Senior Proposal Manager – RFP & Cost Estimation

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

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.