Proposal Manager

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Saint Louis Park (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, based in Minnesota, seeks a Proposal Manager to lead marketing pursuits from kickoff to submittal, partnering with business development, project managers and technical staff to craft winning strategies and client-focused messages.

You'll guide cross-functional teams, manage proposal schedules, and ensure compliant, compelling submissions while coaching teams on interview presenting and pursuit handling for HDR's clients and markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business or related field.
• Experience leading major strategic pursuits and interview teams.
• Experience coaching technical staff and interview teams.
• Demonstrated success facilitating win strategy discussions and developing capture plans.
• Strong understanding of market trends, client drivers and competitive positioning within the A/E industry.
• Active participation in industry organizations and professional associations.

Responsibilities

• Lead pursuit teams to develop and implement win strategies and capture plans.
• Serve as Marketing Proposal Champion for pursuits with leadership and accountability.
• Facilitate kickoff meetings and align strategy, messaging, responsibilities, and schedules.
• Drive development of compelling, client-focused proposals that convey HDR's value.
• Develop and manage proposal schedules, milestones, reviews and deliverables.
• Ensure complete and compliant responses by understanding procurement requirements.
• Create persuasive win themes and messages aligned with client needs.
• Collaborate across pursuit teams to articulate HDR's capabilities clearly.
• Guide technical staff, project managers and BD leaders through the pursuit process.
• Lead proposal reviews and quality control for consistency and messaging.
• Coach interview presentations and support client positioning activities.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comm.

Sales strategy

Win strategy development

Leadership of cross-functional teams

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Outlook

Adobe InDesign

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.

Proposal Manager

In the role of Proposal Manager, you'll serve as the Marketing Proposal Champion for various pursuits, leading teams through the proposal process from kickoff through interview preparation and submittal. You'll partner closely with business development leaders, project managers and technical staff to develop winning strategies, create compelling client‑focused messaging and drive pursuits that position HDR for success.

This role goes beyond simply responding to requests for proposals. Proposal Managers at HDR help shape pursuit strategy, facilitate collaboration across teams and ensure our proposals clearly articulate why HDR is the best choice for our clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead pursuit teams in developing and implementing effective win strategies and capture plans
• Serve as the Marketing Proposal Champion for pursuits, providing leadership, ownership and accountability throughout the proposal lifecycle
• Facilitate kickoff meetings and guide teams toward alignment on strategy, messaging, responsibilities and schedules
• Drive the development of compelling, client‑focused proposals that go beyond "answering the mail" to clearly communicate HDR's value and differentiators
• Develop and manage proposal schedules, milestones, reviews and deliverables to ensure successful and compliant submissions
• Maintain a thorough understanding of procurement requirements, submittal instructions and evaluation criteria to ensure complete and compliant responses
• Develop persuasive win themes, discriminators and key messages that align with client needs and priorities
• Partner with pursuit teams to identify competitive advantages and articulate HDR's capabilities in a clear and compelling manner
• Facilitate consensus among technical staff, project managers and business development leaders throughout the pursuit process
• Engage the appropriate resources across HDR to support proposal and interview development efforts
• Lead proposal reviews and quality control efforts to ensure consistency, quality and strategic messaging
• Facilitate the development of interview presentations and coach teams to deliver compelling and effective presentations
• Support client positioning activities and market engagement efforts that strengthen relationships and improve competitiveness
• Lead debriefs following pursuits to identify lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement
• Deconstruct, organize and archive proposal and presentation materials for future use and knowledge sharing
• Train and mentor employees on proposal development, business development and marketing best practices
• Serve as a resource for questions related to HDR's proposal process, tools and best practices
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, clients and teaming partners
• Maintain awareness of market trends, procurement drivers and competitive activity impacting HDR's clients and pursuits

What Success Looks Like

Successful Proposal Managers:

• Think strategically about winning, not simply submitting
• Lead proposal response teams and influence decisions through credibility and collaboration
• Gain consensus among diverse stakeholders and keep teams focused on client priorities
• Clearly defining project and review deadlines and holding team accountable for meeting those
• Translate technical information into persuasive, client‑focused messaging
• Anticipate risks, identify gaps and proactively resolve issues before they impact a pursuit
• Understand client drivers, competitive positioning and relationship dynamics
• Bring ownership, urgency and accountability to every pursuit
• Drive continuous improvement in pursuit strategy, process and quality

These characteristics align closely with HDR's expectations for strong Proposal Managers, including strategic thinking, leadership, business development acumen and executive presence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business or related field
• Experience leading major strategic pursuits and interview teams
• Experience coaching technical staff and interview teams
• Demonstrated success facilitating win strategy discussions and developing capture plans
• Strong understanding of market trends, client drivers and competitive positioning within the A/E industry
• Active participation in industry organizations and professional associations

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years relevant industry experience
• Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight
• Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including InDesign

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location

United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park

Industry

Marketing/Communications

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Marketing and Admin

Job Posting

Aug 5, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an Affcialitive Action and Equal Opportunity Employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.