer documents and provide guidance and proposal expertise to the team developing the response.
  • Facilitate all proposal milestone meetings (strategy, kick-off, review meeting) for proposal response team
• Collect, compile and format proposal content (drafts and final versions).
  • Make recommended corrections to bids as necessary.
• Ensure developed proposals are correctly packaged and delivered in accordance with RFP instructions
• Work with WTG Managers during bid to review pricing, supply and provide market data.

Client Engagement:

• Directly engage with customers and prospective customers to clarify bids, identify new bid opportunities, and develop relationships with the customer bid managers.
• Responsible for communicating with assigned accounts on a continuous basis regarding new products and services.
• Survey customer feedback to see how we are performing against expectations
• Provides superior service to existing accounts in an effort to retain/enhance customer satisfaction.
• Updates customer on item changes or information requests.
• Responds timely to customer questions and inquiries.
• Updates customer files and profiles as needed.

Bid recordkeeping and reporting:

• Create custom reports to support Business Development, Sales Managers, and Accounting/Finance.
• General
  • Create a sales record for recording key information extracted from bid documents.
  • Manage and update templates with most current information.
• Scheduling
  • Build and maintain working calendar of bids, trial etc.
• Reporting
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly reports for business group initiatives.
  • Generate metrics based on Bid process
• Perform other miscellaneous related duties, as needed.
• Collaborate with the Hawkins Sourcing department, other Hawkins divisions, the VP of Water Treatment and other internal stakeholders to understand changes in both material costs and market changes.
• Develop proposed pricing changes and present recommendations to the VP of WTG.
• Manage implementation of approved mass price changes into the Hawkins pricing system.

ABOUT YOU:

• Bulk chemical experience preferred
• Prior exposure to contracts and bid processes
• 0-3+ years of project/bid administration experience
• Software: Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Dynamics 365), subscription Bid software (e.g. BidNet and others), in-house development software systems and various AI platforms.
• Previous experience in deadline-orientated environment
• Sales and customer service experience
• Knowledge of water treatment chemicals and uses
• Strong math, writing and editing skills
• Knowledge of capabilities/resources required to put together large deals
• Builds positive, supportive, and collaborative relationships; seeks out opportunities to increase teamwork
  • Contribute value-added content and create ideas to technical and management proposal sections
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public
• Proficient at conducting research
• Proactive and self-directed, yet able to work as part of a team
• Accurate and thorough; looks for ways to improve and promote quality
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple concurrent projects and multiple deals

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to use computer, phone, and other office equipment.
• Ability to communicate via phone and in-person with internal staff and external contacts and customers.
• Ability to travel to branches or customer sites as needed.

TRAVEL

5% to 10%

Expected Compensation:

$85,000-105,000/year. + 10% Bonus Eligibility

Hawkins offers eligible employees and their dependents comprehensive benefits, which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, LTD/STD and more.Other benefits for eligible employees include 401(k) match, Employee Stock Purchase program (ESPP), paid time off, and paid holidays.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law. Hawkins is a Drug Free workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.