Proposal Manager

Purpose

This is a role for strategic thinkers who want to influence outcomes, work at the heart of our business and play a defining role in how we grow.

As a Proposal Manager, you’ll lead strategic pursuits across the full Work Winning Lifecycle - from early positioning and strategy through to submission and handover. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, technical experts and proposal professionals, you’ll build high-performing bid teams, shape compelling win strategies, deliver high-quality, profitable proposals and ensure a seamless transition into delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage strategic opportunities through the full WSP Work Winning Lifecycle, supporting capture and qualification activity and taking ownership of the proposals process through bid preparation, submission, lessons learnt and handover.
• Take responsibility for understanding client requirements, commercial and contractual terms, and proposed delivery models to ensure solutions align to client needs and are clearly articulated.
• Support Opportunity Directors / Managers and wider bid teams in the development of win strategies, value propositions and key messages, ensuring our differentiators are clearly evidenced and aligned to client priorities.
• Write, review and shape high-quality, compliant and compelling proposal content, working hands-on with Subject Matter Experts to integrate technical content into coherent responses.
• Ensure all submissions fully comply with client requirements, WSP governance and quality standards, coordinating reviews and facilitating approvals through to final submission.
• Influence and communicate effectively at senior level, working closely with bid sponsors, technical leads, commercial teams and external partners to shape offers and secure buy-in.
• Support and coach project teams in preparing for client interviews and presentations, translating written strategies into confident, persuasive verbal responses.
• Support the ongoing quality and maintenance of pipeline data in Horizon, working with relevant teams to ensure opportunity information is accurate, complete and up to date.
• Coordinate dashboard analysis and data extracts to support the UK monthly reporting cycle, including reviewing and reporting key work winning metrics.
• Act as a focal point for proposals best practice, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and support junior team members, helping to build capability and strengthen our proposals community.
• Support the ongoing maintenance and development of the Bid Knowledge Library, ensuring relevant and reusable content is captured, kept up to date and readily accessible to bid teams.
• Work with individuals and teams to develop and maintain high-quality CVs and case studies, ensuring these accurately reflect relevant experience, capabilities and project outcomes and can be effectively reused in future pursuits.
• Support the analysis of bid outcomes to identify where and why we are winning or losing and apply these insights to improve future bids.

Required qualifications & experience

• Education
  • A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required (e.g. engineering, business, marketing, or communications).
  • APMP Foundation certification preferred.
• Experience:
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in bids/proposals, business development, or work-winning roles within engineering consultancy or related professional services. Experience working in an offshore delivery environment, collaborating with onshore teams across geographies and time zones. Expert knowledge of proposal lifecycle management, competent in pricing / commercial aspects of work winning with a demonstrable record of success in winning bids.
  • Proven experience writing, reviewing, editing and shaping high-quality, clear, compelling and compliant proposal responses under time pressure.
  • Proficient working knowledge in Microsoft Office, Adobe Suite, InDesign (desired) and graphics skills, with experience using AI tools to support proposal development.
• Industry Knowledge:
  • Deep familiarity with the engineering and environmental consultancy sector (or similar industries such as construction, infrastructure, or professional services). Understanding of how large consultancies pursue and win work (e.g. multi-million-dollar bids, long-cycle proposal processes, public and private sector clients) is essential. Experience of, or familiarity with, Advisory and/or Management Consultancy services would be advantageous.
• Communication
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to collaborate effectively, build relationships with external clients and internal colleagues, lead and motivate others, delegate confidently when required, and present complex ideas clearly and simply
• Continuous improvement:
  • An interest in using new and evolving digital bidding tools and techniques to improve efficiency, quality and client impact.
• Integrity and Compliance
  • Uncompromising commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality (especially with sensitive client bid data), and following all corporate compliance processes during pursuits.

BGV:

• Employment with WSP India is subject to the successful completion of a background verification (“BGV”) check conducted by a third-party agency appointed by WSP India.

• Candidates are advised to ensure that all information provided during the recruitment process - including documents uploaded - is accurate and complete, both to WSP India and its BGV partner”.