Proposals Manager in Manchester

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

At WSP, the people who win work are integral to shaping our future. As a market‑leading multidisciplinary consultancy with a clear vision and ambitious growth plans, our Proposals Managers sit at the heart of our success. They play a critical role in securing the opportunities that drive our business forward and position WSP for long‑term success in a highly competitive market.

What You’ll Get

This role offers genuine autonomy and accountability. We trust our people to lead with confidence, think differently and challenge the status quo, supported by clear frameworks, structured training and a strong professional community. Alongside leading bids, you’ll help strengthen our work winning capability by sharing best practice, driving continuous improvement and embedding innovation across the lifecycle. This is a place where people don’t just do a job, they build long‑term careers. With continued investment in our people and our work‑winning capability, this role offers real opportunity to grow, influence strategy and help shape the future of WSP.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage strategic opportunities through the full WSP Work Winning Lifecycle, taking ownership from capture and qualification, through to bid preparation, submission, lessons learnt and handover.
• Take responsibility for understanding client requirements, commercial and contractual terms, and proposed delivery models to ensure solutions align to client needs and are clearly articulated.
• Develop and own win strategies, value propositions and key messages, ensuring our differentiators are clearly evidenced and aligned to client priorities.
• Write, review and shape high‑quality, compliant and compelling proposal content, working hands‑on with Subject Matter Experts to integrate technical content into coherent responses.
• Ensure all submissions fully comply with client requirements, WSP governance and quality standards, coordinating reviews and facilitating approvals through to final submission.
• Influence and communicate effectively at senior level, working closely with bid sponsors, technical leads, commercial teams and external partners to shape offers and secure buy‑in.
• Support and coach project teams in preparing for client interviews and presentations, translating written strategies into confident, persuasive verbal responses.
• Act as a focal point for proposals best practice, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and support junior team members, helping to build capability and strengthen our proposals community.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate…

• Experience working on complex proposals, with a strong understanding of services and delivery models within the Project and Cost Management discipline preferred (not essential).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop, edit and shape clear, compelling and compliant proposal responses.
• Strong command of the English language, with proven experience writing and reviewing high‑quality bid content under time pressure.
• Robust project management capability, with the ability to plan, prioritise and manage multiple workstreams while maintaining high quality standards and attention to detail.
• Confidence building relationships and influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, technical experts and partners.
• A proactive, self‑motivated approach, with the confidence to take ownership, exercise sound judgement and see tasks through to completion.
• A strong focus on quality, continuous improvement and delivery, with a genuine interest in strengthening our work winning capability.
• An interest in using new and evolving digital bidding tools and techniques to improve efficiency, quality and client impact.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Join our close‑knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long‑lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Work‑life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work‑life balance, WSP offers the ‘WSP My Hour’, allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part‑time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.