5+ years of relevant industry experience in proposals and pursuits
Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills
Excellent time management and organizational skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud applications
Experience in sales and developing competitive win strategies
Strong interpersonal skills with a client-focused approach
Responsibilities
Lead pursuit teams in capture planning and proposal development
Create persuasive proposal and interview materials focusing on client needs
Produce proposals, work plans, and schedules, ensuring RFP compliance
Translate complex technical content into clear narratives
Coordinate graphics and layouts following brand standards
Conduct proposal review sessions, guiding revisions with team input
Prepare and support interview teams through storyboarding and rehearsals
Benefits
Opportunity to work with talented technical teams
Engagement in high-visibility projects
Professional growth with mentoring opportunities
Exposure to diverse personality styles and management levels
Contribution to meaningful client-focused outcomes
Full 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. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced pursuits, enjoys shaping strategy and messaging, and loves bringing structure and momentum to high-visibility efforts. This role will lead pursuit execution from early planning through final delivery, working closely with business development, project managers, and technical experts. Your impact will be felt across proposals, interviews, and client presentations.
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
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
Qualifications
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
About HDR
HDR is an architecture, engineering, and consulting firm based in Omaha, Nebraska. The company was founded in 1917 as Henningson Engineering Company and has since grown to become one of the largest engineering firms in the United States. HDR provides a wide range of services, including architecture, engineering, environmental consulting, and construction management. The company has worked on a number of high-profile projects, including the Hoover Dam Bypass and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. HDR is committed to sustainability and has been recognized for its efforts in this area by organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council.
