Director Proposals

Connection•Springfield, IL

1d•$138,000 - $179,670

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Director of Proposals to lead and elevate our enterprise-wide proposal function. In this high-impact leadership role, you will oversee the development of compelling, compliant, and competitive responses to RFPs, bids, and other strategic pursuits across our Sales organization. You will serve as the central leader guiding proposal strategy, driving cross-functional collaboration, and standardizing processes that improve efficiency, quality, and win rates. This role offers the opportunity to shape how we position our solutions, tell our story, and win business.

Requirements

Proven experience managing private business and state and federal contract proposals with the demonstrated capability to take ownership and initiative over the entire proposal development life cycle, including managing proposal resources, teams of internal personnel from across the company, and subcontractors to deliver compliant, winning-quality, professionally designed proposal documents.
Experience leading full lifecycle proposal development processes, including but not limited to: pre-RFP solution development; proposal outlines; schedule; writing assignments; past performance; deal reviews; and proposal submission.
Experience working closely with growth leads and technical staff including division sales leaders, subject matter experts, external consultants, and other writing support to develop understanding of, create and persuasively articulate a winning solution.
Negotiation skills with ability to secure favorable contracts.
Process improvement inclinations and/or experience.
Proven ability to lead teams, not just manage processes and schedules.
Proven ability to manage teams with many writers and subcontractors.
Experience working with Solution Architects to assist in development of technical solutions for proposals.
Experience managing oral presentations, technical demonstrations, and/or video proposals.
Experience working with and developing standardized sets of proposal development tools, templates, and processes.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills with people at all levels of the company, internal personnel, and subcontractors.
Excellent Interpersonal skills with ability to build collaborative relationships.
Detail oriented with meticulous attention to detail with ability to proofread for accuracy.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
Flexible with ability to handle and prioritize multiple proposals.
Self-motivated with ability to work independently with minimal supervision and in large teams ranging from Account Managers to senior level management.
Strong organization skills and commitment to high-quality of work.
Strong interpersonal and presentation skills for interacting with team members and clients.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce.

Responsibilities

Lead enterprise-wide responses to RFPs, RFIs, and large, complex bid opportunities
Drive a consistent, scalable proposal development process across business units
Own high-priority pursuits, ensuring submissions are accurate, compelling, and on time
Partner with Sales, Solution Architects, and subject matter experts to develop winning strategies and narratives
Establish and lead a Deal Desk to evaluate and shape high-value opportunities
Build and maintain a centralized proposal knowledge base to improve efficiency and consistency
Implement governance, compliance standards, and post-deal review processes to drive continuous improvement
Lead proposal kickoff meetings, coordinate deliverables, and manage timelines and resources
Track win/loss metrics, analyze performance, and identify areas for improvement
Develop and mentor a high-performing proposal team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence