Proposal Manager

Savvas Learning Company; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Savvas Learning Company seeks a Proposal Manager to own end-to-end proposal development, tailoring responses to customer requirements to win business. You will lead the process from kickoff through final submission, ensuring alignment with client priorities and our offerings.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage deadlines, refine win themes and discriminators, guide writers and subcontractors, and provide timely updates to management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Proven track record of winning contracts/business.
• Experience directing large, multi-staff proposal teams under tight deadlines.
• Proficient with MS Office and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Lead proposal development end-to-end with cross-functional teams.
• Plan deadlines, assign writing tasks, and track deliverables.
• Coordinate client Q&A and proposal-related tasks.
• Provide guidance to writers and subcontractors with timely updates.
• Ensure proposal themes reflect strategy throughout the document.
• Support oral presentations and Best and Final Offer efforts.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic writing

Deadline management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Produce complete, concise, and compelling proposals that are customized to the customer requirements and promote our products and services with the desired outcome of winning business for our company. You will be accountable for the entire proposal response which includes ensuring all RFP requirements are satisfied. The Proposal Manager will take end-to-end ownership and leadership of proposal development and related support processes, review of RFP to understand customer requirements, plan, organize, schedule and lead all proposal efforts and meetings, final proposal revisions leading to final proposal response, oral presentation assistance, and Best and Final Offer assistance.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working collaboratively with department writers, sales, solution experts, and other subject matter experts
• Must be responsive, decisive, and proactive in continuously applying our sound proposal processes. This includes proposal outlines, planning the calendar of deadlines and deliverables, writing assignments, win themes & discriminators, action items, and continuously communicating these to the team.
• Must have experience in managing and meeting established deadlines.
• The Proposal Manager must understand the overall proposal strategies, and ensure these themes are reflected throughout the final document.
• Provide the interface with the client to coordinate Q&A activities and other proposal-related tasks.
• The Proposal Manager will provide detailed guidance to proposal writers/contributors and any subcontractors and provide timely and reliable updates to management as required.
• Needs to exhibit critical thinking skills, sound business decision-making skills, and be an experienced problem solver.
• The Proposal Manager must also have an “add value everyday” mentality.
• He/she must possess the ability to plan, communicate and coordinate proposal production staff to produce high-quality documents and do so without drama.
• Must have the ability to work smart in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
• Leadership and management skills required.
• Exceptional organizational skills with attention to detail critical.
• Ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams toward a common goal.
• Ability to identify, prioritize and manage multiple tasks necessary to satisfy all requirements.
• Identify and propose improvements to make proposals more effective, or the proposal process more efficient.
• Participate actively in pursuing approved improvements.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• A track record of winning contracts/business.
• A proactive approach and ability to direct and orchestrate large, multi-staff proposal team efforts with tight deadlines.
• Proven ability to conceptualize and manage the development of compelling, sales/marketing-oriented proposal narrative that concisely answers requirements.
• Competency with MS Office and Google business applications is a must.
• The successful candidate should expect to work in a fast-paced, team environment that might require additional time on short notice.
• That candidate must handle competition-sensitive information appropriately.

OTHER SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

• Strong business acumen and knowledge of the education marketplace.
• Strong collaborative and effective communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are required.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently, and work under short timelines.
• Strong problem-solving skills necessary.
• Strong attention to details.
• Ability to conceptualize and think creatively.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with team and senior management.