Business Development & Proposals Manager
Company: Taher, Inc.
Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site
Department: Sales & Business Development
About Taher, Inc.
Taher, Inc. is a privately held food service management company with more than 45 years of experience delivering exceptional dining experiences and innovative food service solutions.
Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Taher serves clients throughout the United States, with a strong presence in K--12 education, business and industry, and institutional food service.
As we continue to grow, we are seeking an experienced professional who can lead competitive proposal development, strengthen business development processes, and help position Taher for continued success.
Position Summary
Taher is seeking a highly organized, results-driven Business Development & Proposals Manager to lead the development, coordination, and execution of competitive proposals and support strategic business development initiatives.
This position is responsible for managing the complete proposal lifecycle, from opportunity assessment and RFP review through proposal development, final submission, presentations, and post-submission follow-up.
The Business Development & Proposals Manager will collaborate with executive leadership, Sales, Finance, Operations, and other internal departments to develop compelling, accurate, and compliant proposals that communicate Taher's capabilities and competitive advantages.
The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer, skilled project manager, and proactive problem-solver who takes ownership, anticipates needs, and delivers high-quality results while managing multiple competing deadlines.
Key Responsibilities
Proposal Development & RFP Management
- Lead the complete lifecycle of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), and related business development submissions.
- Review and analyze solicitation documents to identify requirements, evaluation criteria, compliance obligations, and critical deadlines.
- Develop proposal strategies, project schedules, compliance matrices, content outlines, and responsibility assignments.
- Write, edit, and coordinate proposals, executive summaries, implementation plans, company qualifications, and supporting narratives.
- Develop customized responses that highlight Taher's strengths, operational capabilities, and value proposition.
- Coordinate financial and pricing components with Finance, Operations, and the Financial Analyst.
- Ensure proposals meet all submission requirements and maintain the highest standards of accuracy, quality, and professionalism.
- Manage internal reviews, revisions, executive approvals, and final proposal submissions.
- Maintain complete and organized proposal records, supporting documents, and submission materials.
Business Development & Strategic Growth Support
- Research and identify prospective clients, market opportunities, and potential new business.
- Monitor public procurement opportunities, school district RFP announcements, and relevant industry developments.
- Research client organizations, decision-makers, competitors, and market conditions.
- Support sales leadership in developing strategies to expand Taher's presence in existing and emerging markets.
- Assist with preparing client presentations, finalist interviews, business development meetings, and related materials.
- Collaborate with internal departments to develop customized service solutions aligned with prospective client needs.
- Track proposal activity, outcomes, client feedback, and opportunities for improvement.
Project Management & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Serve as the primary coordinator for proposal development, establishing schedules, expectations, deliverables, and accountability.
- Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, and executive leadership to gather proposal information.
- Lead proposal kickoff meetings, progress reviews, and final quality assurance activities.
- Monitor project milestones and proactively address missing information, delays, or compliance concerns.
- Manage multiple concurrent proposals while maintaining quality, organization, and deadline adherence.
- Provide timely status updates and recommendations to leadership.
Proposal Content, Systems & Process Improvement
- Develop and maintain standardized proposal templates, content libraries, company profiles, references, and supporting materials.
- Ensure consistency in messaging, branding, formatting, and presentation quality.
- Maintain current and accurate records of company capabilities, operational experience, and approved proposal content.
- Recommend and implement process improvements that strengthen proposal quality and reduce preparation time.
- Evaluate proposal performance, document lessons learned, and identify opportunities to improve future submissions.
- Maintain proposal calendars, tracking systems, and business development documentation.
Sales Support & Relationship Coordination
- Support sales initiatives through research, reporting, presentation development, and project coordination.
- Maintain accurate prospective client information and business development records.
- Coordinate trade shows, marketing materials, and follow-up activities.
- Assist with executive presentations and client communications.
- Represent Taher professionally in interactions with prospective clients and business partners.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, English, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- Five or more years of relevant experience in proposal development, RFP management, business development, marketing, consulting, or professional services.
- Demonstrated experience preparing complex written proposals and coordinating contributions from multiple departments.
- Exceptional business writing, editing, proofreading, and communication skills.
- Strong project management skills, including scheduling, prioritization, and deadline management.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and related business applications.
- Ability to interpret complex solicitation requirements and develop accurate, compliant responses.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated initiative, accountability, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience preparing proposals for K--12 school districts, institutional food service, hospitality, or contract management services.
- Familiarity with public-sector procurement, competitive bidding, and contract proposal requirements.
- Experience supporting regional or national business development initiatives.
- Experience with proposal management software, CRM systems, or document management platforms.
- Familiarity with proposal compliance matrices, content libraries, and formal proposal review processes.
- APMP certification or other relevant proposal management training.
- Experience supporting finalist presentations, client interviews, and business development strategy.
What Success Looks Like
- Complete, accurate, and compelling proposals submitted by established deadlines.
- Strong coordination and accountability throughout the proposal development process.
- Consistent compliance with RFP requirements and client expectations.
- Improved proposal quality, efficiency, and standardization.
- Effective support of client presentations and business development initiatives.
- Contributions to Taher's competitive positioning, business development effectiveness, and new business growth.
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, continuous improvement, and professional excellence.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the application link provided with this job posting.
Taher, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, English, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- Five or more years of relevant experience in proposal development, RFP management, business development, marketing, consulting, or professional services.
- Demonstrated experience preparing complex written proposals and coordinating contributions from multiple departments.
- Exceptional business writing, editing, proofreading, and communication skills.
- Strong project management skills, including scheduling, prioritization, and deadline management.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and related business applications.
- Ability to interpret complex solicitation requirements and develop accurate, compliant responses.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated initiative, accountability, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience preparing proposals for K--12 school districts, institutional food service, hospitality, or contract management services.
- Familiarity with public-sector procurement, competitive bidding, and contract proposal requirements.
- Experience supporting regional or national business development initiatives.
- Experience with proposal management software, CRM systems, or document management platforms.
- Familiarity with proposal compliance matrices, content libraries, and formal proposal review processes.
- APMP certification or other relevant proposal management training.
- Experience supporting finalist presentations, client interviews, and business development strategy.
Monday - Friday, Daytime Hours In order to support the Fair Compensation Strategy by the US Govt., HR Dept., clients are required to adhere to "Pay Transparency Law"; in the impacted states; that have mandated the employers to list the salary ranges in Job advertisements or postings for job opportunities and Job promotions.