Management Trainee

About the role

If you're ready to break into the AI, CX and Bid Proposal Space this is your opportunity! Zendesk is looking for a motivated individual to join our RFP Central team in the role of Proposal Manager.

The Proposal Manager is a key member of RFP Central, responsible for the overall management of all assigned proposals, timely completion, and submission of high-quality bid responses. As our Sales organization continues to grow, we are expanding our pre-sales organization to keep up with the demand for our compelling solutions.

RFP Central provides deal intelligence that delivers expert, data-driven, winning proposals and procurement guidance, grounded in best practices, insights, and strategy, while driving a well-governed process so the account team can execute in full compliance and with reduced risk. This role also involves coaching the sales team on procurement best practices and winning patterns.

In this role, you will work collaboratively across Sales, Presales, and internal teams like Legal and Security to research and build clear, compelling, and accurate responses to a wide range of procurement needs. You will also help drive global discipline and refine existing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Bid Management & Execution: Support and manage smaller-scale RFxs initially, progressing to leading the end-to-end response effort for global, high-stakes RFxs, including facilitating kickoff meetings, establishing schedules, and ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner with Solutions Consultants, Account Executives, and SMEs to craft compelling, customer-oriented responses to complex technical requirements.
• Documentation Ownership: Maintain full ownership of the final Main RFP Response Document, ensuring compliance, tone, and overall quality.
• Process Improvement: Provide feedback on and contribute to the refinement and enhancement of the engagement processes and help drive global discipline within the RFx Center of Excellence.
• Sales Enablement & Coaching: Coach the sales team on procurement best practices and winning patterns to improve deal outcomes.

Key Skills

• Technical Writing Expertise: 1-2+ years of experience in proposal or technical writing, with the ability to convey sophisticated technical solutions in a readable format. Equivalent internship or project experience is welcome.
• Project Management: Strong process skills to prioritize multiple projects, meet tight deadlines, and manage concurrent bid lifecycles.
• Strategic Communication: Excellent writing skills with a flair for storytelling, creating executive summaries, and aligning stakeholders.
• Collaborative Adaptability: Flexible, self-motivated team player with a passion for crafting winning proposals in a fast-paced environment.

• The intelligent heart of customer experience
• Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law.