Engagement Manager

ELEKS seeks a dynamic Engagement Manager to join our pre-sales team. In this full-time role (based in Chicago or remote), you’ll spearhead our entire bidding process, managing opportunities from initial lead discovery through final proposal delivery.

As an Engagement Manager, you will ensure that each proposal is delivered on time, aligns with client requirements, and upholds the highest quality standards. You’ll also manage the bid budget, optimize resources, and maintain strict compliance with all RFP guidelines. In this role, you’ll contribute to shaping our bid strategy by staying informed about market trends and competitor activities, helping us to consistently deliver competitive and impactful proposals.

Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Strong written, verbal, and presentation abilities, with a talent for engaging clients and stakeholders effectively
• Leadership and Team Collaboration: Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to motivate cross-functional teams, manage resources, and guide projects to success
• Analytical and Creative Problem-Solving: A sharp analytical mindset, combined with innovative thinking, to tackle challenges and devise effective solutions
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: Skilled in navigating conflicts and resolving issues, ensuring positive outcomes for both clients and the organization
• High Adaptability in Pressure-Driven Environments: Thrives under pressure, capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic setting
• Multitasking Expertise: Proficient at juggling multiple pre-sales projects simultaneously, demonstrating organizational skills and prioritization
• Technical and Business Acumen: Knowledge of industry standards with the ability to understand complex technical and business requirements

Required Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, or related field; MBA is a plus
• Certifications: PMP, APMP, or related certifications are advantageous
• 5+ Years in Bid/Proposal Management: Proven success managing complex RFPs and large-scale contracts
• Pre-Sales & RFP Expertise: Track record of leading pre-sales activities, proposal development, and contract negotiation
• Multi-Project Management: Skilled at managing multiple pre-sales projects (3+ at a time)
• Technical Skills: Proficient in bid management software and MS Office
• Budget Management: Skilled in cost control and budget oversight
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to work across teams and influence stakeholders
• Fluent English: Native-level proficiency in written and spoken English

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Client Relationship Management: Act as the point of contact during presales, managing stakeholder expectations
• Sales Presentations: Crafting tailored presentations and offers that align with client needs and company standards
• Presales Team Mobilization: Lead the presales team and ensure thorough preparation for proposals
• Presales Team Mobilization: Lead the presales team, selecting the optimal project approach, business model (fixed-price, dedicated team, T&M), and ensuring thorough preparation for proposals
• RFI/RFP Handling: Address client RFI/RFP questions and provide required vendor information, following guidelines on ELEKS’ financial and legal disclosures
• Proposal Development: Lead the creation of high-quality proposals aligned with client requirements, addressing all vendor selection criteria and client-specific needs
• Risk Management: Identify and address risks within the engagement process, future client collaboration, and project-specific concerns
• Project Management for Discovery & Audits: Manage discovery or audit projects for enterprise clients, acting as PM and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards
• Retrospective Analysis: Organize and document lessons learned from both won and lost opportunities to continuously improve engagement processes
• Process Development & Collaboration: Contribute to best practices for engagement with enterprise accounts, working closely with ELEKS business development teams to convert leads into active projects
• Compliance & Transparency: Follow ELEKS’ sales process, ensuring transparency with internal stakeholders (Financial, Legal, and Delivery departments) during presales

What will you get with ELEKS

• 14 paid days off
• 8 paid sick leaves
• Paid federal US holidays
• Non-paid leaves
• Flexible schedule
• Remote work
• Medical insurance (including dental and vision)
• Close cooperation with a customer
• Challenging tasks
• Competence development
• 401(k) plan

ABOUT ELEKS

ELEKS is a custom software development company. We deliver value to our clients, thanks to our expertise and experience gained from working as a software innovation partner since 1991.

Our 2000+ professionals located in the Delivery Centers across Eastern Europe and sales offices in Europe and North America, provide our clients with a full range of software engineering services. These include product development, QA, R&D, design, technology consulting and dedicated teams.