Proposals Manager

Wates Smartspace; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Wates is seeking a Proposals Manager to join our team in Newbury, driving bids across our construction portfolio. You will coordinate content, ensure alignment with client requirements and collaborate with cross-functional experts to produce compelling submissions.

With strong writing, organisation and stakeholder management skills, you will lead bid programmes, review meetings and drive continuous improvement of our submissions process to win work and build lasting client relationships.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading bids, proposals or work-winning activity in construction or related sectors.
• Strong writing skills and ability to translate technical information into clear client-focused content.
• Excellent organisation and ability to manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and production of bids, proposals, presentations and supporting documentation, ensuring submissions meet client requirements and business objectives.
• Coordinate bid programmes, facilitate review meetings and manage content development to deliver compelling, accurate submissions on time.
• Drive continuous improvement of the bid process, maintain content libraries and capture lessons learned for future submissions.

Skills

Bid management

Proposal writing

Stakeholder management

Content creation

Job description

Are you passionate about creating compelling proposals that win work and build lasting client relationships? Do you enjoy bringing people together, shaping persuasive messages and turning great ideas into high-quality submissions?

We are looking for a Proposals Manager to join our team based out of Newbury, supporting the successful delivery of compelling bids and proposals across a diverse portfolio of construction opportunities.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a central role in our work-winning function, helping to shape high‑quality submissions that showcase our capabilities and differentiate us in the market. Working closely with Business Development, Pre‑Construction, Operational and Commercial teams, you will coordinate the bid process from opportunity identification through to submission, ensuring exceptional standards of quality and consistency throughout.

The role would suit an organised and creative individual who enjoys bringing people together, managing multiple priorities and producing winning proposals that help secure exciting projects across the region.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll lead the development and production of bids, proposals, presentations and supporting documentation, ensuring submissions are aligned with client requirements and business objectives.

Working with subject matter experts from across the business, you'll coordinate bid programmes, facilitate review meetings and manage content development to ensure submissions are compelling, accurate and delivered on time.

You'll help drive continuous improvement within the bid process, maintaining content libraries, capturing lessons learned and identifying opportunities to enhance the quality and effectiveness of future submissions.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone with proven experience in a Proposals Manager, Bid Manager, Bid Coordinator or similar work‑winning role within construction, property, engineering or a related sector.

You'll have excellent written communication skills and a strong eye for detail, with the ability to translate technical information into clear, engaging and client‑focused content.

Strong organisational skills are essential, along with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels. Experience of coordinating complex bids and working within a collaborative team environment will be highly beneficial.

Why Join Wates?

• Be part of a successful and growing work‑winning team
• Support major construction opportunities across a diverse range of sectors
• Play a key role in securing projects that shape communities and create lasting value
• Join a collaborative and supportive business with a strong pipeline of future opportunities
• Benefit from excellent learning, development and career progression opportunities
• Competitive salary and benefits package, with flexibility where possible

Our commitments:

Wates is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work. As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme. Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at [e-mail]