Global Proposal Manager

Job Description

Job description

We’re looking for a Request for Proposal Manager to join the Global Virtual Engineering (GVE) organization. The primary focus of the role is the management and preparation of all assigned proposals from concept through final submission to the customer, primarily on the Cisco technologies and products questions of each RFP. You will lead the RFP response development process from beginning-to-end in accordance with standard processes and templates. You will work with Field Account Teams (Account Managers and Systems Engineers) to determine the available capacity that can be handled by GVE, assign specific authors, manage the schedule, provide technical insight and guidance to authors in content development, and ensure the proposal is ready for scheduled step reviews and final delivery.

The ideal candidate has worked as an engineer and transitioned into a Proposal Manager or Project Manager role within the past few years. Technical proficiency on Cisco technologies and products in Enterprise Networking and Data Center practices are required and in Collaboration and Security practices are highly desired. The candidate must be self-driven, detail-oriented, and has demonstrated bid and proposal process development, project management, proposal management, and strong technical writing experience. This person should have excellent interpersonal, time management, and organizational skills, and will work with the sales teams across the globe in order to achieve on-time delivery of successful submissions. This is a highly-networked role that requires the ability to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines. While this role has a heavy emphasis on business acumen, it is also important that this resource come from a technical background with Cisco engineering experience. This candidate will need to assess the level of technical complexity of RFP questions to categorize them in groups of simple or complex, then work with engineers with different expertise skill levels, to ultimately validate the technical accuracy throughout the RFP.

Key Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the RFP Manager is to own the end to end process for the management of Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Information (RFI) technical responses. Working in conjunction with experienced systems engineers, they will lead every stage of the technical response process from verifying capacity and determining the amount of work that can be handled at any given time, prioritizing the work to be completed with requesters, developing the technical response document and finalizing the technical responses to be provided back to the requester. The RFP Manager will act as a leadership liaison for the proposal schedule, project scope, responsibility matrix, templates etc. until completion.

• Understand all aspects of the proposal development and production process, be able to create partnerships across the business to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive proposal response and be adept at evoking and instilling a sense of commitment to a quality product in team members.
• Complexity of proposals managed will range from straight-forward and single solution based to very large, multi-product/solution complex proposals.
• Deliver positive, quantifiable results for the team and its customers which will be measured across five primary areas:
• Customer Focus: Effectively and compellingly communicate key capabilities to address customer needs
• Proposal Targets: Meet or exceed stated proposal response targets
• Internal Business Processes: Demonstrate proficiency with internal processes, systems and support structure
• Professional Development: Demonstrate increasing proficiency and skill
• Leadership, Teamwork and Planning: Collaborate with, and effectively run virtual team(s)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or IT related field, plus extension degree in business or sales related field.
• Knowledgeable and experience with Cisco’s Enterprise Networking and/or Cisco Data Center Products and Technology is preferred
• CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP certifications highly preferred.
• Knowledge and/or experience with Proposal Automation software, e.g. RFP I/O, Sharepoint, etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet research.

Work Experience

5+ years of sales/proposal experience and/or supporting responses to RFx opportunities.

Prior Cisco engineering

Proposal experience with a focus on RFP Management, solution development, solution selling and/or bid management a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Capable of managing by influence cross functionality within a matrix structure.
• Ability to rapidly gain credibility with and add value to key internal and external stakeholders.
• High degree of technical business experience and awareness cross industry, solutions, and architectures
• Strong ability to present the company's vision and solution approach.
• Demonstrates leadership, planning, execution and the ability to manage in a virtual team environment.
• Customer-focused and self-motivated with a great sense of urgency and follow-through.
• Excellent communicator who can quickly earn the respect of the team and customers.
• Must have the ability to work effectively across internal and external organizations.
• Acts in accordance with vision, mission, and established goals.
• Candidate will have excellent writing skills, be both technical and analytical, and possess substantial experience supporting proposal responses to RFx opportunities.
• Experience working with Salesforce.com (SFDC) is a plus.
• Preference will be given to candidate with Certifications in project management (PMP, ITIL)
• Formal proposal training and/or certifications (e.g., APMP) is a huge plus.