Sr Proposal Manager

Connection is seeking a Senior Proposal Manager to serve as team lead for the RFP Team and manage the development of clear, comprehensive proposals. In this role, you will lead complex proposal projects, coordinate cross-functional contributions, and develop responses that address client requirements and position Connection for new business opportunities.

You will manage proposal projects from initial receipt through submission, collaborating with Sales, Services, Finance, Legal, and Marketing to deliver accurate, tailored responses under tight deadlines, often with limited lead time. You will also assist the manager with daily supervision and mentoring of the RFP and Forms teams.

Your work will include requests for proposals (RFPs), requests for information (RFIs), pricing proposals, and other documents for internal and external clients. You will maintain reusable content, ensure document quality and consistency, and identify potential issues in RFP terms and conditions.

• Manage and coordinate RFP projects from initial receipt through delivery, leading complex deals such as global opportunities and engagements involving multiple services.
• Write, edit, and compile proposal content covering company and organizational information, product-specific data, portal information, and other client-requested details.
• Gather input across departments to create comprehensive, accurate responses tailored to client needs, industry standards, and submission requirements.
• Ensure each response tells a cohesive story and positions Connection favorably; support small to mid-sized deals when needed.

• Assist the manager with daily supervision and mentoring of the RFP and Forms teams, including answering day-to-day operational questions.
• Onboard new team members through mentoring, resource sharing, and training coordination.
• Schedule screen-sharing sessions and group training to address questions and commonly needed topics.

• Maintain and enhance the RFP database and library of reusable proposal content.
• Partner with colleagues to recommend, implement, and oversee content improvements.
• Follow up on wins and losses, capture lessons learned in metrics, and report results.
• Provide data and publish RFP metrics.
• Maintain files and logs for completed consultant questionnaires and pending questionnaires, and process client and supplier forms.

Proposal and business knowledge

• Advanced working knowledge of the request for proposals (RFP) process and the ability to write effective proposals.
• Understanding of Connection’s organizational structure and business practices.
• Experience with RFP submittal portals.
• Understanding of reverse auctions.
• Understanding of IT product offerings and verticals.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to synthesize information across the company.

• Supportive mentoring skills, with the ability to train and guide team members daily.
• A proactive, results-driven approach to teamwork.
• Demonstrated customer focus.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact with all levels of the company, including upper management.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to develop proposals that highlight requirements and position Connection favorably.

• Unwavering attention to detail.
• Excellent prioritization and organizational skills.
• Flexibility to complete deadline-oriented deliverables for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Strong multitasking, research, and analytical skills.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.