Proposal Manager

Schneider Electric; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Schneider Electric is seeking an experienced Proposals Manager in Australia to lead the Proposal, Tender and Quotation function across the Pacific region. This strategic leadership role turns complex opportunities into winning proposals, guiding bid strategy, pricing, risk and execution feasibility.

You will manage a team of tender professionals, collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Projects, Finance and Legal to improve win rates, profitability and proposal quality for strategic opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing complex bids, tenders, proposals or quotations.
• Track record of contributing to winning bids and commercially successful proposals.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including pricing, costing, margins and risk.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a complex or matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end management of complex tenders, bids, proposals and quotations across strategic Capex and Opex opportunities.
• Participate in Go/No-Go and Bid/No-Bid decisions, assessing technical feasibility, commercial attractiveness, risk and win potential.
• Engage early with Sales to understand customer requirements and develop bid/win strategies.
• Manage multiple bids in parallel, prioritising opportunities by strategic and commercial value.
• Coordinate responses across functions to RFQs, RFTs and customer specs; ensure compliant submissions.

Skills

Bid management

Tender management

Proposal development

Commercial acumen

Pricing

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Project management

Strategic thinking

Education

Engineering, Business, Commerce, Project Management or related discipline

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Proposals Manager to lead our Proposal, Tender and Quotation function across the Pacific region.

This is a strategic leadership role responsible for turning complex customer opportunities into competitive, commercially sound and winning proposals. Beyond managing the bid process, you will help determine where and how we compete, bringing commercial discipline to opportunity qualification, bid strategy, pricing, risk and execution feasibility.

You will lead a team of proposal and tender professionals and work closely with Sales, Engineering, Projects, Services, Finance, Legal and other stakeholders to improve win rates, profitability and proposal quality across strategic industrial opportunities.

What You Will Do

• Lead the end-to-end management of complex tenders, bids, proposals and quotations across strategic Capex and Opex opportunities.
• Participate in Go/No-Go and Bid/No-Bid decisions, assessing technical feasibility, commercial attractiveness, risk and our ability to win.
• Engage early with Sales to understand customer requirements, qualify opportunities and develop compelling bid and win strategies.
• Manage multiple bids in parallel, prioritising opportunities based on their strategic and commercial value to the business.
• Analyse RFQs, RFTs, customer specifications and commercial conditions and coordinate responses across multiple functions.
• Define bid strategies, timelines, governance, deliverables and ownership to ensure high-quality, compliant and on-time submissions.
• Lead commercial discussions around pricing, cost, margin, contractual terms, assumptions, risks and deviations.
• Review pricing models and cost estimates, balancing price-to-win, acceptable margin, execution feasibility and commercial risk.
• Lead bid reviews and present strategies, risks and commercial recommendations to senior leadership for approval.
• Work closely with Sales, Engineering, Project Management, Services, Finance, Legal and other stakeholders to develop compelling customer solutions and articulate our value proposition.
• Support customer clarification and negotiation processes and ensure a smooth handover from successful bid into project execution.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Tender Specialists, Estimators and Proposal professionals, managing priorities and resources across multiple opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement across tendering processes, tools, templates, governance and ways of working.
• Contribute directly to business growth by improving win rates, revenue secured, gross margin and overall commercial outcomes.

About You

You are an experienced Bid, Tender, Proposal or Commercial Manager who combines strong commercial judgement with the ability to bring together complex technical and commercial solutions.

Importantly, you understand that successful tendering isn't about pursuing every opportunity. You can critically assess where the business has a strong right to win, challenge assumptions and guide teams towards opportunities that deliver sustainable commercial value.

You will bring:

• Significant experience managing complex bids, tenders, proposals or quotations, ideally for multi-disciplinary solutions.
• A track record of contributing to winning bids and commercially successful proposals.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including pricing, costing, margins and commercial risk.
• Good understanding of the commercial, contractual, technical and operational dimensions of tendering.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a complex or matrix environment.
• Proven people leadership and coaching capability.
• Strong project management, planning and organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple bids and competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• The confidence to challenge assumptions, make recommendations and drive accountability.
• Exceptional attention to detail, combined with the ability to see the bigger commercial picture.
• The ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a complex environment.
• A tertiary qualification in Engineering, Business, Commerce, Project Management or a related discipline.

What Kind of Experience Are We Looking For?

Experience In Industrial Automation Is Desirable But Not Essential.

We are interested in candidates who have led complex, multi-disciplinary proposals in industries such as:

• Industrial technology and automation
• Energy and utilities
• Engineering and EPC
• Infrastructure
• Mining and resources
• Electrical or power solutions
• Construction
• Technology and digital solutions
• Other complex solution-based industries

What matters most is your ability to understand complex customer requirements, determine which opportunities are worth pursuing, coordinate technical and commercial stakeholders, manage risk and develop competitive and profitable proposals.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to have a direct impact on how we win and grow our business across the Pacific region.

You will influence strategic opportunities from the earliest qualification stage through to contract award, working with senior stakeholders and leading an experienced team that plays a critical role in converting opportunities into profitable business.

You will join Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management, automation and digitalisation, working at the intersection of technology, industrial transformation and sustainability.

If you are a commercially minded bid or proposal leader who knows how to bring people together, make disciplined commercial decisions and win complex opportunities, we would love to hear from you.

Rewards designed for you

Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: We see you and we value you. It’s more than just pay and benefits—it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed to help you perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential. The package helps you care for yourself and your family, plan your future, grow your skills and career, collaborate in an inclusive workplace, and contribute to your community. At Schneider Electric, we’re here for what matters most to you. Discover more at our Career Page.

• Country-specific programs and initiatives may be available.

Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?

When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us.

IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world.

We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electr