Proposal Manager

ROLE PURPOSE

The Proposal Manager plays a crucial role at Ready Education by managing the end-to-end process of responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Information (RFIs) from clients and prospects. This position requires exceptional project management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with various teams to develop compelling and accurate proposals. The Proposal Manager will be responsible for understanding client requirements, coordinating response efforts, and ensuring timely submission of high-quality proposals that align with our company's strategic goals. This position will also be responsible for aligning with our client’s strategic goals and outcomes in all responses.

REPORTS TO

Director, Field Strategy and Enablement

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

All GTM Teams including:

Customer Service Manager team and leadership

Account Executive team and leadership

Solution Architect team and leadership

Activation/Implementation Teams

Professional Services

Product team

Product Marketing

Engineering

Security Teams

Legal

Finance Team

Marketing Team

Executive Leadership Team

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the entire RFP process from receipt to submission, ensuring adherence to deadlines and quality standards.
• Review incoming RFPs to understand client needs, scope of work, and evaluation criteria.
• Create RFP checklists to best project manage the scope of each RFP
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Technical teams, and Legal, to gather necessary information for proposals.
• Develop and maintain a repository of standard RFP responses, templates, and supporting documentation.
• Customize and tailor standard responses to meet specific client requirements.
• Conduct meetings and coordinate efforts with subject matter experts to gather technical and operational information.
• Write, edit, and format proposal content to ensure clarity, consistency, and compliance with RFP requirements.
• Manage multiple proposals simultaneously, prioritizing workload effectively.
• Ensure proposals are aligned with company branding, messaging, and value propositions.
• Perform quality assurance checks on completed proposals to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Serve as the main point of contact for all RFP-related communications, both internally and externally.
• Provide guidance and support to team members involved in the proposal process.
• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and competitor strategies related to RFPs.
• Creating proposal timelines
• Issuing assignments to members of their team
• Ensuring everyone on the team meets their deadlines
• Creating and giving presentations to supervisors and shareholders
• Collaborating with other departments to write and implement proposals
• Managing, and maintaining the company’s RFP application system with the most up-to-date boilerplate responses
• Keeping the fields and GTM team informed of the latest updates
• Collaborating with Product Marketing on competitive intel.
• Managing and submitting RFIs (Requests for Information)
• Providing internal and client guidance on proposal responses that best position Ready Education for success

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• Proven experience (3 years) in RFP management, proposal writing, or a similar role.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with RFP management tools/software (e.g., RFPIO, Qvidian, etc.).
• Familiarity with technical concepts and terminology, preferably in [industry/sector].
• Understanding of sales processes and strategies.
• Ability to thrive in an intense deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Certification in Proposal Management (e.g., APMP) is a plus.