Manager, Proposals

Itron, Inc. • Washington, DC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Itron is seeking a Manager, Proposals to lead and develop a team of Proposal Leads, Pricing Analysts/Specialists, and Proposal Writers. This role is responsible for delivering high-quality, compliant, and competitive customer proposals, ensuring excellence in execution and consistent application of pursuit processes, quality standards, and best practices. The Manager, Proposals will provide leadership, coordination, and troubleshooting, partnering closely with Sales, Services, Legal, and PBUs, while also managing and mentoring their team. The company is focused on innovating ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, aiming to create a more resourceful world.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in proposal management, bid management, sales operations, or a related function, within a technology-driven environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional proposal efforts under tight deadlines while remaining agile and customer-focused
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to shape executive-level customer messaging
• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Salesforce, and proposal management tools

Nice To Haves

• Prior people-management experience leading proposal, pricing, or sales support teams
• Experience supporting enterprise or regulated customers, preferably within the Utilities & Energy sector
• Familiarity with structured proposal methodologies and continuous improvement practices
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and scale proposal processes in a fast-paced, growth-oriented organization

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Proposal Leads, Pricing Analysts/Specialists, and Proposal Writers, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture focused on customer outcomes
• Set clear expectations for quality, responsiveness, and execution excellence while supporting team members through regular feedback, recognition, and authentic leadership
• Serve as an escalation point for complex or high-risk pursuits, providing strategic guidance, removing obstacles, and enabling agile decision-making
• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, training, and career development to build a scalable and future-ready proposal organization
• Manage day-to-day intake and assignment of proposal requests, ensuring balanced workloads and on-time delivery across concurrent pursuits
• Ensure all proposals—including RFIs, RFPs, demonstrations, best-and-final offers, and post-selection activities—are compliant, compelling, and aligned to customer and utility industry requirements
• Review and approve proposal strategies, executive summaries, pricing approaches, and final deliverables for priority and strategic opportunities
• Actively participate in proposal response management and pricing development as needed to ensure customer-focused, competitive solutions
• Drive consistent application of proposal processes, tools, templates, and collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Salesforce, proposal content libraries)
• Establish and uphold quality standards for compliance, messaging consistency, and value-based storytelling tailored to Utilities & Energy customers
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and innovation through process optimization, technology adoption, and best-practice sharing
• Partner closely with Sales and Commercial leadership to align proposal execution with pursuit strategy, pricing objectives, and long-term customer value
• Collaborate with Services, Product Management, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders to deliver accurate, unified, and innovative responses
• Serve as a trusted advisor to sales teams, offering insights on proposal approach, customer expectations, and differentiated positioning in the Utilities & Energy market

Benefits

• competitive benefit package including; financial, social, health and wellbeing programs
• paid vacation
• 401k matching
• employee stock purchase program
• hybrid work schedule
• annual bonus program
• Inclusion-first work culture
• Commitment to employee growth and development: iGrow program
• Employee resource groups: iBelong program
• Generous and flexible paid time off

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees