Proposal Specialist II

OpenGov
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Dec 21, 2024
OpenGov is home to an exceptional team - passionate about our mission to power more effective and accountable government. By bringing the OpenGov Cloud to our nation's state and local government, we're transforming communities so they can thrive! Imagine yourself being able to help small business owners open their doors faster, ensuring our tax dollars are accounted for, creating safer infrastructure, modernizing the permitting process, and assisting with disaster recovery. The work you do here every day has a meaningful impact on people's lives! OpenGov is a 2023 Top Workplaces USA award winner and a Forbes America's Best Startup Employer Join our smart, fun, and humble team to experience the most rewarding career of your life! Job Summary: The Proposal Specialist plays a critical role in supporting and qualifying incoming requests from colleagues across the Go-To-Market (GTM) team. The role includes leading Request for Proposal (RFP) content creation, organizing and maintaining the RFP Content Library, and ensuring timely, accurate responses to requests. It involves contributing to a dynamic team environment by tracking and managing RFP workflows while delivering high-quality results. This position also provides opportunities for professional growth in alignment with OpenGov's continued expansion. Responsibilities: Play a consultative role to the Sales team in advising which Request For proposal, questionnaire, information (RFx) opportunities are a strong fit for us to pursue and which RFx opportunities are a poor fit that we should pass on. Oversee and manage the entire RFx lifecycle process, from initial intake and qualification to proposal development and final submission in alignment with strict RFP timelines. Able to manage multiple proposals at once. Confidently presses other collaborators on their accountability when needed. Contributes to broader GTM efforts by conducting analysis and updating program docs when not at capacity on deals. Coordinate and support the preparation of RFx (Request For)/Pre-qualification requests, ensuring accurate tracking of documentation and milestones. Coordinate and collaborate with the GTM team to provide essential information, including documentation, write-ups, certifications, etc., for customer RFP/RFI/RFQ Pre-qualification responses. Be the Proposal Team liaison by collaborating with various OpenGov departments, such as Sales, Solutions Engineers, Product, Legal and Security, to comprehensively respond to requests. Drive the focus of the RFx response strategy on opportunities that closely align with OpenGov's Product-Market Fit (PMF) and Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Identify exceptions within contractual documentation and Terms & Conditions included with RFx's; work with OpenGov's General Counsel to flag contractual concerns prior to proposal submission. Ensure all completed requests are 100% compliant, aligning with the OpenGov Proposal Team Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which meets the highest quality standards and deadlines. Work with the Proposal Coordinators and Proposal Manager to identify new content from submitted requests and proposals to update or add to the existing RFP Content Library. Requirements and Preferred Experience: A Bachelor's degree is required; a Master's in Public Administration is a plus. A minimum of 5 years of experience, with at least 3 years of direct proposal experience. Experience working with government procurement and/or the public sector is preferred. Able to process and understand complex, highly technical information to translate it into clear, well-written content for a non-technical audience required. Strong interpersonal skills. In-depth knowledge of grammatical rules and experience in editing and formatting long-form content required. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a team member. Proficient in Google Drive, Slack, Adobe, MS Word, MS Excel. Agility to adapt to changing priorities and direction in a dynamic work environment Self-discipline with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects. High ethical standards and a positive attitude. Effective oral and written communication skills. Excellent time management and organizational skills, with strong attention to detail. Solid problem-solving skills in a deadline-driven environment. Working knowledge of proposal workflow automation and content management systems, such as Loopio, RFPio, Qvidian, is preferred. On target ranges above include base plus a portion of variable compensation that is earned based on company and individual performance. The final compensation will be determined by a number of factors such as qualifications, expertise, and the candidate's geographical location. What makes OpenGov unique Leadership: CEO Zac Bookman (MPA from Harvard and JD from Yale) is truly a mission-driven CEO. He was named one of the 100 most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs, a Tech Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, and SF and Silicon Valley Business Times' 40 under 40 class of 2018! Growth: Record breaking growth with 1,800+ governments (and counting) using our products. Click here to read more. Culture: Winner of 2023 Top Workplaces USA award, Awarded Top 25 Cloud Companies to Work For, Winner of Forbes 2022 Best Startup Employers, 50 Best Workplaces award. Check out our Careers Video! Perks: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family. We almost forgot to mention: New parents get paid leave to welcome your new bundle of joy into your family. Plus, a wellness stipend for gym memberships/fitness classes for medical plan enrollees, employer HSA contribution, and lunch in-office every Wednesday. Product: Named to the GovTech 100 (seven consecutive years), we are the leader in cloud software for our nation's cities, counties, and state agencies. Mission Driven: We are a technology company with a passion for the mission. We're powering more effective and accountable government. Come join us and make a positive social impact! OpenGov is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.