Senior Proposals Manager (Energy)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

WSP My Hour

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

WSP UK & Ireland is seeking a strategic Senior Proposals Manager to join our Energy team. You will lead the pursuit process for high‑value bids across the Island of Ireland and coordinate cross‑functional teams to develop client‑focused proposals from capture planning to bid closure.

This role requires UK‑wide travel and a proactive approach to delivering winning solutions. Based in the UK with travel across the UK and Ireland, you will drive bid governance, mentor colleagues, and deliver

Qualifications

• Degree in an appropriate subject is required.
• APMP Foundation or equivalent is the minimum qualification.
• Strong experience creating tenders in energy sector markets.
• Experience in engineering and construction bid environments.
• Excellent bid governance, writing, and management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex, high-value bids as bid manager or senior support.
• Ensure bid governance and reviews are followed across bids.
• Collaborate with Opportunity Directors to tailor solutions for clients.
• Develop and manage capture planning and full bid lifecycle.
• Coach colleagues on bid processes and skills.
• Share market and competitor insights to inform future proposals.

Skills

Bid management

Proposal writing

APMP Foundation

MS Office

Adobe InDesign

Engineering & construction experience

Energy sector tenders

Leadership

Communication skills

Project management

Time management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe InDesign

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A Little More About Your Role

At WSP UK & Ireland, we are looking for a strategic and motivated Senior Proposals Manager to join our Energy team. This high‑impact position plays a key role in securing profitable business for WSP by managing our most important bid projects in the Island of Ireland. Reporting to the Energy Proposal Team Lead, you will lead and manage the pursuit process, collaborate across teams to deliver high‑quality, client‑focused proposals from the initial capture planning process through the full bid lifecycle. The role requires UK‑wide and Ireland travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex and high‑value strategic bids as bid manager or in senior support roles depending on size and complexity.
• Ensure that the appropriate bid governance and bid review processes are followed.
• Provide input to the strategic bid capture planning process.
• Work with the client and the Opportunity Director to develop customised solutions that meet the client's specific needs and help them achieve their objectives.
• Assist in opportunity qualification throughout.
• Understand internal and external customer requirements and provide resource expertise, support, management and leadership of strategic bids.
• Provide challenge to operational, technical, commercial and financial proposals to facilitate the development of solutions that provide greatest benefit for the business while delivering customer requirements and needs.
• Work with the bid authors/solution architects to convert knowledge from operational and business development staff into winning solutions and proposals.
• Support lessons learned from bids by analysing each bid, including customer feedback, to identify and share good practice with operational, bid and business development staff across the business and suggest improvements to process and team dynamics.
• Train and coach colleagues on the bid process and associated skills.
• Collate market and competitor information useful to WSP in future propositions and bids.

The Post Requires a Person Who Will

• Provide leadership to their appointed bids to deliver the optimum quality/price solution, keeping the team well informed, organised and clear of their objectives and associated timelines.
• Work collaboratively with Opportunity Directors, bid colleagues, operational managers, sector and commercial teams to develop and/or advise on tailored solutions in response to tender invitations.
• Understand client needs and advise on and develop the quality and integration of the solution, setting the standard of quality required.
• Build relationships quickly to deliver efficient and effective work within newly created bid teams.
• Convert knowledge from operational and business development staff into winning solutions and proposals.
• Analyse each bid to identify and share good practice with operational, bid and business development staff across the business, providing support to cross‑cutting initiatives and bids to help WSP achieve its corporate objectives.
• Collate market and competitor information that will be useful to WSP in future propositions and bids.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

• Qualified to degree level in an appropriate subject.
• APMP Foundation or equivalent as a minimum.
• Accurate and proficient working knowledge in Microsoft Office, Adobe suite, InDesign (desired) and graphics skills.
• Previous experience in a similar role in engineering and construction.
• Expert experience producing tenders in the Energy sector markets that WSP operates in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• An acknowledged senior bid manager with a demonstrable record of success in winning bids.
• Good awareness and understanding of bid governance and bid review processes; expert bid writing and management skills, and commercial skills.
• Thorough understanding of public and private procurement processes in the UK/Ireland.
• Strong and effective verbal and written communication, team player, collaborative.
• Robust project management skills with a meticulous approach to detail and quality.
• Strong time‑management skills and ability to prioritise.
• Adopt a pro‑active approach, use initiative and take responsibility for own actions.
• Ability to assimilate large volumes of information and understand, plan and manage associated workflows.
• Develop strong relationships and rapport with external clients and internal colleagues.
• Excellent people skills to lead, encourage, motivate and enthuse others.
• A passion for quality and continuous improvement with a focus on delivery.
• Confidence to delegate to all levels, where required.
• A strong use of oral and written English, with the ability to present complex ideas in a straightforward and simple way.
• Exhibit and demonstrate behaviours and attitudes in accordance with WSP core values to create a team culture and promote excellent communications.
• Support and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Work‑Life Balance

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We encourage people to bring their whole, authentic selves to work so our work represents the fullest spectrum of society and promotes a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Health & Wellbeing

We support our people with programmes such as Thrive, a Virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, the Gymflex scheme, a comprehensive menopause support package and other benefits.

Flex Your Time

WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part‑time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your Development

We invest in your growth through training, mentoring and charityship opportunities.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria; please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.