Sr. Bid Manager
Company Description
Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo’s 133,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo’s communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.
Position Description
The Senior Proposal Manager facilitates the preparation of high-quality, professional business proposals in response to major opportunities within the regional sales markets. The Senior Proposal Manager acts as a single point of contact, working with sales, product, and all other corporate groups, to provide professional leadership and coordination of large proposals, and to manage the bidding process from initial RFx receipt until bid submission. This is a highly networked role that requires your ability to work under pressure, meet challenging deadlines, and apply strong people management and commercial skills.
Responsibilities:
Work with Account Managers to analyze and break down the tender/RFP requirements released by carriers and enterprise customers.
Support leadership in screening incoming RFx opportunities and assigning to Proposal Managers based on workload.
Make recommendations on the value of bidding/not bidding RFx opportunities based on customer relationship and the likelihood of award.
Establish the bid response team across the relevant groups/departments including product, sales, legal, corporate communications, human resources, etc.
Schedule and run bid kick-off meetings, assign responsibilities to the team members, and follow up to ensure they’re complete.
Manage stakeholder team to strict timelines, escalate if needed to attain appropriate response materials, design the proposal, and oversee final production with the support of Sr Proposal Managers.
Ensure company goals and strategies are understood and embedded in RFP/RFI responses.
Overall ownership of the proposal including final writing, editing, and review of the RFP for thoroughness, messaging logic, accuracy, quality, effective design, and layout per company standards.
Preparation of material for executive approvals for price and key decisions.
Identify and understand causes for No Bid and Lost RFPs and develop strategies to increase win ratios.
Responsible for the identification of concerning language and/or requirements in RFx and contract documents and recommending alternatives
Identify and implement process improvements.
Organize and participate in the post-bid clarification, lessons learned and contract start-up briefings.
Manage multiple bids (depending on the size) and aid in the overall administration of the bid management process.
Coach sales teams and other stakeholders in proposal best practices
Maintain accurate records of each proposal for detailed reporting.
Support responses to customer questionnaires and compliance documents as needed.
Be an excellent communicator. The ideal candidate will have the ability to manage complex, multi-workstream opportunities.
Mentor, train, and provide peer-review support for Proposal Managers and team.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
BSC or BA (Business, Marketing, Engineering, Telecommunications Management, Accounting) or equivalent work experience.
5+ years experience in bids and proposals, or technical sales of telecommunications/IT field.
Good understanding of the telecommunications/IT market landscape.
Project management experience, and excellent organization and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated strength in analyzing and interpreting bid requirements.
Microsoft Office expertise (complete knowledge of Word), Visio, Internet skills, and Adobe Acrobat knowledge.
Strong knowledge and experience with writing, editing, printing, binding, and page layout.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Flexible, pro-active, self-motivated, with strong communication and presentation skills.
Able to work in a high-stress environment, managing multiple projects often with short notice deadlines.
Must be fluent in English including strong written skills; French skill sets would be a strong asset.
Rewards
Competitive compensation
Sales Incentive Plan - full-time Zayo sales employees are also eligible for discretionary incentive cash compensation through our Sales Incentive Plan
Excellent benefits including health, dental, vision, 401 (k), disability and life insurance
Fitness membership discounts
Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time