Win-Strategy Proposal Lead

HDR; Saint Louis Park (MN); On-site; USD 78,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR Minnesota seeks a Proposal Manager to lead strategic pursuits and craft compelling client messaging. You’ll partner with business development leaders, project managers and technical staff to develop winning strategies and drive proposals from kickoff to submittal.

This role focuses on shaping pursuit strategy, coordinating teams, guiding interviews and delivering high‑quality, differentiating proposals that reflect HDR's value and capability while advancing community impact.

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 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 clearly communicate HDR's value and differentiators
• Develop and manage proposal schedules, milestones, reviews and deliverables to ensure successful and compliant submissions
• Maintain 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 clearly
• Facilitate consensus among technical staff, project managers and business development leaders
• Engage HDR resources 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 presentations
• Support client positioning and market engagement efforts to strengthen relationships and competitiveness
• Lead debriefs following pursuits to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvement
• Organize and archive proposal 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 HDR's proposal process, tools and best practices
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal teams, clients and teaming partners
• Maintain awareness of market trends, procurement drivers and competitive activity impacting HDR's clients and pursuits

Skills

Strategic pursuit leadership

Proposal management

Cross-functional collaboration

Win strategy development

Client-focused messaging

Public speaking / interviews

Project coordination

Negotiation

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe InDesign

Job description

HDR Minnesota seeks a Proposal Manager to lead strategic pursuits and craft compelling client messaging. You’ll partner with business development leaders, project managers and technical staff to develop winning strategies and drive proposals from kickoff to submittal.

This role focuses on shaping pursuit strategy, coordinating teams, guiding interviews and delivering high‑quality, differentiating proposals that reflect HDR's value and capability while advancing community impact.