Proposal Manager

HDR•Saint Louis Park, MN

About The Position

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities. In the role of Proposal Manager, you'll serve as the Marketing Proposal Champion for various pursuits, leading teams through the proposal process from kickoff through interview preparation and submittal. You'll partner closely with business development leaders, project managers and technical staff to develop winning strategies, create compelling client-focused messaging and drive pursuits that position HDR for success. This role goes beyond simply responding to requests for proposals. Proposal Managers at HDR help shape pursuit strategy, facilitate collaboration across teams and ensure our proposals clearly articulate why HDR is the best choice for our clients.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business or related field
Experience leading major strategic pursuits and interview teams
Experience coaching technical staff and interview teams
Demonstrated success facilitating win strategy discussions and developing capture plans
Strong understanding of market trends, client drivers and competitive positioning within the A/E industry
Active participation in industry organizations and professional associations

Responsibilities

Lead pursuit teams in developing and implementing effective win strategies and capture plans
Serve as the Marketing Proposal Champion for pursuits, providing leadership, ownership and accountability throughout the proposal lifecycle
Facilitate kickoff meetings and guide teams toward alignment on strategy, messaging, responsibilities and schedules
Drive the development of compelling, client-focused proposals that go beyond "answering the mail" to clearly communicate HDR's value and differentiators
Develop and manage proposal schedules, milestones, reviews and deliverables to ensure successful and compliant submissions
Maintain a thorough understanding of procurement requirements, submittal instructions and evaluation criteria to ensure complete and compliant responses
Develop persuasive win themes, discriminators and key messages that align with client needs and priorities
Partner with pursuit teams to identify competitive advantages and articulate HDR's capabilities in a clear and compelling manner
Facilitate consensus among technical staff, project managers and business development leaders throughout the pursuit process
Engage the appropriate resources across HDR to support proposal and interview development efforts
Lead proposal reviews and quality control efforts to ensure consistency, quality and strategic messaging
Facilitate the development of interview presentations and coach teams to deliver compelling and effective presentations
Support client positioning activities and market engagement efforts that strengthen relationships and improve competitiveness
Lead debriefs following pursuits to identify lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement
Deconstruct, organize and archive proposal and presentation materials for future use and knowledge sharing
Train and mentor employees on proposal development, business development and marketing best practices
Serve as a resource for questions related to HDR's proposal process, tools and best practices
Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, clients and teaming partners
Maintain awareness of market trends, procurement drivers and competitive activity impacting HDR's clients and pursuits

Benefits

Employee-ownership model
Welcoming environment
Valued and respected
Empowered to bring authentic selves and novel ideas
Culture of inclusion
Support and care for people
Diverse service lines
Commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward-thinking communities
Safeguard public health
Enhance quality of life
Power innovation
Drive responsible growth
Technical excellence
Shared sense of purpose
Collaboration across specialties
Creativity, precision, and deep expertise
Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals)