New Job Opening: Proposals Manager (Heavy Civil Construction)
Location: Flexible (Multiple openings across the US)
Compensation Package: $150-180k basic + attractive benefits
This job description outlines the key responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required for an experienced Proposals Manager within the heavy civil construction sector for a top 20 ENR-ranked general contractor. The ideal candidate will have 12-15 years of progressive experience and a proven track record of leading winning proposals for large-scale, complex infrastructure projects across highways, tunnelling, rail, and bridge construction.
Position Summary
The Proposals Manager will lead and manage the entire proposal process for all alternative delivery projects, including design-build, P3, and CMAR. This role is responsible for the development of high-quality, persuasive, and compliant proposals that effectively communicate our firm’s value proposition and secure new contracts. The manager will lead multidisciplinary teams, including internal subject matter experts, joint venture partners, and design consultants, ensuring a seamless and collaborative effort from initial opportunity identification through to final submission and presentation.
This is a highly strategic role that requires a deep understanding of the heavy civil market, exceptional leadership skills, and outstanding attention to detail.
Key Responsibilities
- Proposal Strategy & Leadership: Direct the full proposal lifecycle, from “go/no-go” decisions and kick-off meetings to final submission. Develop and implement a winning strategy and a detailed timeline for each bid.
- Content Development: Lead the creation of all proposal materials, including qualifications, technical proposals, and presentations. This involves a heavy emphasis on technical writing, editing, and quality control.
- Team Coordination: Serve as the central point of contact, coordinating inputs from diverse teams across multiple departments such as estimating, operations, engineering, and legal. Ensure all contributions are aligned with the overall proposal strategy and comply with client requirements.
- Compliance & Risk Management: Analyze all RFP documents to ensure complete understanding of and strict adherence to all client requirements and submission guidelines. Proactively identify and manage potential risks throughout the proposal process.
- Visual Communication: Work with graphic designers and technical staff to create compelling visual elements, such as diagrams, charts, and infographics, that effectively tell the project’s story.
- Continuous Improvement: Conduct post-proposal reviews and “lessons learned” sessions to identify areas for improvement and maintain a robust library of reusable content, including templates, boilerplate text, and project case studies.
- Mentorship: Train and mentor junior staff and proposal contributors on best practices for proposal development, writing, and strategy.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Experience: 12-15+ years of experience managing and winning proposals within the heavy civil construction or engineering industry. Must have extensive experience with large-scale, complex projects such as bridges, highways, tunnels, rail, and water infrastructure.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Marketing, or Communications.
- Technical Acumen: A strong understanding of heavy civil construction processes, project delivery methods, and industry-specific terminology.
- Communication & Writing: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to write persuasive, clear, and concise content. Must be an expert editor and proofreader.
- Software Proficiency: High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop) for document production and design.
- Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex proposals simultaneously under tight deadlines.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and develop creative solutions that highlight a competitive advantage.
- Industry Certifications: Professional certification from a relevant organization such as the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) is highly desirable.
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