Proposal and Contract Manager (remote, full-time)

Job purpose

The Proposals & Contract Lead (PCL) oversees the creation and submission of business proposals, playing a crucial role in the sales process. They ensure that proposals are compelling, compliant, and aligned with both the client’s needs and the company’s offerings. They support with the contracting process and execution after project award and are involved when change orders are required.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for the PCL include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Owning the proposal process for commercial, including coordination and production.
• Managing proposal timelines, ensuring timely completion.
• Coordinating with subject matter experts across departments for proposal content.
• Develop and Coordinate Proposal Budgets: Manage the proposal budget and inputs from various internal stakeholders during the proposal process. Ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the project budget tool (GRID).
• Maintaining and updating CRM and other ERP Systems for proposal documentation.
• Development of GRID: work with the commercial, finance and operations teams to develop, maintain and enhance the proposal budget GRID to align with company and finance standards.
• Proposal Content Development: Create and maintain a library of proposal content, templates, and graphics. Ensure consistency in messaging and branding across all proposals.
• Lead study strategy calls to discuss customer requirements and identify discrepancies in customer information.
• Contract management and development: Work closely with the commercial team, finance and legal teams to draft initial client contracts on award of a project. Initiate and coordinate the contract process from award to execution, working closely with all required contributors.
• Work with Proposals and Contracts Associate to revise or develop preliminary agreements and related budgets and scope of work. Ensure the scope of work is defined correctly and budgets reflect the scope.
• Perform quality control edits on all budgets and contracts and participate in the finalization of documents before distribution to the customer and internal departments.
• Update and maintain corporate databases and CRM as required and ensure accurate information is included in tracking reports.

 

• Contributing to Client Wins: PCLs play a vital role in winning new clients. Their well-crafted proposals directly impact client acquisition and retention rates.
• PCL’s can be assigned to specific key customer accounts to ensure consistency in costing and proposals for specific key clients.
• PCL’s role could also include:

1. Participation in customer meetings.
2. Participate in departmental initiatives.

Experience - the ideal candidate will have

• Bachelor's Degree in Life Science, Business Management or related field and a minimum of 2-3 years direct experience in Proposals or equivalent combination of education, training and experience in a CRO or pharmaceutical environment.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically 
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-changing environment and think innovative.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross functional, multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain networking and be truly client oriented with a sense of urgency and flexibility.
• Clear and Concise Communication: basic understanding of drafting contracts and translating complex legal concepts into clear, straightforward language. Being able to communicate effectively in writing.
• Time Management: The ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines.
• Attention to Quality: Ensuring that the proposal is free of errors and is presented professionally.
• Customer Service: Being responsive to client needs and maintaining positive relationships throughout the proposal process, where required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Adaptability: Proposals and Contracts vary widely based on the parties involved, the subject matter, and the jurisdiction. Being adaptable to tailor proposals and agreements to specific situations.
• Technical Proficiency: Expert in excel and formulating budget grids and understanding of costing models. Strong analytical skills. 
• Financial Understanding: Outlining the financial aspects of a proposal, ensuring that the project is financially viable. 
• Persuasive Writing: The ability to craft compelling and logical arguments to convince decision-makers or clients to accept and approve proposals, emphasizing the benefits and value of the proposed solution or service.
• Data Visualization: The ability to present data in a visually appealing way that is easy to u