Proposals Manager and Senior Writer

Balfour Beatty Plc; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure firm is seeking a Proposals Manager and Senior Writer to join their team in London. This role involves managing tender submissions and leading the writing of proposals to secure major projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in bid writing and project management, supported by excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail. A competitive salary and flexible working arrangements are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual leave

Pension savings schemes

Enhanced family friendly policies

Qualifications

• Experience with long-term strategic tenders and proposal writing techniques.
• Ability to manage complex tenders using various tools.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage submissions for bids effectively using standard work winning tools.
• Support proposal writing and ensure quality submissions.
• Collaborate with team members and external partners throughout bid processes.

Skills

Proposal writing

Project management

Collaboration

Bid writing skills

Office365

Presentation skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Education

Relevant degree or experience

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Teams

SharePoint

Job description

About the role

Balfour Beatty has an exciting opportunity for a Proposals Manager and Senior Writer to join our Major Projects Work Winning team based in Canary Wharf, London.

As part of our Major Projects Bids and Proposals Team, you'll work on the largest infrastructure opportunities across the UK. The role will have flexible working arrangements, although a minimum number of core days is expected to be based in Canary Wharf, London.

What you'll be doing

As a Proposals Manager and Senior Writer, your main accountabilities will be split between proposals management or writing duties to support the development of world class tender submissions.

In the Proposals Management role, this will include:

• Ensuring our PQQ and ITT quality submissions are managed and planned out effectively and efficiently using our suite of standard work winning tools
• Supporting the Head of Bids and Proposals to ensure the workload is adequately resourced with the right levels of expert support, including the necessary reviewers and question owners
• Providing oversight and support to all writers contributing to our submissions
• Line management duties for writers within the wider work winning team
• Management of external third parties, such as graphical design teams, behavioural consultants and external proposals writers as required
• Ensuring compliance with our preferred ways of working, agreeing any deviations with the Head of Bids and Proposals
• Managing the final production and formatting aspects of the proposal – including ownership of the ‘look and feel’ of submissions, working closely with in-house or external graphics teams
• Playing a key role in reviewing the developing proposals submissions – from storyboarding through to final responses. This includes ensuring all submissions fully address the scoring criteria, meet all technical requirements and are fully proofed
• Contributing to the early planning stages of major pursuits in terms of developing the Win Strategy and undertaking Competitor Analysis
• Proactively seeking to look for opportunities to make the bid process more efficient, bespoke to the unique requirements of the bid.

The Senior Writer role, where proposals management is not required, will include:

• Ensuring a deep understanding of the customer’s requirements for pre-qualification
questionnaires and tender submissions, to gather, collate and develop responses that meet requirements
• Assisting the Bids and Proposals Team in developing win themes and value propositions using appropriate tools and techniques, including support to developing ‘Playbooks’ for long-term pursuits
• Developing storyboards, answer plans, first and final drafts for tender responses – based on tender strategy meetings and engagement with subject matter expertise
• Owning the full written delivery of the final technical responses, focused on our client’s requirements by selling our value propositions in accordance with the scoring criteria
• Assisting the Head of Bids and Proposals to support all work winning activities
• Maintaining regular communication with the Bids and Proposals Team, wider Work Winning Team and any necessary subject matter expertise in the development of tender submissions
• Identifying and writing up project innovations and best practice for case studies to support future proposals
• Updating individually allocated case studies, which may include carrying out site visits to gather the very latest information
• Interviewing subject matter experts and project teams to develop compelling, behaviourally focussed CVs
• Extracting quality outputs from submissions for sharing via the Work Winning Hub for reuse.

Who we're looking for

The following qualities/experience are essential:

• Previous experience of working on long-term, strategic tenders with a thorough knowledge of the techniques and methods of proposal writing
• Ability to project manage complex tenders using a range of tools
• Ability to collaborate across all tiers of the organisation
• Excellent bid and report writing skills
• A thorough knowledge of Office365 and the use of SharePoint and Microsoft Teams
• Strong presentation skills with excellent attention to detail, spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Attention to detail and the ability to see tasks through to completion
• A self-starter who can manage their own time effectively and who proactively seeks and executes better ways of working operating with minimal oversight
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to liaise with subject matter expertise outside of the core team
• A laser focus on answering the technical requirements of client tenders
• Experience of publishing and formatting submissions
• Works well in a team with good interpersonal and influencing skills
• Ability to manage time effectively, proactively seeking activities that will add value to their function.

The following qualities/experience are desirable:

• Knowledge of the construction industry, ideally with experience of working for a Tier 1 Main Contractor
• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop (in this order)
• Line Management experience
• Ability to utilise AI where AI helps provide efficiencies, without sacrificing the accuracy of information.

Why work for us

Our people are our biggest asset and we focus on recruiting, training and developing the people who can apply innovation to deliver the infrastructure of the future. We nurture these talents, offer a great benefits package in addition to a competitive base salary and continually invest in developing the skills of our people at every level.

Some of our key benefits are:

• An attractive/negotiated salary;
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays;
• Pension savings schemes;
• Enhanced maternity/paternity and family friendly policies;
• Access to our Refer and Earn scheme;
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Major Projects business is delivering some of the UK’s most complex and iconic infrastructure projects. Using the latest technology, we’re driving productivity and creating a lasting legacy by delivering sustainable solutions that strengthen communities.

From consultancy and design, to all aspects of construction and maintenance. We have the proven expertise to deliver large-scale projects safely and successfully.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/