RFP Q&A Strategist Medical/Behavioral - National Accounts - Remote

The Proposal Strategist supports the sales process by preparing and responding to RFP questionnaires and other RFP response documents, including client specifications, bid forms, requirements, finalist questionnaires, follow-up questions, etc. The qualified individual uses his/her knowledge of Cigna's business and products, together with access to a library of pre-established content and developed relationships with subject matter experts, to create strategically positioned responses and materials that support the win strategy.

The Proposal Strategist owns the end to end questionnaire response for Medical and Behavioral Health. The optimal candidate drives for better and faster ways to answer as much of the questionnaire as possible using existing resources and personal knowledge of Cigna's business and solutions. This individual may interact with internal and external SMEs as needed.

This individual is part of Cigna's U.S. Commercial RFP Strategy and Operations team. This position primarily supports commercial medical business but may also be expected to provide cross-support to other business types and sales segments as needed. 

Role Components

With effective project and resource management, this individual collaborates closely with sales, presale, content teams, and other matrix partners to support the bid process for both prospective and existing Cigna clients. The Proposal Strategist owns the questionnaire response, responding in a way that portrays Cigna's enterprise strategy as well as client-specific strategy. This individual manages matrix partner relationships, sets timetables and deadlines, and communicates strategy to ensure the final questionnaire meets broker/client and sales specifications. As a critical player in the RFP process, he/she also ensures the final product is of high quality, depicts Cigna's value proposition, and resonates with our audience.

The Proposal Strategist:

• Owns the end-to-end completion of questionnaires associated with RFP, RFR, and RFI requests.
• Responds to client and prospect questionnaires and other RFP response documents such as RFP specifications, bid forms, requirements, finalist questionnaires, etc.
• Thinks critically about complex questions and new/unfamiliar topics, conducting thorough research and synthesizing cohesive responses from multiple sources as needed.
• Maintains thorough and complete knowledge of Cigna products, services, value proposition and new initiatives as they are introduced.
• Has a thorough and complete understanding of all segment alignments, including the sales force structure and selling styles.
• Creates unique responses that clearly highlight sales strategy, address the client’s key buying criteria and display Cigna’s competitive advantage in the marketplace. 
• Manages outsourcing of all response documents, engaging Content COE and other matrix partners as needed to help with development of customized and forward thinking responses. Addresses any outsourcing redirects in a timely fashion.
• Effectively facilitates calls with key partners to discuss client-specific issues, collaborate on approach to answering specific questions, and to focus team resources effectively.
• Contributes to and communicates the strategic direction of the RFP questionnaire preparation and coordination by performing the necessary research of the client, industry, competition, etc.
• Effectively manages timeline and negotiates delivery dates with sales teams, topic experts, and matrix partners, and provides alternative solutions to meet their needs.
• Offers alternatives and suggestions based on client research to position Cigna in a more positive light.
• Provides clear, timely, and consistent written and verbal communication to sales and other matrix partners.
• Identifies questions requiring exclusive responses and outsource appropriately to subject matter experts.
• Coordinates closely with specialty teams for integrated bids. Ensures consistent messaging across all responses to achieve one Cigna voice, managing communication of critical milestones (e.g., outsourcing, final drafts, etc.) with the sales team.
• Ensures the final questionnaire response (including answers provided by matrix partners) is complete, cohesive, and of the highest quality prior to shipping.
• Supports follow-ups, finalist questionnaires, ad-hoc requests, and other client response documents as needed in support of the RFP process.
• Understands and correctly applies all administrative processes and SOPs, within expected timelines. 
• Drives for newer, better, and faster ways of completing each questionnaire, seeking opportunities to add consultative value to each RFP.
• Contributes to ongoing improvements. Regularly and constructively recommends enhancements to the quality of our w