Senior Proposals Manager (Water)

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The Senior Proposals Manager plays a pivotal role in driving the growth and success of the Water business unit by orchestrating the creation and delivery of high-impact bid submissions. You will be responsible for managing and motivating multidisciplinary teams, including business leaders, technical experts, and proposal specialists, to produce tailored, persuasive proposals that not only fulfill client requirements but also showcase the strengths and ambitions of the organisation. Through the design and execution of robust win strategies, meticulous tender planning, and clear communication, the Senior Proposals Manager ensures that every submission is compelling, competitive, and aligned with both client objectives and business goals.

A little more about your role

This role demands expertise in establishing and guiding bid teams, fostering productive relationships with partners, and overseeing the entire proposal lifecycle from initial opportunity through to successful handover. The Senior Proposals Manager is instrumental in embedding best practices into the work winning process, continually enhancing performance through coaching, mentoring, and the development of team members. Their leadership ensures that each bid not only stands out in a competitive marketplace but also contributes to the ongoing development and reputation of the Water business unit.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex and high value strategic bids as Bid Manager or other senior support roles as required depending on size and complexity of the bid.
• Ensure that the appropriate bid governance and bid review processes are followed.
• Provide input to the strategic bid capture planning process.
• Work with the Opportunity Director to develop customised solutions that meet the client's specific needs and helps them achieve their objectives.
• Assist in prospect qualification throughout.
• Understand internal and external customer requirements and provide resource expertise, providing support, management and leadership of strategic bids.
• Provide challenge to operational, technical, commercial and financial proposals to facilitate the development of solutions that provide greatest benefit for the businesses while delivering customer requirements and needs.
• Work with the bid authors/solution architects to convert knowledge from operational and business development staff into winning solutions and proposals.
• Support lessons learned from bids. Analyse each bid, including customer feedback, to identify and share good practice with operational, bid and business development staff across the business and suggest improvements to process and team dynamics.
• Train and coach colleagues on the bid process and associated skills.
• Collate market and competitor information that will be useful to WSP in the future.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• Significant relevant bid management experience
• Good experience of producing tenders in the markets that WSP operates in.
• An acknowledged senior proposals manager with a demonstrable record of success in winning bids
• A good awareness and understanding of bid governance and bid review processes. Good bid writing and management skills, and commercial skills.
• Qualified to degree level in an appropriate subject
• APMP Foundation as a minimum
• Thorough understanding of procurement process
• Strong and effective verbal and written communication
• Robust project management skills with a meticulous approach to detail and quality
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritise.
• Adopt a pro active approach, use initiative and take responsibility for own actions
• Ability to assimilate large volumes of information and understand, plan and manage associated workflows
• Develop strong relationships and rapport with partners and internal colleagues
• Excellent people skills to lead, encourage, motivate and enthuse others
• A passion for quality and continuous improvement with a focus on delivery
• Confidence to delegate to all levels, where required
• A strong use of oral and written English, with the ability to present complex ideas in a straightforward and simple way
• Exhibit and demonstrate behaviours and attitudes in accordance with WSP core values to create a team culture and promote excellent communications.
• IT Literate
• Support and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

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