Proposal Manager ( Water treatment Industry )

Ultiwise Consult; Sharjah; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UAE seeks a Proposal Manager to lead proposals and tendering processes. This senior role requires a blend of technical expertise and leadership, managing a team of proposal engineers across projects in water and wastewater treatment. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in technical proposal development, strong client engagement skills, and proficiency in relevant software tools.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in technical proposal development.
• At least 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.
• Proven expertise in leading large-scale proposals for water and wastewater treatment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the proposal and tendering function.
• Oversee preparation of technical and commercial proposals.
• Build and maintain relationships with key clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Proposal management

Leadership

Technical expertise

Client engagement

Process engineering

Cost estimation

Education

Bachelor's / Master’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering

Tools

MS Office Suite

AutoCAD

Job description

Designation: Proposal Manager

Responding to: Commercial Director

Company Overview: The Client has been a pioneering force in the United Arab Emirates since its establishment in 1992. Our journey has seen us transform from a modest provider of desalination systems to a forward-thinking enterprise, dedicated to delivering comprehensive water-centric services and innovative solutions.

Position Overview: As a Proposal Manager at the client, you will lead the proposals and tendering process across all business verticals, ensuring high-quality, timely, and strategically aligned submissions. This senior role demands a strong blend of technical expertise, leadership, and commercial acumen. You will manage and guide a team of proposal engineers and interface closely with senior management, clients, vendors, and internal departments to drive business growth through successful bids.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead and manage the proposal and tendering function for EPC projects in Water & Wastewater Treatment, Oil & Gas, and Municipal sectors.
  • Define and implement proposal strategies, governance frameworks, and best practices to maximize win probability and operational efficiency.
  • Provide strategic input for bid / no-bid decisions, risk evaluation, and executive-level business planning.
  • Drive process improvements, knowledge sharing, and adoption of standardized tools across global proposal operations.
• Team & Resource Management
  • Manage a cross-border team of proposal engineers located in UAE and India, ensuring seamless collaboration and resource utilization.
  • Assign workloads, set priorities, and monitor progress across multiple proposals simultaneously.
  • Mentor, coach, and develop team members to build technical and managerial capabilities.
  • Conduct performance reviews, define KPIs, and ensure continuous skill development across both regional teams.
  • Establish succession plans and training programs to support long-term team sustainability.
• Proposal Development & Governance
  • Oversee preparation of technical and commercial proposals, ensuring alignment with client specifications, company policies, and compliance requirements.
  • Review and approve process designs, PFDs, P&IDs, BOQs, cost estimates, and execution strategies.
  • Implement standardized proposal templates, systems, and documentation to maintain consistency across UAE and India teams.
  • Ensure proposals undergo proper internal reviews, approvals, and risk assessments prior to submission.
• Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Coordinate with engineering, procurement, design, finance, legal, and project management teams to integrate accurate inputs into proposals.
  • Partner with business development and sales teams to align proposals with client objectives and market positioning.
  • Represent the company in client-facing presentations, technical clarifications, and commercial negotiations during pre-award phases.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key clients, consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors to strengthen the company’s market competitiveness.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting
  • Track bid pipeline, proposal performance, and win / loss ratios, and present detailed reports to executive management.
  • Conduct post-bid analysis to capture lessons learned and implement continuous improvements.
  • Benchmark team performance ensuring consistency, knowledge transfer, and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s / Master’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering (or equivalent).
• Minimum 15 years of experience in technical proposal development, including at least 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.
• Proven expertise in leading large-scale proposals for water and wastewater treatment projects (UF, RO, ZLD, STP, ETP, DM, MBR, MBBR, etc.) and EPC contracts in the Oil & Gas sector.
• Strong knowledge of SWRO (Seawater Reverse Osmosis), process engineering, system design, equipment selection, budgeting, and cost estimation.
• In-depth understanding of industry standards and regulatory compliance requirements in the Middle East.
• Demonstrated ability to manage proposal teams with strong project planning, coordination, and leadership skills.
• Hands-on experience in costing and market bench marking within UAE & GCC.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and client engagement skills, with the ability to interface at senior stakeholder levels.
• Proficient in proposal software, MS Office Suite, AutoCAD, and design tools for hydraulic and process calculations.