Bid/Proposals Technical Author

Buro Happold Limited; Greater London, Manchester, Leeds, Bath; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Buro Happold Limited in London is seeking an exceptional Bid/Proposals Technical Author at Associate Director level to lead the development of high-quality proposal narratives across our major transport and infrastructure portfolio.

You will turn complex technical solutions into persuasive content, coordinate multidisciplinary inputs and mentor colleagues while driving bid quality assurance and compliance. This is a senior, influential role with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Accomplished proposal, bid or technical author with senior-level influence.
• Exceptional writing, editing and content-structuring skills.
• Significant experience in proposal authoring or technical writing within engineering or infrastructure.
• Strong track record of shaping high-scoring submissions for major bids.
• Experience with public-sector bids and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Ability to interpret client requirements and translate into persuasive content.
• Mentoring colleagues and developing authoring capability across an organisation.
• Ideally membership or certification such as CIEP or APMP.

Responsibilities

• Lead the authorship of technical responses for major infrastructure bids.
• Create precise, compliant and persuasive content aligned with client requirements.
• Interpret evaluation frameworks and shape responses to differentiate our offer.
• Turn complex methodologies into engaging narratives.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary responses and strengthen contributions.
• Review content for quality, completeness and compliance.
• Collaborate with bid, resourcing and commercial leads to align submissions.
• Manage bid quality assurance processes, including stage reviews.
• Support pipeline planning and apply lessons learned to future submissions.
• Develop tailored case studies and value propositions for infrastructure markets.

Skills

Exceptional writing

Proposal authoring

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring colleagues

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional Bid/Proposals Technical Authour - Major Transport & Infrastructure Sector to join us at Associate Director level and lead the development of high-quality, compelling proposal narratives across our major infrastructure portfolio.

Ideally London, although exceptional candidates based in Bath, Manchester or Leeds will also be considered on a hybrid working model.

Lead the narrative on major infrastructure projects

Buro Happold is an international, integrated consultancy of engineers, designers and advisers. We are committed to creating a positive impact for people, places and the planet by tackling complexity with creativity and delivering sustainable solutions that provide long-term value.

Working across highways, rail, water, environment and energy, you will help translate complex technical solutions into clear, persuasive and client-focused submissions. You will also have opportunities to contribute to prestigious international Cities and Infrastructure pursuits.

This is a senior and influential role that will play an important part in supporting our major infrastructure growth strategy in the UK.

What will you be doing?

• Lead the authorship of technical responses for major infrastructure bids.
• Create precise, compliant and persuasive content aligned with client requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Interpret evaluation frameworks and shape responses that address scoring criteria and clearly differentiate our offer.
• Turn complex technical methodologies, evidence and value propositions into engaging, accessible narratives.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary technical responses and challenge, clarify and strengthen contributions from internal and external collaborators.
• Review technical content for quality, completeness, consistency and compliance.
• Collaborate with bid, resourcing and commercial leads to align submissions with delivery strategies, resource plans and commercial positioning.
• Manage bid quality assurance processes, including stage reviews.
• Support early pipeline and pursuit planning, and applying lessons learned to improve future submissions.
• Develop tailored case studies and value proposition narratives for infrastructure markets.
• Contribute to marketing, presentation and thought-leadership content.
• Mentor colleagues, coach technical contributors and champion continuous improvement in technical writing, including the use of AI and automation.

What are we looking for?

You will be an accomplished proposal, bid or technical author with the confidence to operate at senior level and influence multidisciplinary teams.

• Exceptional writing, editing and content-structuring skills.
• Significant experience in proposal authoring, bid writing, technical writing or professional drafting, including within engineering, infrastructure, construction, government, policy or legislative environments.
• A strong track record of shaping successful, high-scoring submissions for major bids.
• Experience of public-sector bids and frameworks, working with technical experts across engineering and environmental disciplines.
• The ability to interpret complex client requirements and translate technical information into clear and persuasive content.
• Experience within a design and build environment, or close collaboration with consultants and contractors.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• The ability to manage several proposals concurrently while maintaining consistently high standards.
• Experience reviewing and improving content produced by others.
• A commitment to mentoring colleagues and developing authoring capability across an organisation.
• Ideally, relevant professional membership or certification, such as CIEP or APMP.

While you will support opportunities across our water, energy and sustainability markets, the primary focus of this role will be transportation. Experience of the transport sector and an understanding of clients such as National Highways, Network Rail, government departments and local authorities will therefore be particularly valuable.

Why this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take a visible leadership role in some of Buro Happold's most important infrastructure pursuits. You will work alongside senior technical and market specialists, shape how complex solutions are communicated and help raise the standard of technical authoring across the organisation.

If you are passionate about excellent technical communication, enjoy working with talented multidisciplinary teams and can turn specialist expertise into compelling, client-focused bid content, we would be interested in hearing from you.

What we offer you

Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.

Hybrid working arrangements.

Attractive salary and benefits package including, private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection.

10% Car allowance

Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.

Generous company pension scheme.

Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.

Enhanced parenthood leave policies.

3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.

A strong commitment to your continuous development.

Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you.

Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions

A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.

A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.

An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.

Our culture and values

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [e-mail] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.