Team Lead, Proposals - Commercial

Commerce Bank•Kansas City, MO

8d•$91,000 - $107,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Commerce Bank is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Team Leader – Communication & Content to lead our Commercial Request for Proposals (RFP) team. As a Team Leader, you will be responsible for managing and coordinating the entire Commercial RFP response process, guiding and mentoring team members, managing content, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality proposals to meet the needs of our customers and prospects. Your strong leadership skills, exceptional project management abilities, collaborative nature, commitment to brand standards, and in-depth understanding of the RFP process will play a crucial role in driving the team toward achieving its goals as well as winning new business for Commerce.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of the request for proposals process, proposal development and industry trends, including best practices
Strong knowledge of Commerce’s Commercial products and services
Proven experience of three or more years in managing and leading RFP project teams in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent project management skills with the ability to handle multiple proposals simultaneously
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and build effective working relationships
Proficiency in using proposal management tools and software
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to develop and coach team members with proven ability to achieve results through collaboration and teamwork
Self-starter with strong decision-making skills and the ability to effectively communicate and interact with all levels of the company, clearly expressing ideas and concepts, both verbally and in writing
Ability to remain adaptable and resilient to all situations with an optimistic outlook and cast a positive shadow that is aligned with our culture and Core Values
Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communication, or equivalent combination of education and experience required
3+ years managing request for proposal projects required
1+ years leadership experience required

Nice To Haves

Masters degree preferred
Certification by the Association of Proposals Management Professionals, or a similar organization preferred

Responsibilities

Oversee the end-to-end request for proposals response process, from initial request through proposal submission and post-proposal follow-ups.
Oversee the content review process through Commerce’s Commercial RFP response management solution.
Evaluate response requirements and collaborate with stakeholders from a variety of teams and business lines to develop proposal strategies and timelines.
Collaborate and align with other B2B proposal-related teams as well as Commercial Marketing, Product, Training, Legal, and beyond to ensure consistency of customer-facing messaging.
Ensure proposals are tailored to meet the needs of customers and prospects, aligning with Commerce Bank’s value proposition.
Follow Commerce brand and Associated Press Style guidelines for responses.
Review and edit proposal content, ensuring clarity, consistency, and compliance with requirements
Work closely with subject matter experts to incorporate technical information into proposals effectively
Collaborate with Relationship teams to understand customer objectives, tailor proposals accordingly, and address customer/prospect queries
Continuously assess and enhance the RFP response process, identifying areas for improvement in efficiency and quality
Implement best practices and standardization to streamline proposal development and help increase win rates
Maintain detailed records of response activities, including progress, wins, losses, and feedback
Define metrics to measure success and develop corresponding reporting mechanisms to track the team’s impact on new revenue generation
Provide regular reports and insights on team performance and proposal outcomes to senior management
Oversee department workflow and effectively communicate decisions, priorities and relevant information to team members
Provide guidance to employees on departmental projects/issues, coach and develop training plans, lead development conversations and answer day-to-day questions for team members
Perform other duties as assigned