Manager, Program Excellence Bid Strategy

Get started on an exciting career at Element!

Element is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world.  Our success is driven by our Purpose to Move the world through intelligent mobility, and fueled by our team members who help our clients manage fleets that deliver the goods and services our communities rely on. We are looking for more Purpose-driven, client-centered, and inclusive team members to join us.

We are looking for..

The Manager, RFP/Bid Response Strategy is responsible for the performance, development, and effectiveness of the proposal team, including hiring, coaching, mentoring, and workload management.

The Manager oversees the end-to-end RFP response process, ensuring the team consistently delivers responses that are on time, accurate, compliant, and compelling. Partnering closely with commercial leaders, business SMEs, and cross-functional stakeholders, this role drives response strategy, content quality, and continuous improvement. The Manager also serves as a strategic contributor on high-profile opportunities and leads the adoption of technologies and best practices that improve proposal quality, efficiency, and team performance.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Lead the strategic direction of the RFP response function, partnering with commercial leaders and business SMEs to develop and maintain value propositions, client success stories, competitive intelligence, content standards, and response best practices.
• Lead, coach, and develop Proposal Managers, providing guidance throughout the response lifecycle while ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality, compliant, and compelling submissions that align with prospect and client objectives and business priorities.
• Oversee the intake, qualification, and prioritization of all RFP requests, ensuring appropriate resource allocation and response strategy.
• Establish, govern, and continuously improve the RFP response process, methodologies, and quality standards to drive consistency, efficiency, and on-time delivery across the team.
• Evaluate and implement technologies, automation opportunities, and content management best practices to improve proposal development, knowledge sharing, response quality, and team productivity.
• Maintain opportunity qualification and response prioritization frameworks, including decision criteria, service levels, and governance processes that support effective resource planning and pursuit management.

Impact

• This role has significant operational impact on the quality, consistency, and timeliness of bid / RFP submissions, indirectly influencing pipeline progression and win rates.
• The position drives response strategy, helping the commercial organization allocate resources effectively and prioritize opportunities with the strongest likelihood of success.
• Through cross-functional coordination and continuous process improvement, the role contributes to revenue growth, operational efficiency, and stronger client-facing proposal outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, professional writing, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in proposal management, commercial strategy, sales operations, or a related client-facing commercial role.
• Experience developing and managing RFP / bid response processes and cross-functional proposal workflows. Experience with global tenders and U.S. and Canadian government markets a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze opportunities and translate business strategy into compelling proposal responses. Able to develop stories that sell against competition.
• Strong written communication, project management, stakeholder management, and coaching skills.
• Experience with proposal content tools, repositories, or automation platforms such as Responsive, Qvidian, or similar preferred.

Knowledge & Competencies

• Decision Making & Impact – Makes informed recommendations on bid prioritization, response strategy, and process improvements that affect pipeline quality, resource allocation, and win rates.

• Complexity & Independent Judgement – Balances multiple concurrent opportunities with varying requirements, deadlines, and stakeholders, applying sound judgement to evaluate strategic fit, commercial value, and response approach.

• Leadership & Autonomy – Provides leadership to Proposal Managers and works independently to manage workflows, enforce methodology, and influence cross-functional contributors without constant direction. Also able to drive their own RFP response teams.

• Innovation & Problem Solving – Identifies process gaps, improves response quality, and advances automation and content management solutions to increase efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness across the bid / RFP lifecycle.

As a Purpose-driven, client-centric organization, we are aligned by our shared Values across our global organization.

Our Values:

• We are always a force for good.
• We are experts defining the future of mobility.
• We are driven by client success. 

Our Values define who and how we show up for each other and our clients, every day

Element and its wholly owned subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins and membership of the travelling community. Disability-related accommodations during the application and interview process are available upon request. Should you require an accommodation with our hiring process, please send an email to [email protected].

Applicants will be required to undergo a background check only if and after a conditional offer of employment has been extended.