Bid Writer Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

There's never been a better time to join Stratus! As the market leader in brand implementation and maintenance, we transform how national brands connect with their customers. From exterior signage & interior branding to site refresh & remodel, from energy & lighting to repair & maintenance solutions, we deliver ideal solutions to meet all our client's branding needs.

From our locations across the country, to our corporate headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, every employee is a stakeholder in Stratus' success. This environment offers endless career opportunities for individuals with a commitment to customer service, focus on execution and bias for action.

Job Summary: Bid Manager is responsible for acting as a strategic partner to Sales by managing the due diligence process on behalf of new opportunities, creating market competitive solutions that support winning business strategies, and collaborating with multiple departments to ensure buy-in. They are responsible for evaluating artwork, technical drawings and data to ensure customer requirements are met and operational strategy is supported. Use of internal calculators and creative solutions will be key to success, as well as out-of-the-box costing application and high-level strategic thought. 

• Act as a Strategic Partner and key-liaison between Sales and other areas of the business, including Estimating, Operations and Strategic Pricing. 
• Schedule and participate in internal meetings to better understand the new opportunity, create critical milestones and/or define ownership and timeline.  
• Understand customer requirements and accurately develop scope of work for solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations. 
• Manage opportunity from start to handoff, logging opportunity updates and communication in available systems, including but not limited to SalesForce and ERP. 
• Develop accurate cost estimates by evaluating opportunity information to ensure customer requirements are met and operational strategy is supported. This may include reaching out to Internal plants, Encompass partners, or using internal estimating tools to support budgetary estimates while qualifying and quantifying risk where appropriate.  
• Incorporate market-based best practices and knowledge into estimates, while still meeting internal SLAs, customer needs and aligning with operational strategy. 
• Partner with Strategic Pricing to apply pricing strategy to the customer quote/proposal.  
• Clearly define opportunity background, scope of work, bid expectations and financials to support a successful and seamless transition from Deal Desk to Operations.  
• In collaboration with Leadership, identify efficiencies and opportunities within process that support expedited bid turnaround time, without sacrifice to quality or integrity, of bid.  

Skills: 

• Must be a clear and concise communicator with Executive Leadership Team, cross-segment teams, Sales and a diverse group of clients 

• Familiarity with reading and analyzing technical drawings, with proven ability to perform accurate and inclusive takeoffs   

• High level of organizational and analytical skills with ability to work under pressure and deadlines 

• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills 

• Strong written, verbal, and analytical skills 

• Expert knowledge and ability to work with Microsoft Excel 

• Familiarity with analyzing requirement data, such as spreadsheets, database information, and customer notes, to develop cost estimates 

• Driven, dependable, self-managed individual with focused attention to detail 

• Adaptability to fast-paced environment with shifting priorities based on urgency, customer expectations, and importance  

• Sense of customer service for both internal and external customers 

Education, Experience, Certifications:

• College degree or technical education preferred 

• Prior experience with project management or data and analytics preferred 

• Accountable, intrinsically motivated individual with proven history of taking initiative and producing results  

Physical and Mental Demands: 

• Ability to work in a strict deadline-driven environment 

• Willingness and ability to travel on occasion 

• Position may require working before or after regularly scheduled hours as business needs arise. 

Travel Requirements

This position is required to travel as an essential function of this role due to the need for in-person interaction with customers, field partners, and/or business stakeholders. Travel may include local, regional, or national destinations and may be conducted via automobile, air, or other modes of transportation. All travel must be pre-approved in accordance with company policy and conducted in compliance with applicable safety and expense guidelines.

Why Work With Us

• Supportive & Friendly Culture
• Manage national accounts for Fortune 500 companies
• Medical, Dental, Vision coverage options
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
• Company paid Life Insurance
• 401k with Employer Contribution
• Company paid Short/Long Term Disability
• Generous Paid Time Off program + Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Career Mapping
• Additional perks including Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Educational Assistance Program, Identity Theft Protection, Critical Illness Plans, Commuter Benefits and various employee discount offerings from our Vendors

Pay Range

$70,000- $75,000 annually - Pay range listed reflects the potential pay for this role. The pay will depend on various factors, such as responsibilities of the position, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Not all positions posted will have a pay range listed.

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