VP, Business Development Proposals (930849)

Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives. Equus Workforce Solutions® is the most comprehensive provider of workforce development services in North America, assisting over a million job seekers and thousands of employers annually. We are drivers and collaborators for workforce systems change, including quickly adapting to changes in legislation, job seeker demographics and market and industry changes. We work every day to change lives, advance economies and help communities thrive. If this is your passion, join us. Start here. Let us take you where you want to go. 

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Business Development Proposals to lead our team in the pursuit of growth opportunities within the workforce services sector and related markets. This pivotal role balances strategic oversight with hands-on execution, requiring an individual adept at both high-level planning and the detailed management of the proposal process.

This role is key to shaping the future of our company’s growth, directly influencing our ability to secure high-value contracts, strengthen our market position, and drive strategy across critical sectors.

The successful candidate will possess a proven track record in navigating federal, state, and local government procurements, specifically in public workforce development or similar fields. They will be responsible for the end-to-end management of proposal development, including the crafting, writing, and timely submission of bids for new projects and funding initiatives.

This role involves collaborating with Equus operation leaders and business partners to execute and deliver on business growth strategies, as well as enhancing the capabilities of operational and corporate staff to support our growth objectives. Key responsibilities include identifying new market opportunities, leading the proposals team with exceptional project management and leadership skills, and maintaining a sharp focus on details to ensure the highest quality of proposal submissions. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for driving business development in a competitive market space.

This role offers significant opportunities for personal and professional growth, with a clear path to advancing strategic leadership within the organization.  If you have the expertise in government procurement and proposals, along with the leadership acumen to guide a team towards success, we invite you to apply for this exciting leadership opportunity.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development and executing a growth strategy for the market, focusing on customer retention and new market/customer expansion.
• Keep a pulse on market trends, competitive dynamics, and internal capabilities to shape a well-informed strategy.
• Lead the exploration and initiation of new business models and revenue streams, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.

Market Analysis and Customer Engagement

• Perform in-depth analysis to identify and evaluate new market opportunities, guiding efforts for market entry in the public workforce development and adjacent spaces.
• Maintain and cultivate strong relationships with industry customers, ensuring their needs are met and positioning the company for success.
• Represent the company at industry events and networking opportunities, promoting its strengths and value propositions.

Bid Management and Proposal Development

• Oversee the bid management process to improve success rates, from identifying opportunities to submitting proposals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create compelling bids that highlight the company's unique selling points.
• Ensure that all proposals are compliant with client requirements and adhere to internal governance and risk management protocols.
• Review and validate commercial models for significant projects, ensuring alignment with company financial goals.

Team Leadership and Resource Management

• -Lead and coordinate the team's efforts to produce timely, compliant, and high-quality proposals, including narrative and pricing components.
• Assign resources effectively, managing various schedules and timelines to meet all internal and external deadlines.
• Serve in versatile roles such as project manager, content developer, or business analyst, as required for key initiatives.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Act as an escalation point for decisions, issues, and risks, enforcing quality and performance standards and maintaining compliance.
• Participate in proposal reviews to ensure strategic and content cohesion.
• Close any identified gaps in content to meet all proposal requirements.

Collaboration and Capability Development

• Work closely with Operational Leaders to support their business growth strategies, providing insights on market analysis and bid preparation.
• Encourage a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and development of best practices across teams.
• Identify training needs and skill gaps, ensuring continuous professional development for the business development team.

Performance Management and Reporting

• Provide senior and Executive management with regular reports on business development progress, market trends, and strategic opportunities.
• Use data analytics to inform decision-making and track the effectiveness of business development activities, making strategic adjustments as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure that all completed proposals and related documents contain all necessary information and documentation.
• Foster innovation within operations to assist in designing responses that strategically align with customer goals.
• Align project work with the company's mission, vision, values, and philosophy, confirming that narrative content matches budget details.
• Develop team skills, supporting goal setting and achievement, and participate in enterprise-wide proposal process discussions as part of the department leadership team.

• Must be willing to travel to the Louisville main office as needed.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field, advanced degree preferred.
• Proven leader with over 10 years of experience in leading and winning large, complex bid opportunities.
• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to influence, inspire, and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling bid responses.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and priorities, delivering results in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.
• Strong project management skills with high personal accountability.
• Strong analytical skills, capable of interpreting complex solicitations, data, and requirements to make informed decisions.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel; experience with Document Sharing Systems is preferred.
• Strong commercial acumen and operational service delivery knowledge to construct complex financial bid models tied to performance assumptions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with personnel at all levels and manage diverse bid teams, including part-time contributors and consultants.
• Excellent organizational planning, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances and workload demands.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and committed to providing quality customer service.
• Desire to join a high-functioning, collaborative, and supportive team culture.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines and flex schedule accordingly.

This role is ideal for a team player who can support and develop diverse teams while maintaining a focus on strategic goals and organic growth.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Equus Workforce Solutions is a leading provider of workforce development services in North America. With a dedicated and passionate team, Equus puts the industry’s best practices to work by focusing on the development, design, and delivery of demand-driven workforce solutions.

When you join Equus, you can expect extensive learning opportunities and networking programs. But most of all you can expect to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.

At Equus we are strengthened by diversity. We are committed to providing a work environment in which everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. Equus Workforce Solutions is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, religion, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or reprisal or any other characteristic protected under state, federal, or local law.