EP045: Managing a Proposal Team – with Faye Farmer
Large organizations often have multiple proposal managers working across different departments with a diverse number of subject matter experts. So, how does the leader of a proposal team think about assigning RFPs? How do they help their proposal managers navigate relationships with SMEs? What are they looking for in the interview process? And how do the best managers play to the strengths of their team and promote their professional growth?
Faye Farmer is the Executive Director of Research and Development at Arizona State University. In her role, Faye is responsible for expanding the research impact and footprint at ASU, and to that end, her team developed more than $750M in proposals to federal and corporate funding agencies in 2018 alone. Faye is certified through APMP and remains committed to incorporating industry best practices in proposal management and competitive intelligence in the world of academia. Faye has a decade of experience in growing the research productivity of the faculty and research scientists at ASU.
Today, Faye joins us to discuss the ins and outs of managing a proposal team, explaining why burnout is her top concern and how she fosters a community of caring. She describes how to create a culture of respect between proposal managers and SMEs and offers insight around establishing a social contract to define the parameters of that relationship. Listen in to understand what characteristics Faye looks for in proposal managers and learn how she leverages an understanding of personality types to play to the strengths of her team!
Key Takeaways
How Faye’s team supports ASU faculty in developing a research portfolio
Faye’s argument for adopting proposal industry standards in academia
Why burnout is Faye’s greatest challenge in managing proposal managers
How Faye fosters a community of caring among her team at ASU
How to create a culture of respect between proposal managers and SMEs
Faye’s emphasis on building relationships with the faculty at ASU
How Faye’s team empowers the faculty to make a contribution to the world
The challenge Faye’s team faces in explaining how they can help
How Faye coaches her proposal managers through scenario planning
The value in considering personality type and playing to people’s strengths
Why Faye suggests establishing a social contract with SMEs
The characteristics Faye looks for in hiring proposal managers
Qualifications, ability to translate to industry standards
Innate curiosity and high drive
Passion for writing + gift for editing