Proposal Manager

Gray Architects & Engineers, LLC; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Gray AES is seeking a Proposal Manager to lead RFP development across our offices in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Lexington, and Louisville. The role emphasizes cost estimating, deliverables management, and cross-functional coordination to win bids while upholding service excellence.

The position requires experience in proposals, budgeting, and hand-offs from sales to execution, with strong communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced, engineering-advisory environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in STEM, manufacturing, professional services, or related industries.
• 3+ years in standard project management practices: scope, budget, goals, requirements.
• Demonstrated understanding of the industrial manufacturing space and our solutions.
• Knowledge of proposals, budgeting, sales-to-execution hand-off, lifecycle management.
• Ability to multi-task across multiple efforts and shifting priorities.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office tools for communication, presentation, and collaboration.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Energetic, self-motivated team player who values collaboration and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Owns the coordination and development of all cost estimates and materials for RFPs.
• Manages cross-functional team to review customer requirements within an RFP and associated terms.
• Owns creating and communicating a deliverables matrix with roles, resource assignments, and schedule.
• Prepares cost estimating spreadsheets and proposal content per internal standards.
• Develops final cost and resource needs with Technical Business Unit input.
• Supports pre-project planning with understanding of PM fundamentals and skillsets.
• Monitors performance and escalates issues as needed.
• Promotes leadership practices, accountability, and ethical behavior.
• Supports safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Job description

Overview

Gray AES is looking to add a Proposal Manager to either our Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, Charlotte, NC, Cincinnati, OH, Lexington, KY, or Louisville, KY, office!

Responsibilities

Why Gray AES?

Gray is a family‑owned, fully integrated global service provider specializing in engineering, design, construction, digital, equipment manufacturing, and real estate services. Deeply rooted in EAC services, Gray serves both domestic and international customers across our core markets:Food & Beverage,Manufacturing,Automotive,Distribution,Mission Critical, andCommercial. At Gray, our purpose is to make a positive difference in people's lives and build a better future.

Gray AES, the professional services arm of Gray, is a top-ranked firm offering architecture, engineering, and automation services across the globe. Made up of multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, and project managers, these collaborative teams work every day to provide unique, customized solutions for our customers. It’s the spirit of our people – the passion, commitment, and a great team environment – that makes our company a great place to work.

Visa Sponsorship: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Who we want…

• 5 or more years relevant experience in a STEM field, manufacturing, professional services, or related industries.
• 3 or more years of experience in standard project management practices, including project scope, budget, goals, technical and functional requirements.
• The candidate must possess a demonstrated understanding of the industrial manufacturing space and our solutions.
• Knowledge of proposals, project budgeting, sales to execution hand-off, and lifecycle management.
• Ability to multi-task across multiple efforts and fluctuating priorities.
• Candidate must have familiarity with Microsoft Office tools and products for normal business communication, presentation of information, and collaboration.
• The position will include customer interaction at a functional and technical level, candidates must possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The team member should be an energetic, self‑motivated individual who enjoys a team environment, as well as a passion for collaboration and professional development. If you are a high achiever striving to exceed expectations in a fast‑paced innovative company, then Gray is the place for you.

Qualifications

What we expect…

• Owns the coordination and development of all cost estimates and materials required to fulfill any customer request for proposal (RFP) in pursuit.
• Manages cross functional teamto review customer requirements within an RFP, inclusive of any associated contract terms to be addressed. Ensures appropriate workflow is completed so all matters appropriately considered and reflected in outward communications.
• Owns creating and communicating deliverables matrix; this includes roles & responsibilities, proposal team resource assignments, and schedule to ensure proposal completion by submission deadlines.
• Prepares cost estimating spreadsheet, proposal content structure, and other supporting documents per internal standards, and saves to appropriate storage locations for collaboration.
• Develops final cost and resource needs in collaboration with Technical Business Unit representatives.
• Supports the pre-project planning with strong understanding of Project Management fundamentals, project roles, and individual skillsets among the resource pool.
• Ability to monitor and identify individual or proposal team performance issues, escalating to the appropriate party.
• Demonstrate our leadership practices and our core values. Hold others accountable by promoting and celebrating corresponding behaviors and demonstrating ethical ambition.
• Supports our safety, quality, continuous improvement process, training, and other best practices; Other duties may be assigned.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the team member is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands or arms and talk or hear. They may occasionally be required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision.

Generally, normal office environment where noise level is moderate and temperature/humidity is controlled. Overtime may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

EEO Disclaimer

Gray is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes everyone to apply.Allqualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender

#GrayAES

#LI-TK1