Solutions Consultant Team Lead

Cayuse • Chicago, IL

21h • Remote

About The Position

Cayuse is seeking a Solutions Consultant Team Lead with hands-on experience in pre- and post-award research administration to lead customer-facing solution engagements and develop the Solutions Consulting team. This player-coach personally delivers discovery, demonstrations, and solution validation while improving the team’s product expertise, presentation quality, and execution.

The role calls for experience in a sponsored programs office, research administration function, or comparable research organization, with an understanding of the operational challenges faced by researchers, administrators, finance teams, and institutional leaders. The Team Lead translates that experience into compelling demonstrations that connect Cayuse capabilities to customer priorities and help buyers make confident decisions.

The position also coordinates team coverage and development, maintains reusable solution assets and dependable demonstration environments, and collaborates with Sales, Product, Implementation, Professional Services, Customer Success, and Support. Success includes personally supporting approximately three to four demonstrations per week, establishing product certification and coverage, conducting regular coaching and reviews, meeting response and RFP deadlines, and contributing to customer confidence and opportunity progression.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of combined experience in research administration, sponsored programs, solutions consulting, or related work, including substantial hands-on experience within a research institution or organization.
• Direct experience across both pre- and post-award operations, with depth in at least one and a practical understanding of how the two connect.
• Working knowledge of proposal development, sponsor submissions, award setup, agreements, award administration, effort reporting, and research financial management; familiarity with sponsor requirements and institutional controls.
• Experience using, administering, selecting, or implementing electronic research administration systems and translating complex workflows into clear explanations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engaging presentations, facilitate discovery, and communicate with operational staff, researchers, and executive stakeholders.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or leading colleagues, with the ability to set expectations, provide constructive feedback, and build accountability.
• Strong organization and judgment, with the ability to balance customer engagements, team development, and competing deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Willingness to travel for customer meetings, conferences, and team activities as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in software presales, solutions consulting, or vendor evaluation, including tailored demonstrations and complex buying processes.
• Experience with Cayuse or comparable pre- and post-award platforms and familiarity with ERP and finance integration requirements.
• Experience leading a sponsored programs or research administration team, driving process improvement, or implementing research systems.
• CRA, CPRA, or CFRA certification, or involvement in NCURA, SRAI, or comparable professional associations.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre- and post-award solution engagements, including discovery and tailored demonstrations for proposal development and submission, sponsored project and award management, agreements, fund management, and project effort workflows.
• Partner with Account Executives and Strategic Account Managers to uncover business problems, define success criteria, shape win themes, and advance new business and expansion opportunities.
• Demonstrate complete workflows and connect product capabilities to reduced administrative effort, stronger oversight, financial visibility, collaboration, and the researcher experience.
• Lead strategic presentations, proofs of concept, and solution validation; identify product gaps, implementation considerations, and integration requirements early.
• Provide accurate product-fit assessments and RFP/RFI responses; review solution content and positioning, maintain reusable response assets, and advise Sales Leadership on go/no-go decisions.
• Communicate product capabilities and limitations accurately, involving Product, Services, or technical specialists when additional expertise is needed.
• Lead weekly coaching, call shadowing, and demonstration reviews, providing actionable feedback on discovery, storytelling, objection handling, and value articulation.
• Coordinate team assignments and coverage based on expertise, capacity, opportunity priority, and customer deadlines while maintaining an active personal demonstration workload.
• Build onboarding plans, module certification standards, recorded training, and reusable demonstration scenarios; develop pre- and post-award coverage and support broader Research Suite learning.
• Maintain dependable demonstration environments and documentation, and reinforce preparation, follow-through, CRM discipline, and response standards.
• Identify skill and performance gaps and partner with the VP of Sales on development plans, performance feedback, and hiring needs.
• Partner with Product Management to share recurring customer needs, competitive insights, and product gaps in a clear, prioritized format.
• Collaborate with Implementation, Professional Services, Customer Success, and Support to validate assumptions and support effective sales handoffs.
• Contribute to sales enablement, competitive positioning, and consistent messaging across higher education, healthcare, and research organizations.
• Personally lead or support approximately three to four demonstrations per week, adjusted for engagement complexity, preparation, and leadership responsibilities.
• Establish early certification and independent coverage for priority pre- and post-award products, followed by broader Research Suite proficiency through an agreed ramp plan.
• Conduct weekly coaching and at least one formal demonstration review per consultant each month, with measurable improvement in team readiness and delivery quality.
• Meet agreed response and RFP deadlines and share a monthly view of team capacity, quality, development progress, and contribution to opportunity advancement.
• Build customer confidence and contribute to stronger competitive positioning, opportunity progression, and revenue outcomes in partnership with Sales.

Benefits

• Competitive medical benefits, with PPO and HSA available.
• Vision, dental, and short-term disability fully covered by Cayuse.
• Unlimited PTO, holidays, and flexible work schedule.
• Remote work stipend.
• Equal paid parental leave.
• 401(k) with employer matching.
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement.
• Remote work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager