Proposal Lead - Remote

Sentara is hiring a Proposal Lead!

This position is fully remote!

This project manager role is a Proposal Lead for Sentara. This individual will lead end-to-end proposal development—planning, coordinating, and delivering compliant, compelling, and on‑time responses to RFPs and related solicitations. They will foster collaboration across cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced environment to shape win themes, coordinate content, manage risk and exceptions, and ensure every submission meets requirements and advances strategic objectives.

• Proposal Strategy & Planning:
  • Lead RFP preparation, intake, bid/no bid facilitation, and development of proposal strategies and win themes in partnership with Sales and leadership.
  • Translate RFP requirements into a structured plan (outline, compliance matrix, schedule, resource plan).
  • Drive the creation and iteration of custom materials (e.g., Executive Summary) aligned to client needs and differentiators.
• Schedule, Tasks & Dependency Management:
  • Build and manage detailed proposal workplans, timelines, milestones, and ownership across cross‑functional contributors.
  • Identify and manage constraints and dependencies; maintain visible dashboards for stakeholders.
  • Coordinate parallel work streams for complex submissions with overlapping deadlines.
• RFP Requirements & Compliance:
  • Own the compliance matrix; ensure all specifications, forms, certifications, and submission instructions are met.
  • Track Q&A, addenda, and clarifications; adjust plans and content as requirements evolve.
  • Run pre‑submission quality and compliance checks; ensure packaging, formatting, and final assembly meet all criteria.
• Cross Functional Leadership & Facilitation:
  • Facilitate proposal/kickoff meetings, content development sessions, and review cycles.
  • Coordinate inputs from subject matter experts (SMEs) including Actuary/Finance, Operations, Clinical, and other divisions.
  • Serve as central point of contact with Sales for draft development and tracking.
• Content Orchestration & Quality:
  • Orchestrate content development: assign sections, set guidance, and manage version control.
  • Ensure clarity, consistency, brand/style adherence, and persuasive storytelling across proposal.
• Project Closure:
  • Conduct retrospectives/lessons learned; document improvements and update templates, playbooks, and libraries.
  • Archive submissions and artifacts according to policy and requirements.
• Documentation & Reporting:
  • Produce status reports and executive updates; maintain traceability from requirements to submitted content.
  • Maintain templates, checklists, and process documentation to drive repeatability and scale.
• Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement:
  • Capture win/loss feedback; analyze trends (including public/FOIA data and market signals) to inform future strategies.
  • Investigate, recommend, and lead implementation of improvements to proposal practices, policies, tooling, and templates.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Provide day‑to‑day leadership of proposals; forecast resource needs; coordinate surge support (writers, editors, designers).
  • Coach writers, vendors, and SMEs on process and quality standards.

• 3–5+ years managing complex proposals and/or large cross‑functional projects with overlapping deadlines.
• Demonstrated expertise in project lifecycle management, including compliance, scheduling, cross‑functional coordination, and stakeholder communications.
• Strong writing and editing skills; ability to synthesize SME input into clear, persuasive content and executive summaries.
• Proficiency with productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint/Teams, Asana or similar project management tools).
• Proven ability to lead without formal authority, influence stakeholders, and drive accountability to deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and risk/issue management discipline.

• Experience in healthcare/health plan or similarly regulated industries.
• APMP Foundation/Practitioner and/or PMP/CAPM (or equivalent) credentials.
• Familiarity with industry best practices.
• Experience coordinating legal/privacy/security responses and exception processes.
• In‑depth…