Proposal Manager

United Living Group; Havant; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medicash plan

Life insurance

Company pension

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Job summary

United Living Group is looking for a Proposal Manager to lead and manage high-quality bids for water sector projects. This role is critical in developing strategies for significant tenders, ensuring compliance, and working closely with various stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have a degree in engineering or a related field and over 5 years of relevant experience. This opportunity offers the chance to be part of an innovative team focused on delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in bid management or proposals.
• Proven experience managing significant bids valued at £10m or more.
• Strong planning, organisation, and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end management of strategic bids.
• Develop and own bid plans and governance.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for proposal development.

Skills

Bid management experience

Strong written communication

Understanding of water sector procurement

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders

Education

Degree in engineering or related discipline

Job description

Proposal ManagerSkip to main contentWe use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalised ads or content, and analyse our traffic. By clicking "Accept All" you consent to our use of cookies.#Proposal Manager page is loaded## Proposal ManagerApplylocations: Afeco - Havant: Afeco\_Tamworthtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: JR100581As part of the United Infrastructure Group, we are a dynamic and innovative specialist engineering services, solutions and products provider focused on servicing our clients’ immediate and future needs. We do this through the development of industry-changing cleantech products as well as through engineering delivery excellence. We specialise in the design and delivery of process, mechanical, electrical and ICA engineering-based projects, products and solutions. Regardless of the project, they all pursue the same goal: to improve the efficiency and sustainability of our water, wastewater and waste treatment. We have a team of highly skilled and experienced professionals with extensive consulting and contracting experience, including engineers, scientists and commercial managers. Our knowledge and expertise spans more than 30 years, across industries including: water, wastewater, marine, energy and power sectors. At AFECO, we cover all stages of the innovation and project delivery cycle from concept through to operations. Our aim is simple – to provide the most effective solutions and products on the market and thus, exceed clients expectations through market-leading technology. From technical through to commercial and management expertise, we have the in-house expertise to execute a range of projects from the most basic to highly complex.Company DescriptionAbout usAFECO is an engineering services provider, delivering high quality process and MEICA design and installation projects predominantly across the South of England and Midlands for the water industry. We have excellent inhouse engineering teams capable of delivering all stages of the project cycle, from concept through to commissioning, with a strong focus on process led innovative and robust yet appropriate solutions.We have a portfolio of varied projects covering both wastewater and clean water projects for planned and reactive projects.Due to the expansion of our team, we are currently recruiting for an Administrative Assistant to work within our multi-disciplinary teams. This is a great opportunity for enthusiastic individuals who fit in with our company values and are keen to develop in a forward-thinking organisationJob DescriptionRole PurposeThe Proposal Manager is responsible for leading, managing, and delivering high-quality, compliant, and competitive bids for major opportunities within the water sector. This role focuses on complex, high-value, and strategically important tenders across water and wastewater infrastructure, treatment, networks, and asset management frameworks.The role requires strong leadership of multidisciplinary bid teams, deep understanding of water sector procurement, and the ability to translate technical, commercial, and operational inputs into compelling, client-focused proposals.Key Responsibilities Bid & Proposal Management* Lead end-to-end management of significant and strategic bids from opportunity identification through submission and post-bid review* Develop and own bid plans, programmes, and governance for complex water sector tenders* Ensure all submissions are fully compliant with client requirements, procurement regulations, and internal approvals* Manage multiple concurrent bids with varying values, timescales, and complexityWater Sector Expertise* Apply detailed knowledge of the water industry, including AMP cycles, regulatory drivers (e.g. Ofwat, EA, DWI), and client priorities* Understand delivery models such as frameworks, alliances, joint ventures, D&B, DBO, and capital maintenance contracts* Interpret water company objectives around resilience, sustainability, customer outcomes, carbon reduction, and innovationStakeholder & Team Leadership* Collaborate with multidisciplinary bid teams including engineering, commercial, planning, delivery, sustainability, digital, and supply chain* Act as the central point of coordination between internal teams, partners, and joint venture organisations* Influence senior stakeholders to secure resources, approvals, and timely inputsProposal Development & Quality* Develop win strategies, value propositions, and key messages aligned to client scoring criteria* Oversee and, where required, author high-quality written responses that are clear, persuasive, and evidence-based* Ensure proposals demonstrate strong understanding of risk, opportunity, and whole-life valueCommercial & Risk Awareness* Work closely with commercial and estimating teams to ensure proposals align with pricing, risk, and delivery assumptions* Contribute to bid/no-bid decisions, risk assessments, and commercial strategies* Ensure proposals clearly articulate commercial robustness, value for money, and risk mitigationContinuous Improvement* Capture lessons learned from bid outcomes and feedback from clients* Develop and maintain bid best practice, templates, and standard responsesKey Skills & Competencies* Proven experience managing significant or complex bids within the water or wider utilities/infrastructure sector* Strong understanding of water sector procurement processes and client expectations* Excellent written communication and proposal development skills* Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and deadlines under pressure* Strong planning, organisation, and attention to detail* Confident facilitator with the ability to challenge and influence senior contributor* Experience working with UK water companies and AMP frameworks* Knowledge of NEC, alliancing, or framework-based contracting models* Familiarity with sustainability, carbon, digital delivery, and innovation themes in water* APMP (or equivalent) qualificationQualificationsQualifications & Experience* Degree or equivalent experience in engineering, business, commercial management, or a related discipline* 5+ years’ experience in bid management, proposals, or work-winning roles within water, utilities, or infrastructure* Experience of leading bids valued at £10m+ (or strategically significant frameworks)Additional informationSalary and benefits· Medicash plan· Life insurance· Benefits portal· Company pension· 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)Join us at AFECO and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.