Proposal Manager

Smart Justice California; United States; Remote; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global water solutions company is seeking an experienced Proposal Manager to drive the proposal development process within its Measurement & Control Solutions group. This role requires a blend of technical knowledge and excellent writing skills, with a strong focus on producing compliant and compelling proposals in response to client needs. Candidates should demonstrate robust technical and communication abilities, working collaboratively with various stakeholders to achieve success in this pivotal position. The role also emphasizes adaptability and proactive problem-solving within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in proposal management preferred.
• Strong writing and editing skills for complex technical information.
• Proficient in various proposal tools and AI-assisted workflows.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full proposal lifecycle, ensuring high-quality submissions.
• Develop response strategies for RFPs and RFQs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring compliance and client alignment.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Collaboration

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Technical Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Business, Engineering, Technical Writing, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams

SharePoint

Job description

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

About the Role

Xylem is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Proposal Manager to lead the development of high-quality proposals within our Measurement & Control Solutions group. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of the proposal development process—from kickoff through submission—across a range of opportunities, including small-scale letter proposals and highly complex, strategic bids.

You will serve as a key contributor in shaping compelling, customer-focused proposals in response to RFPs and RFQs, with a strong emphasis on technical accuracy. The Proposal Manager will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, engineering, project management, legal, and other internal stakeholders and SMEs, to ensure every proposal is compliant and aligns with client needs as well as with Xylem’s business objectives.

Note: This position is primarily remote; however, some travel to the Raleigh and/or Charlotte areas will be required for onboarding and periodically thereafter (<10%).

Job Responsibilities

• Manage the full proposal lifecycle, from opportunity intake through final submission, ensuring timely, compliant, and high-quality work products.
• Interpret and analyze solicitation documents (e.g., RFPs, RFQs) to develop comprehensive response strategies, outlines, and schedules.
• Write, edit, and format proposal content using Xylem’s internal boilerplate library, tailoring messaging to effectively communicate complex technical solutions within defined templates.
• Identify when subject matter expert (SME) input is needed and coordinate those engagements to ensure accuracy and depth in the response.
• Facilitate internal proposal reviews, ensuring all messaging is clear, customer-focused, compliant, and strategically positioned.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of Measurement & Control Solutions’ products and solutions.
• Collaborate with the content team to ensure accuracy of existing materials within the boilerplate library, and to add new content as needed.
• Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing proposal processes, templates, tools, and content quality.

• 5–7 years of experience in proposal management, preferably in a technical or engineering-focused environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Business, Engineering, Technical Writing, or a related field.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, persuasive content.
• Highly motivated, adaptable, and eager to learn, with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Excellent verbal communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage cross-functional teams and subject matter experts.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, especially under time-sensitive conditions.
• Confident managing deadlines and holding contributors accountable while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat; working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Teams, and SharePoint preferred.
• Familiarity with utilizing proposal tools or navigating content libraries is a plus.
• Must be comfortable working within AI-assisted proposal development workflows, including reviewing and refining AI-generated content where appropriate..
• Graphic design experience (e.g., Adobe InDesign, PowerPoint formatting) is a plus.
• Up to 10% travel may be required to the Raleigh area for candidates based outside the region.