Senior Proposal Manager (Ireland)

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. You can 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 Ireland, we are looking for a strategic and motivated Senior Proposals Manager to join our Transport and Infrastructure team. This is a high impact position; this person will play a key role in securing profitable business for WSP by managing our most important bid projects in the Island of Ireland. Reporting to the Civil, Roads and II Proposal Team Lead, you will play a pivotal role leading and managing the pursuit process, collaborating across teams to deliver high quality client focused proposals, from the initial capture planning process through the full bid lifecycle.

Once assigned to a bidding opportunity, the Senior Proposal Manager will take charge of managing and supporting the bid team, communicating with clients and partners, organising review and approval meetings, and submitting the proposal. They will lead the formulation of winning strategies, client solutions, tender planning, and response delivery, and ensure successful handover to the delivery team upon winning the opportunity. You will also champion best practices in work-winning through personal projects, coaching, and training initiatives, overseeing the management and development of any staff under their management. The position requires UK-wide and Ireland travel.

Key Responsibilities

• To lead and manage complex and high value strategic bids as bid manager or other senior support roles as required depending on size and complexity of the bid.
• To ensure that the appropriate bid governance and bid review processes are followed.
• Provide input to the strategic bid capture planning process.
• Work with client and the Opportunity Director to develop customised solutions that meet the client's specific needs and help them achieve their objectives.
• Assist in opportunity qualification throughout.
• To understand internal and external customer requirements and provide resource expertise, providing support, management and leadership of strategic bids.
• To provide challenge to operational, technical, commercial and financial proposals to facilitate the development of solutions that provide greatest benefit for the businesses while delivering customer requirements and needs.
• Work with the bid authors/solution architects to convert knowledge from operational and business development staff into winning solutions and proposals.
• Support lessons learnt from bids.
• Analyse each bid, including customer feedback, to identify and share good practice with operational, bid and business development staff across the business and suggest improvements to process and team dynamics.
• Train and coach colleagues on the bid process and associated skills.
• Collate market and competitor information that will be useful to WSP in the future.

Role Accountabilities

• Provide leadership to their appointed bids to deliver the optimum quality/price solution, keeping the team well informed, organised and clear of their objectives in terms of the outputs required and their associated timelines.
• Work collaboratively with Opportunity Directors, bid colleagues, operational managers, sector and commercial teams to develop and/or advise on the development of tailored solutions in response to tender invitations.
• Work to understand client needs and advise on and develop the quality and integration of the solution, setting the standard of quality required.
• Build relationships quickly to deliver efficient and effective working within newly created bid teams.
• Convert knowledge from operational and business development staff into winning solutions and proposals.
• Analyse each bid to identify and share good practice with operational, bid and business development staff across the business, providing support to cross cutting initiatives and bids in order for WSP to achieve its corporate objectives.
• Collate market and competitor information that will be useful to WSP in future propositions and bids.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate...

• Qualified to degree level in an appropriate subject.
• APMP Foundation as a minimum.
• Accurate and proficient working knowledge in Microsoft Office, Adobe Suite, InDesign (desired) and graphics skills.
• Previous experience in a similar role in engineering and construction.
• Expert experience of producing tenders in the Roads and Civil markets that WSP operates in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
• An acknowledged senior bid manager with a demonstrable record of success in winning bids.
• Good awareness and understanding of bid governance and bid review processes.
• Expert bid writing and management skills, and commercial skills.
• Thorough understanding of public and private procurement processes in the UK/Ireland.
• Strong and effective verbal and written communication, team player, collaborative.
• Robust project management skills with a meticulous approach to detail and quality.
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritise.
• Adopt a pro-active approach, use initiative and take responsibility for own actions.
• Ability to assimilate large volumes of information and understand, plan and manage associated workflows.
• Develop strong relationships and rapport with external clients and internal colleagues.
• Excellent people skills to lead, encourage, motivate and enthuse others.
• A passion for quality and continuous improvement with a focus on delivery.
• Confidence to delegate to all levels, where required.
• A strong use of oral and written English, with the ability to present complex ideas in a straightforward and simple way.
• Exhibit and demonstrate behaviours and attitudes in accordance with WSP core values to create a team culture and promote excellent communications.
• Support and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

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. We are one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 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 11,000 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.
• 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.