Collegiate Bid Specialist

BSN SPORTS, A VARSITY BRANDS COMPANY - THE RECOGNIZED LEADER IN TEAM ATHLETIC GEAR

For over 50 years, BSN SPORTS has been the largest team sporting goods equipment and apparel distributor of choice in the United States. Our 3,000 BSN SPORTS employees strive to support the Heart of the Game by putting valuable time back into the day of coaches and administrators through excellent service platforms. Our company mission is simple: Save coaches and administrators time with everything they do off the field so they have more time to impact young lives on it.

WORK TYPE: Fulltime, Hybrid

LOCATION: Farmers Branch, Texas

COMPENSATION: $25/hour

The base salary will vary based on criteria such as education, experience and qualifications of the applicant, location, internal equity, and alignment with the market.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

The Collegiate Bid Specialist is responsible for overseeing and managing the full cycle of the RFP (Request for Proposal) process for collegiate sports entities. This role includes reviewing RFP requirements, leading proposal development, ensuring compliance, and managing documentation, while tailoring solutions to meet the specific needs of collegiate programs. The Proposal Manager collaborates with internal teams and external partners to deliver detailed, clear, and competitive proposals within deadlines and adheres to regulations. Additionally, the role supports continuous improvement efforts within the RFP processes by driving technology enhancements and process optimization.

What You Will Do

• Understand the RFP Requirements
• Thoroughly review the RFP to understand the scope, deliverables, timelines, and evaluation criteria.
• Understand the specific needs of the collegiate sports entity, including their budget constraints and any special preferences.
• Clearly understand the Brand(s) that will be presented to the school
• Lead the Process to RFP Completion
• Implement an effective way of managing RFP completion from start to finish
• Schedule and lead kickoff calls to get initial questions answered, set timelines and expectations
• Hold business partners accountable for deadlines and work to be completed
• Develop a Comprehensive Proposal
• Provide a Detailed Response: Ensure the proposal addresses every requirement in the RFP with clarity, including the technical, financial, and service-oriented components.
• Align Offerings with Needs: Tailor your solution to meet the specific needs of the collegiate program or event, whether it's for uniforms or equipment.
• Provide Clear Pricing: Offer a competitive and transparent pricing structure, explaining how costs align with the needs outlined in the RFP.
• Compliance and Documentation
• Ensure that all required documents are included, such as certifications, proof of insurance, business licenses, and financial statements.
• Ensure the proposal complies with all regulations, including NCAA or conference-specific requirements if applicable.
• Maintain Regularly Scheduled Updates to Variable RFP Details
• Work with internal teams (sales, legal, finance, operations) to gather necessary information and get approval on the proposal’s content.
• If required, collaborate with external partners (such as vendors or BSN field management) to ensure that their offerings are correctly reflected in the proposal.
• Submit the Proposal
• Ensure the proposal is submitted before the deadline in the correct format (online, via email, or hard copy).
• If submitting multiple brands, make sure each proposal reflects those brands images correctly.
• Double-check for completeness and clarity to ensure the RFP evaluation committee has everything they need to make an informed decision.
• Support Investment and Time to Continuous Improvement
• Work with cross-functional partners to improve efficiency within the Collegiate RFP processes
• Bring open mindedness to technology improvements
• Be a change agent for the rest of the Bid Department, testing and installing new improvements with the Collegiate team that could be translated to the rest of the Department
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Technology Proficiency: Proficiency in proposal management tools, Adobe Acrobat, MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Engage, CRM platform, AI tools, other relevant software. Open-mindedness to exploring and implementing technological improvements.
• Project Management: Knowledge of project management principles and tools, with an understanding of how to effectively coordinate and oversee multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and tasks.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to clearly articulate proposal details, manage internal and external communications, and present the proposal to stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to meticulously review and ensure all RFP requirements are addressed, documents are complete, and proposals are error-free.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Skilled in working across departments (sales, legal, finance, operations) and with external partners to gather necessary information, feedback, and approvals.
• Time Management: Strong organizational and time-management skills to manage tight deadlines, prioritize tasks, and keep the RFP process on track.
• Problem Solving: Ability to identify challenges in the proposal process and develop effective solutions to keep the process moving forward efficiently.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements, managing the RFP process flexibly in response to new information, stakeholder feedback, or evolving client needs.
  
  

Education/Experience

• Bid/RFP experience
• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Certified
  
  

Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional office environment. Largely a sedentary role with some filing requiring the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bending as necessary.

The physical demands that are described as required are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.

JOIN THE BEST TEAM IN SPORT & SPIRIT

At Varsity Brands, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed and every educator wants to make a difference. It takes a team to make a real impact, and through our two divisions – BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit – and our network of 6,000 employees and independent representatives, we are proud to partner with a wide range of educational institutions and club and professional sports to transform the student journey in SPORT and SPIRIT.

OUR VALUES

Service - We lead with heart. We champion community.

Passion - We love what we do. It fuels our purpose.

Integrity - We do what we promise. We own our actions and decisions.

Respect - We earn it by giving it. Because everyone deserves it.

Innovation - We never stop striving to be better. For ourselves and our community.

Transparency - We are committed to openness and honesty in everything we do.

Our Benefits

We are committed to putting you and your families first. For benefits eligible roles, we offer a variety of choices and costs as well as program enhancements that align with our responsibility to elevate the employee experience. Some of our offerings include:

• Comprehensive Health Care Benefits
• HSA Employer Contribution/ FSA Opportunities
• Wellbeing Program
• 401(k) plan with company matching
• Company paid Life, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability
• Generous My Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Varsity Brands Ownership Program
• Employee Resource Groups
• St. Jude Partnership & Volunteer Opportunities
• Employee Perks including discounts on personal apparel and equipment!
  
  

Varsity Brands companies are equal opportunity employers. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.