Description
Howden Re is looking for a Senior RFP Manager to join its new and growing Global RFP Function in North America.
The successful candidate will lead the delivery of complex, high-value RFPs and provide day-to-day RFP management across the region. They will work closely with North American business leaders and colleagues across the Global RFP Function to qualify opportunities, develop winning strategies, coordinate technical and business input, and deliver compelling, client-centric proposals.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead North American led RFPs from qualification through to submission and presentation
- Work with Account teams and Senior Brokers to develop RFP plans, challenge assumptions and shape differentiated win themes and client propositions
- Support RFP qualification and prioritization to ensure time and resource are focused effectively across regional opportunities
- Coordinate day-to-day North American RFP workload, capacity and resource allocation in partnership with the wider Global RFP Function
- Maintain visibility of the regional RFP pipeline, upcoming demand, priorities and potential resource constraints
- Partner with broking, analytics, actuarial, design and other specialist teams to coordinate input, establish clear ownership and maintain momentum across multiple workstreams
- Manage timelines, milestones, reviews and approvals to ensure disciplined, high-quality delivery against client deadlines
- Write, review and tailor proposal content, translating complex technical input into clear, persuasive and client-focused messaging
- Maintain RFP governance across processes, templates, reviews and approvals, proactively identifying and managing risks and issues
- Provide clear, executive-ready reporting on pipeline, progress, priorities and blockers
- Coach and mentor RFP colleagues and wider opportunity teams, strengthening proposal writing, narrative development, project management and presentation capability
- Support major global and cross-regional RFPs, coordinating effectively with colleagues across the Global RFP Function and wider business
- Lead lessons learned and use regional feedback and insight to influence improvements to global playbooks, tools, templates and content
- Promote adoption of RFP best practice, design standards, structured workflows and effective content reuse
What we are looking for:
- 5+ years’ experience in RFP, proposal, bid or pursuit management, ideally within reinsurance, insurance, professional services or a similarly complex environment
- A proven track record of leading complex, high-value proposals involving multiple products, stakeholders or regions
- Strong project management skills with experience managing competing priorities, resources and demanding deadlines
- Excellent written communication skills and the ability to turn technical and specialist input into clear, compelling client-facing content
- Confidence and credibility working with senior business leaders and specialist teams
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence, challenge constructively and maintain momentum
- Experience coaching or mentoring RFP professionals or colleagues involved in proposal delivery
- A disciplined and detail-focused approach to governance, quality and execution
- Advanced PowerPoint and strong presentation skills would be advantageous
- Familiarity with proposal tools, structured workflows and content management best practice is beneficial
Personal attributes:
- Strategic, proactive and commercially aware
- Collaborative and influential across senior stakeholders
- Comfortable taking ownership while working as part of a connected global team
- Calm under pressure and able to bring structure to complexity
- High standards of quality and attention to detail
- Confident challenging constructively to improve outcomes
- Passionate about developing others and raising standards
- Motivated by the opportunity to influence and make a visible impact in a growing function
The expected base salary range for this role is $120,000-150,000.