Adoptions Specialist

Savvas Learning Company is seeking a Proposal and Contract Specialist to manage the development of bids and contracts for state educational materials adoptions which are significant, high-profile, complex government procurements important to Savvas Learning Company's K-12 educational publishing business. The Proposal and Contract Specialist works closely with key Savvas departments (e.g., Sales, Product Management and Development, Marketing, Finance, and Inventory) and senior stakeholders across Savvas Learning's business.

The ideal candidate has a strong, independent work ethic; a positive 'can-do' attitude; always maintains professionalism; is flexible, responsive, decisive, detail and deadline oriented; can manage others without authority; is highly motivated and can re-prioritize work quickly with supervision. Project and/or contract management experience is essential. Experience with management of submissions for large, complex government contracts, or experience working on state textbook adoption submissions, is desired.

The Proposal and Contract Specialist's key responsibility is to manage the on-time submission of all contract adoption bids and product samples for assigned state adoptions, including, pricing, product information, and other related documents. The Proposal and Contract Manager must use their project management skills to establish and manage meetings with large groups of stakeholders, and record each submission and follow its progress until final state approval. Upon approval, the Proposal and Contract Manager will manage the contract creation and submission process and fulfill all contract management functions for the term of the adoption (e.g., price increases or decreases, product corrections and substitutions, state requested changes, and contract amendments and extensions).

The Proposal and Contract Specialist reports to the Adoptions Contracts Manager and is expected to manage assigned adoptions with minimal supervision, problem-solve based on experience in accordance with Savvas's procedures and be fully accountable for all work products.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Project manages all aspects of the state adoption process from analyzing and communicating bid requirements to stakeholders, conducting meetings, submitting various documents throughout the process, through final bid submissions, and execution of state government adoption contracts.
• Undertake all contract management functions for resulting state government adoption contracts, including amendments and changes; ensure all important contract terms and conditions are implemented and followed.
• Prepare and edit accurately all bids and state government adoption documents including version control, and maintain accurate, current files of in-process and final bids, databases, and other key data.
• Manage project meetings, and communicate project status and other key information, to ensure stakeholder and management input and issue resolution.
• Research, and maintain understanding of, specific state government adoption and bid requirements for assigned states to attain subject matter expert status.
• Build relationships with state government officials who administer and manage state adoption processes, to generate goodwill, and familiarity with Savvas Learning and its instructional material offerings.
• Provide feedback on departmental processes, suggest areas for improvement and implement new processes as required.

Requirements:

• B.A. degree with minimum five (5) years of project management, bids and proposals management, or contract management experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven office environment is required.
• Prior project management experience with submissions for large, complex government contracts, or experience with state government textbook adoptions, is preferred.
• Exceptional verbal, written and professional communication skills, as well as excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work additional time on short notice.
• Proficient in MS Word & Excel, Google (Mail, Docs and Sheets) and Adobe Acrobat.
• Project management certification is desired.

Additional Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities:

• Ability to project manage multiple concurrent high-pressure deadlines requiring participation of others.
• Ability to identify, prioritize and manage multiple tasks necessary to satisfy all state government adoption requirements.
• Ability to hold organized calls, with agendas, and take notes during the calls.
• Proactive, responsive, and engaged with an attitude to always do quality, detailed work.
• Takes initiative by planning and executing ahead of schedule.
• Strives for continual improvement by accepting coaching, trying new things, and making constructive suggestions.

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