Proposal Manager

Location: Sharjah
Salary: AED 18,000 – 26,000
Job Code: 348/001/353
Industry: Water Treatment

Job Brief:
The Proposal Manager will lead and manage the proposal and tendering function for EPC projects across Water & Wastewater Treatment, Oil & Gas, and Municipal sectors. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving proposal excellence, improving win probability, and ensuring high-quality technical and commercial submissions.

The role requires strong expertise in proposal governance, cross-functional coordination, and team management across multiple locations. The incumbent will play a key role in bid strategy, risk evaluation, and aligning proposals with business objectives while ensuring compliance with client and industry requirements.

Job Responsibilities:
1. Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead and manage the proposal and tendering function for EPC projects in Water & Wastewater Treatment, Oil & Gas, and Municipal sectors.
  • Define and implement proposal strategies, governance frameworks, and best practices to maximize win probability and operational efficiency.
  • Provide strategic input for bid/no-bid decisions, risk evaluation, and executive-level business planning.
  • Drive process improvements, knowledge sharing, and adoption of standardized tools across global proposal operations.
2. Team & Resource Management
  • Manage a cross-border team of proposal engineers based in the UAE and India, ensuring seamless collaboration and optimal resource utilization.
  • Assign workloads, set priorities, and monitor progress across multiple proposals simultaneously.
  • Mentor, coach, and develop team members to strengthen both technical and managerial capabilities.
  • Conduct performance evaluations, define KPIs, and ensure continuous skill development across regional teams.
  • Establish succession planning and training programs to support long-term team sustainability.
3. Proposal Development & Governance
  • Oversee the preparation of technical and commercial proposals, ensuring alignment with client specifications, company policies, and compliance requirements.
  • Review and approve process designs, PFDs, P&IDs, BOQs, cost estimates, and execution strategies.
  • Implement standardized proposal templates, systems, and documentation practices to maintain consistency across teams.
  • Ensure all proposals undergo proper internal reviews, approvals, and risk assessments prior to submission.
4. Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Coordinate with engineering, procurement, design, finance, legal, and project management teams to integrate accurate inputs into proposals.
  • Collaborate with business development and sales teams to align proposals with client objectives and market positioning.
  • Represent the organization in client-facing presentations, technical clarifications, and commercial negotiations during pre-award stages.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key clients, consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors to strengthen market competitiveness.
5. Performance Monitoring & Reporting
  • Track bid pipeline, proposal performance, and win/loss ratios, and present detailed reports to senior management.
  • Conduct post-bid analysis to capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Benchmark team performance to ensure consistency, knowledge transfer, and operational efficiency.
Job Requirements:
Experience:
  • Minimum 15+ years of experience in technical proposal development.
  • At least 5+ years of experience in a managerial or leadership role.
  • Mandatory experience in the water treatment industry.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering.
  • Master’s degree is preferred.
Technical Skills & Tools:
  • Proficiency in MS Office and ERP systems.
  • Strong experience in proposal and tender management.
  • Expertise in technical and commercial bid development.
  • In-depth knowledge of water and wastewater processes and EPC proposals.
  • Strong experience in costing, estimation, and risk evaluation.
  • Ability to review and validate P&IDs and BOQs.
Core Competencies:
  • Strong cross-functional coordination and client management skills.
  • Proven ability in team leadership and resource planning.
  • Strategic thinking with strong competitive analysis capabilities.
  • Strong understanding of proposal governance and documentation practices.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills (mandatory: English).

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