Proposal Manager - Multiple Locations

At Optum, we share what might be seen as a surprisingly simple goal: helping the health system work better for everyone. We look for people who relentlessly push themselves to go farther. For these high performers, a position on a team at Optum, a business of UnitedHealth Group, is a natural fit. We offer more than the talent, resources and can-do culture. We offer a place to improve the lives of others while doing your life's best work.(sm)

The Proposal Manager (PM) is responsible for independently overseeing and coordinating the proposal response team through the opportunity life cycle from Request for Proposal (RFP) release, to post-proposal submission. Also responsible for resource assignment, scheduling, ensuring compliance, and delivery of all proposal deliverables to the external client, the PM maintains insight into all phases of the Growth Operations' Proposal team process. The PM is experienced in navigating responses to complex requests for proposals/information (RFP/RFIs), sources sought (SS), white papers, sole source solicitations, and rough or of magnitude (ROM) estimates. In this role the PM is focused on bringing together all stakeholders associated with the pursuit in order to submit a winning proposal package. The proposal manager owns the proposal process, and works closely with the strategy owner and message/thought leaders (Capture manager (CM), Business Development Consultant (BDC) Sales Leader, Writers, or Strategists). The abilities to manage and communicate at all levels, meet sometimes tight deadlines, commitment to teamwork, motivational leadership, detailed follow-through, and a positive demeanor are essential keys to success in this role.

In this role, the PM authors significant proposal response material as well as proposal development activities including drafting proposals for new and existing clients (e.g., employers, commercial entities, and/or government) and directing the preparation of supporting documents and analyses. Working closely with sales, product, legal, pricing, and other functional teams to tailor responses to reflect a prospect's needs, interests, etc., is within scope of this position.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage all aspects of the proposal schedule, meetings, draft reviews, and oversee large-scale opportunities


• Author, populate, research, or manage the development of content and other significant written communications


• Use standard best practices to increase the win probability of deals through compliant proposals


• Be consistent in proposal development for style, presentation, and RFP guidelines


• Assist in developing and maintaining new and historical operational benchmarks as well as departmental electronic/paper files and informational databases


• Demonstrate personality and leadership skills to engage and motivate a diverse group of proposal contributors


• Exhibit strong leadership through the scheduling, coordination and facilitation of the technical solution design process, pricing review, signature acquisition, document preparation, status meetings, escalating issues as needed


• Contribute to and oversee writing assignments and promote proposal quality through draft editing, feedback on writing, response approach/strategy, and conforming to Proposal team writing styles as appropriate


• Coordinate with sister companies and business units within Optum, as appropriate, to ensure strategic alignment


• Ability to thrive in a complex and fast-paced corporate environment 


• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal guidance and proactively seek guidance on very complex tasks

Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent to a minimum of 5 years solid proposal management experience


• Minimum of 5 years of experience independently managing employer, commercial, consumer, Health IT, complex global, State or Federal healthcare proposals


• Minimum of 3 years of experience writing for large, complex proposals in the Commercial/Government  Healthcare market


• Experience working within a content database and populating common sections of proposals


• Proficiency in working a pre-RFP strategy supporting business development and capture activities


• Strong problem resolution, analytical, research and negation skills


• Excellent interpersonal as well as written and verbal communication skills, including a high degree of comfort leading and speaking in large meetings with high-level personnel


• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite


• Exceptional facilitation and organizational skills


• Ability to independently define, schedule, and manage the proposal preparation process, including the ability to understand and analyze the details of an RFP


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills


• The ability to manage simultaneous projects with competing demands


• The ability to meet deadlines, a commitment to teamwork, and detailed follow-through


• Occasional business travel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Shipley Associates process certification or APMP accreditation

Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make health care work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.SM

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Job Keywords: proposals, proposal management, APMP, Shipley Associates process certification, Telecommute, telecommuter, Los Angeles, CA, California, Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, Illinois, Houston, TX, Texas, Nashville, TN, Tennessee, Atlanta, GA, Georgia, San Diego