Tender & Proposals Manager – Heavy Fabrications

Express Recruitment; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Express Recruitment partners with a leading UK engineering firm to appoint a highly experienced Proposal Manager with a strong estimating and tendering background in heavy fabrication and infrastructure engineering.

You will head the estimating function, securing high-profile projects across Water, Power, and Industrial sectors, while guiding bid strategies, costings, and compliant tender delivery. This full-time, permanent role is office-based, with a salary up to £55k.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in an estimating & tendering role within heavy/structural fabrication sector.
• Experience in producing high quality/high value tenders for blue-chip clients.
• Experience in managing multi-million-pound fabrication budgets.
• Comfortable making the final judgement call on all bid/no-bid decisions.
• Proven experience in continuous improvement of tendering processes to enhance future business growth.
• Manage the preparation of high-end tenders for handover, whilst overseeing full execution.
• Inspect tenders to ensure they are fully compliant and delivered in a timely manner.
• Assess bid and tender strategies, including potential contractual and commercial risks whilst pinpointing correct methodology to follow.
• Review tender documentation, drawings, and specifications.
• Take ownership of final bid decisions.
• Ensure CRM system is kept up to date with all vital information used for reporting and forecasting.
• Review take offs and develop accurate labour, manufacturing, material and subcontractor costings.
• Ensure full compliance to HSEQ policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the key estimating function to secure high-profile projects across heavy fabrication and infrastructure.
• Oversee tender production and handover, ensuring timely completion and accuracy.
• Assess risks and commercial strategy for bids and no-bids, with final decision ownership.

Skills

Estimating and tendering

High value tenders

Budget management

Bid/no-bid decisions

Tender process improvement

Tender preparation and handover

Tender compliance and reporting

Costings review

HSEQ compliance

Job description

Express Recruitment are continuing our working relationship with a well-established engineering firm who have recently been acquired a UK leading organisation. In line with future strategic growth, our client is seeking a highly experienced Proposal Manager from an estimating and tendering background for heavy fabrications and infrastructure engineering.

The successful candidate will lead the key estimating function to secure high-profile projects primarily across the firm’s fabrication sector, which supplies services to leading companies across the Water Engineering Infrastructure, Power, & Industrial sectors.

This is a full time, permanent role, working in the office Monday to Friday.

In return, the successful candidate will receive a competitive starting salary of up to £55k.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in an estimating & tendering role within heavy/structural fabrication sector
• Experience in producing high quality/high value tenders for blue-chip clients
• Experience in managing multi—million-pound fabrication budgets
• Comfortable making the final judgement call on all bid/no-bid decisions
• Proven experience in continuous improvement of tendering processes to enhance future business growth
• Manage the preparation of high-end tenders for handover, whilst overseeing full execution
• Inspect tenders to ensure they are fully compliant and delivered in a timely manner
• Assess bid and tender strategies, including potential contractual and commercial risks whilst pinpointing correct methodology to follow
• Review tender documentation, drawings, and specifications
• Take ownership of final bid decisions
• Ensure CRM system is kept up to date with all vital information used for reporting and forecasting
• Review take offs and develop accurate labour, manufacturing, material and subcontractor costings
• Ensure full compliance to HSEQ policies and procedures

About Express Recruitment

Job Location

Job Type and Hours

Full Time, Permanent