Water Proposal Manager

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is seeking a Proposal Manager in Irvine, California. This full-time position involves leading pursuit teams, writing compelling proposals, and developing persuasive materials for the Water industry. A preferred candidate will have at least 6 years of relevant experience in A/E/C proposals and strong communication skills. Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud is required. This role offers opportunities for mentorship and professional development.

Qualifications

• 6 years of experience with A/E/C proposals.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Experience in the Water industry is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams in capture planning and proposal development.
• Write and edit non-technical content for proposals.
• Prepare interview teams and support presentations.

Skills

Strong writing and editing skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Strategic marketing communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

As a Proposal Manager, you’ll sit at the center of some of our most important pursuits and work with our talented technical teams to turn complex ideas into compelling, client‑focused stories that win work and make a real difference.

In the role of Water Proposal Manager, we’ll count on you to:

• Lead and guide pursuit teams through capture planning and proposal development, creating and implementing effective win strategies.
• Facilitate creation of persuasive proposal and interview materials resulting in messaging that is client‑focused, differentiated, and consistent.
• Develop and produce proposals, work plans, and schedules and confirm compliance with RFP/RFQ documents.
• Write, edit, and refine non‑technical content, translating complex technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives.
• Coordinate layouts and graphics in alignment with HDR brand standards and proposal best practices.
• Lead proposal reviews (Blue, Red, QC, and final checks), guiding teams through revisions and recovery.
• Prepare and coach interview teams, supporting storyboarding, rehearsal, and presentation delivery.
• Engage and coordinate technical staff, marketing partners, and subconsultants to keep pursuits moving forward smoothly.
• Support client development efforts by aligning proposal execution and messaging with established client strategies.
• Maintain accurate pursuit information in HDR business development systems (Oracle/EBS, Oscar).
• Facilitate pursuit debriefs to capture lessons learned and continuously improve competitiveness.
• Mentor and support teammates, sharing proposal, marketing, and pursuit best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience supporting A/E/C proposals or pursuits.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Excellent time management, organizational and strategic marketing communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines with professionalism and diplomacy.
• Willingness to travel within the Southern California Area as needed.
• Ability to compose documents onscreen and to communicate graphically.
• Interface with people both inside and outside the firm including clients and sub‑consultants.
• Ability to multi‑task, prioritize, and work independently as well as in team environments.
• Strength in managing multiple deadlines/multi‑tasking skills while providing responsive communication.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with emphasis on superior persuasive writing and presentation; interview coaching ability a plus.
• Enjoy working with different personality styles and management levels.
• Requires little or no direction in area of specialization.
• Positive outlook and attitude.
• Experience supporting pursuit planning and proposal development for competitive A/E/C pursuits; Water industry experience a plus.
• Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry's standard approach to procurement of professional services.
• Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff.

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.

Primary Location

United States-California-Irvine

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full‑time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class

Marketing and Admin

Job Posting

May 7, 2026

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

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

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