Proposal Manager

Overview

The Proposal Manager leads and directs Proposal Development Teams formed to respond to requests for proposals / information / qualifications. The Proposal Manager leads and oversees the gathering of information, writing of substantive drafts, and formatting of documents according to client-directed or VEIC standards. The Proposal Manager also leads continuous improvement and maintenance of proposal development resources, templates, and processes.

Proposal work is often fast-paced and involves short deadlines; the Proposal Manager works quickly and efficiently to direct team members, set and meet deadlines, and obtain necessary internal approvals in a timely fashion prior to submission. The Proposal Manager leads and oversees the interpretation of Request for Proposals (RFP) language and client interests, and combines that awareness with knowledge from VEIC subject matter experts (SMEs) to position VEIC as a winning respondent. Proposal content typically includes project description and objectives, scope of work, deliverables, organizational qualifications, timetables, staffing plan, staff qualifications, resumes, and budget.

The Proposal Manager has excellent writing and editing skills, can produce high-quality editorial content and layout, pays attention to detail, and is able to multi-task in a fast-paced team environment. Additionally, the Proposal Manager understands VEIC business strategies when partnering with a wide variety of SMEs. The Proposal Manager reports to the Manager, Proposals & Pursuits and is a core member of the Bids & Proposals team. The Proposal Manager also works closely with VEIC staff from across the organization, particularly the Marketing and Communications team, Consulting SMEs, and the Business Area Leads that guide VEIC’s business strategies and priorities.

Location:

This is a remote position, and the ideal candidate will be located in the states where VEIC conducts business: CA, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, MT, NJ, NY, PA, OH, RI, VA, VT, AND WI. Please note that while we welcome applicants from many areas, we do not currently hire in the following parts of New York: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. We encourage candidates from other parts of New York to apply and become part of our team!

Compensation:

At VEIC, we are committed to pay transparency. The starting pay range for this position will be between $70,000-80,000 annually. Based on market data, pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and location. Please discuss your intended work location with the recruiter for more information. The total compensation package for this position also includes a full range of medical benefits, 403(b) eligibility with match, Combined Time Off (CTO), Care and Concern leave, Parental leave, wellbeing benefit, a community service day, and eight paid holidays that are effective as of your first day of employment.

Diversity and Inclusion:

We are committed to building a work community that is inclusive and represents a vibrant diversity of background, experience, perspective, and thought. Climate change impacts all of us; however, we are impacted differently based on our identities and experiences. We all deserve a place at the table to make decisions about our collective future – we hope you’ll consider joining us as we work towards our vision for a healthy planet, thriving people, and energy justice. Candidates across all markers of identity (age, race, gender, ability, veteran status, communication style, etc.) are highly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Leads and directs proposal development teams, with typically more than one team operating at a time.
• Manages team’s proposal work to a budget.
• Studies RFPs to understand response criteria and requirements and to prepare a proposal outline and / or template, customized for each opportunity.
• Collaborates with Business Development and proposal development teams members to create “win themes” for proposals.
• Ensures adherence to instructions and deadlines related to these opportunities.
• Convenes and leads proposal development team meetings and assigns and directs work of all team members.
• In collaboration with other team members, writes and edits SME content to ensure compliance with proposal outline and win themes; independently follows up with SMEs to fill gaps while adhering to proposal schedule.
• Writes and edits compelling, compliant proposal sections that address the RFP requirements, the Statement of Work tasks, while highlighting win themes, benefits / advantages, and other company differentiators as appropriate.
• Searches existing and historical proposal content to cull relevant technical, management, and past performance information, as needed.
• Synthesizes content from client / partner/ internal meetings, research, proposal archives, project documentation, and industry best practices to develop well-tailored proposal sections.
• Copy-edits documents for style, consistency, grammar, clarity, and syntax.
• Manages production, delivery, and distribution of completed documents.
• Attends bidder conferences and shares notes with proposal development team.
• Manages team responses and preparation for post-submission interviews.
• Updates and maintains libraries of proposal materials.
• Contributes to continuous improvement of proposal development templates, content and processes, and develops training and knowledge management processes to ensure optimal reuse and maintenance of information.
• Participates in “lessons learned” meetings and other debriefings after proposal submission.
• Leads completion and submission of legal documents for review.
• Identifies opportunities for process improvement.
• Supports VEIC activities as necessary to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Strong personal commitment to the mission, vision, goals and values of VEIC.
• Bachelor’s degree in a field that demonstrates strong writing skills and critical thinking (e.g., Business, Marketing, Communications, English).
• 3-5 years of project management and team leadership experience.
• 3-5 years of business, proposal and / or technical writing and at least 1 year of experience in reading RFPs and understanding proposal requirements for RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs desired.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate information in ways that are easy to understand, and ability to modify the style of communication, depending on the audience.
• Knowledge of decarbonization, clean energy, energy efficiency, consulting or other relevant industry experience (preferred).
• Deadline-oriented.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and competing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with non-technical and technical staff in a team effort, and to work independently to meet project objectives.
• Strong MS Office Suite experience—particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.