Manager - Marketing Proposals

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Proposal team
• Lead, coach, and support a centralized team of Proposal Coordinators. You'll set clear expectations for quality, ownership, and collaboration while creating an environment where team members can grow and do their best work. Your responsibilities will include annual goal setting, quarterly performance reviews, year-end compensation reviews, delegation, and ongoing feedback.
• Manage proposal demand and team capacity. Working with Business Development and Operations leaders, you'll help prioritize pursuits, allocate resources, anticipate busy periods, and prepare the team to support high-value opportunities. When priorities shift or deadlines compete, you'll help partners understand the tradeoffs and keep work moving.
• Build a consistent pursuit experience
• Work with a cross-functional team to establish and continually improve the way proposal work gets done. That includes defining roles and responsibilities, workflows, timelines, handoffs, and quality standards in collaboration with Marketing, Business Development, and Operations. Your goal will be to give teams a dependable process that provides structure without losing the flexibility needed for each opportunity.
• In partnership with Business Development leadership, you'll help define an integrated pursuit process that connects capture planning, proposal development, interview strategy, presentation development, and interview preparation . You'll make it easier for contributors to understand what is needed, when it is needed, and how their expertise supports a client-focused response.
• Oversee proposals from opportunity intake through submission, keeping schedules, deliverables, messaging, compliance requirements, and quality on track. Throughout the process, you'll collaborate with construction professionals, technical staff, marketers, and other partners to turn complex information into clear, relevant pursuit materials.
• Improve the tools and practices behind the work
• Establish and refine proposal templates, content, processes, and best practices that improve efficiency and create a better experience for internal partners. You'll also establish criteria for when a pursuit calls for custom branding, balancing the needs of the opportunity with available resources.
• Assess the technology that supports proposal work and collaborate with the Marketing Technology Manager and IT on opportunities to improve system integration, data quality, taxonomy, workflows, and adoption. You do not need to solve every technology challenge on your own; you do need to understand how systems affect the team's work and partner effectively on improvements.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent education or experience, in Marketing, Business, Communications, Public Relations, or a related area.
• At least 6–8 years of related experience in proposals, marketing, business development, pursuit management, or a similar field. Construction industry experience is preferred.
• Experience leading proposal or pursuit teams and coordinating complex, deadline-driven work involving multiple stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of proposal development, pursuit strategy, capture planning, interview preparation, and the business development process.
• The ability to design and improve processes, clarify responsibilities, and build accountability where practices are still developing.
• Proficiency with proposal, CRM, project management, content management, and other relevant marketing technology, along with Microsoft 365 applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with executives, business development professionals, construction teams, and cross-functional partners.
• Sound judgment, strong organization and project management skills, and the ability to use data and feedback to make informed recommendations.
• Just as important, you can build trust. You listen to what partners need, ask good questions, and help teams navigate competing priorities without losing sight of quality or deadlines. You’re comfortable providing constructive feedback, recognizing good work, and holding yourself and others accountable. You work with integrity, maintain professional standards, and follow company policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Medical insurance Plan Options
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Flex Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Wellness Program
• Fitness Center (Minneapolis)
• KA University Training and Development
• Fitness Center, KA corporate headquarters, Minneapolis
• 401(k) Plan
• Company sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability
• Company sponsored Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance