Bid Strategist- Proposals

Company: National Society for Black Engineers
Location: San Jose
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Join Axon and be a Force for Good.

At Axon, we're on a mission to Protect Life. We're explorers, pursuing society's most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products, we work better together. We connect with candor and care, seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers, communities and each other.

Life at Axon is fast-paced, challenging and meaningful. Here, you'll take ownership and drive real change. Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter.

Bid Strategist

As a Bid Strategist at Axon, you'll leverage deep market knowledge to develop targeted proposals that address customer needs and win complex, high-value bids. Collaborating closely with senior internal stakeholders, including Proposal Managers, Sales, Product Managers, Marketing, Engineering, Legal, and Competitive Intelligence, you'll provide strategic insight and guidance to shape highly competitive proposals. Your input will directly influence Axon's approach to critical bids, ensuring proposals clearly highlight Axon's unique strengths and improve our chances of winning. This role offers a unique opportunity to significantly impact major business wins and advance Axon's mission-driven growth in public safety.

What You'll Do

Location: Must be located within commuting distance in Scottsdale, AZ- Seattle, WA, or Boston, MA
Reports To: Director of Global Proposals
Direct Reports: None

• Bid Strategy Creation: Lead bid strategy creation for complex, high-value opportunities, collaborating cross-functionally to integrate clear win themes and competitive differentiators. Apply commercial acumen, sales strategies, customer insights, market trends, and Axon's solutions to produce targeted proposals that maximize win probability. Provide strategic oversight to ensure proposal content effectively communicates Axon's strengths and aligns with customer needs, market conditions, and competitive insights.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Work closely with proposal managers and subject matter experts to ensure proposals clearly communicate Axon's strengths, align with customer priorities, and reinforce our competitive advantage. Regularly collaborate with senior stakeholders from Sales, Product Management, Marketing, Engineering, Legal, and Finance to ensure proposals are consistent, clear, and aligned with company strategy. Facilitate strategic discussions and align cross-functional input throughout the proposal lifecycle-from initial analysis through final submission.
• Competitive Differentiation: Ensure proposals consistently emphasize Axon's unique value, align with strategic objectives, and meet compliance requirements. Conduct market and competitor analyses to identify clear, actionable differentiators that help Axon win bids. Recommend and implement strategic enhancements and innovative best practices within the bid strategy process.
• Proposal Content and Management Oversight: Identify and implement process improvements to make Axon's bids more competitive and successful. Mentor and coach proposal managers to improve their strategic thinking, proposal-writing skills, and professional growth. Promote a high-performance culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and strategic excellence within proposal teams.
  What You Bring
  
  • 7-10 years in bid strategy, proposal management, or strategic planning, demonstrating expertise in bid development, strategic analysis, and competitive positioning. History of successfully leading complex bids.
  • Deep analytical ability to interpret market trends; proven capability in developing compelling, customer-focused bid strategies and persuasive content.
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated capability to influence cross-functional, geographically dispersed senior teams, driving alignment on complex bid strategies.
  • Advanced proficiency in bid management software (RFPIO, Qvidian, Qorus), CRM systems (Salesforce), Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, and Teams; strong analytical, strategic problem-solving abilities.
  • Evaluate, recommend, implement strategic improvements in bid strategy processes; continuously elevate competitive effectiveness.
  • Strategic mentorship and coaching; enhance proposal development skills and strategic thinking within proposal teams.
    Preferred Qualifications
    
    • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA or related) strongly preferred.
    • 7-10 years' experience in bid strategy, proposal management, or strategic planning roles within complex or highly regulated procurement environments.
    • Demonstrated expertise in market analysis, competitive positioning, and bid strategy formulation for high-value bids.
    • Advanced analytical capabilities, with experience translating complex market data into actionable bid strategies.
    • Demonstrated capability influencing senior-level internal stakeholders across multiple departments (Sales, Engineering, Legal, Finance).
    • APMP Professional-level certification strongly preferred.
    • Advanced proficiency in bid management tools, CRM (Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite.
      This role demands a strategic, analytical, and collaborative professional who can navigate complex procurement landscapes and drive proposal success. If you are driven by challenge and the opportunity to lead Axon to new heights in competitive RFPs and tenders, we look forward to your application.
      
      The Pay: Axon is a total compensation company, meaning compensation is made up of base pay, bonus, and stock awards. The starting base pay for this role is between USD 89,505 in the lowest geographic market and USD 143,208 in the highest geographic market. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: level, function, training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, geographic market, and often a combination of all these factors. Our benefits offer an array of options to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. To see more details on our benefits offerings please visit www.axon.com/careers/benefits.
      
      Benefits that Benefit You
      
      • Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
      • Discretionary paid time off
      • Paid parental leave for all
      • Medical, Dental, Vision plans
      • Fitness Programs
      • Emotional & Mental Wellness support
      • Learning & Development programs
      • And yes, we have snacks in our offices
        Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work.
        
        The Pay: Axon is a total compensation company, meaning compensation is made up of base pay, bonus, and stock awards. The starting base pay for this role is between USD 89,505 in the lowest geographic market and USD 143,208 in the highest geographic market. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: level, function, training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, geographic market, and often a combination of all these factors. Our benefits offer an array of options to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. To see more details on our benefits offerings please visit www.axon.com/careers/benefits.
        
        Don't meet every single requirement? That's ok. At Axon, we Aim Far. We think big with a long-term view because we want to reinvent the world to be a safer, better place. We are also committed to building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve.
        
        Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they check every box in the job description. If you're excited about this role and our mission to Protect Life but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification listed here, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
        
        Important Notes
        
        The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all duties, responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. The job description may change or be supplemented at any time in accordance with business needs and conditions.
        
        Some roles may also require legal eligibility to work in a firearms environment.
        
        Axon's mission is to Protect Life and is committed to the well-being and safety of its employees as well as Axon's impact on the environment. All Axon employees must be aware of and committed to the appropriate environmental, health, and safety regulations, policies, and procedures. Axon employees are empowered to report safety concerns as they arise and activities potentially impacting the environment.
        
        We are an equal opportunity employer that promotes justice, advances equity, values diversity and fosters inclusion. We're committed to hiring the best talent - regardless of race, creed, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances - and empowering all of our employees so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or special need that requires assistance or accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please email recruitingops@axon.com. Please note that this email address is for accommodation purposes only. Axon will not respond to inquiries for other purposes.
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Keywords: National Society for Black Engineers, Merced , Bid Strategist- Proposals, Other , San Jose, California