Proposal Specialist

AECO; City of Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work hours

Hybrid work options

Global career opportunities

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a senior Proposal Manager to lead the development of large, complex proposals across multiple business lines and regions from capture through to the interview stage. You will drive capture planning, coach teams for interviews, and ensure high-quality responses that meet client requirements.

With 8+ years in bid management, you will coordinate proposal reviews, support strategic decisions, and act as a subject matter expert across sectors.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in bid and proposal management or similar roles.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple bids with tight deadlines.
• Ability to translate complex technical content into clear visuals and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of large, complex proposals across multiple lines and regions from capture to interview.
• Facilitate capture planning workshops and strategy sessions for winning pursuits.
• Coach proposal teams in interview prep, Q&A, and presentation delivery.
• Coordinate proposal quality reviews (Pink/Red Team) and apply lessons learned.
• Support Go/No-Go decisions and ensure compliance with governance.
• Review client feedback to drive continuous improvement across proposals and markets.
• Serve as a subject matter expert collaborating with marketing and account managers.
• Lead internal training, special projects, and guidance to team members.
• Take ownership of proposal performance and accountability for delivery.

Skills

Bid & Proposal Management

Stakeholder communication

Project management

Written communication

Presentation skills

Job description

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Proposal Management

Collaborate with business line growth teams and operational leaders to support the pursuit and acquisition of new business opportunities. Lead the development of high-quality responses to client RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs, ensuring compliance with bid requirements, timelines, and established pursuit processes.

Manage the delivery of print, digital, and presentation-based proposal submissions while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and a high standard of quality. Conduct market research and competitive analysis, leveraging data, systems, and business intelligence tools to inform proposal strategies and support broader business growth and strategic planning initiatives.

Job Summary

• Lead the development of large, complex proposals across multiple business lines and regions, supporting opportunities from capture through to the interview stage.
• Facilitate capture planning workshops and strategy sessions to support the development of winning pursuit strategies.
• Coach proposal teams in interview preparation, Q&A responses, and presentation delivery to strengthen client engagement.
• Coordinate and facilitate proposal quality reviews (Pink Team and Red Team), apply lessons learned to improve proposal outcomes, and serve as a compliance or review team member on other pursuits.
• Contribute to Go/No-Go decisions by providing strategic recommendations, supporting advanced capture planning, and ensuring compliance with delegation of authority and legal requirements.
• Review client feedback and internal debriefs to identify trends, capture lessons learned, and drive continuous improvement across proposals and markets.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for specific clients, portfolios, or sectors, collaborating with marketing, client account managers, and business lines to develop pursuit strategies and client-focused content.
• Support the development and delivery of internal training programs, lead special projects, and provide guidance to team members, including direct reports where applicable.
• Take overall ownership of proposal performance and be accountable for the successful delivery of proposal activities.

Qualifications

• With 8+ years' experience in bid and proposal management or similar roles, such as Pursuit Partner, Bid & Proposal Partner, Tender Specialist, or Proposal Specialist.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to produce compelling, high-quality proposal content.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple bids simultaneously while meeting competing deadlines through strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
• Experience translating detailed written content into visually engaging graphics or presentations is highly desirable and considered a strong advantage.

Additional Information

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.