Senior Proposals Manager

IPS-Integrated Project Services•Emeryville, CA

About The Position

IPS is seeking a Senior Proposals Manager for its Emeryville, California office. The role reports to the Director, Sales and Proposals and serves as a strategic partner to business development, operations, marketing, project delivery teams, technical subject matter experts, and regional and global stakeholders. The position leads complex, strategic, and high-priority proposal efforts from pursuit planning through final submission, overseeing schedules, kickoff meetings, strategy, content creation, review cycles, quality control, and submission readiness. Deliverables must be compliant, differentiated, client-focused, and aligned with company standards. The role provides leadership in pursuit strategy, proposal operations, and message development. In partnership with business development and operational leaders, the manager identifies win themes, develops value propositions, leverages relevant experience, and coordinates subject matter expertise to strengthen the company's competitive position. The work may involve multiple concurrent pursuits across regions, offices, and service lines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. The manager may guide, coach, and mentor the Proposals team and may have direct or indirect supervisory responsibilities depending on organizational structure and business needs. The position primarily works in an IPS or home office assignment, interacts regularly with stakeholders and teams across locations and time zones, and may require occasional work outside standard business hours. Travel is expected to be limited, though occasional travel may be required for regional offices, client interviews, strategic pursuits, training, or internal sales and proposal initiatives. This is a safety-sensitive role that may include field work and attendance at client sites in non-administrative areas.

Requirements

7 or more years of experience in proposal management, proposal development, marketing, sales support, business development support, or a related commercial function.
Direct experience supporting proposal development and creating winning presentations, preferably in the A/E/C and/or life sciences industries.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary proposals, qualifications, and sales submittals in professional services, AEC, construction, engineering, consulting, life sciences, or another technically complex industry.
Experience leading proposal strategy discussions, kickoff meetings, content planning, internal reviews, and final submission activities for strategic pursuits.
Strong writing, editing, communication, and document management skills, including the ability to translate technical information into clear, compelling, client-focused proposal content.
Experience developing win themes, value propositions, differentiators, and pursuit-specific messaging in collaboration with business development, operations, technical contributors, and leadership stakeholders.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign.
Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
Ability to sit for prolonged periods while working at a computer.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to review and analyze detailed documents and information accurately and with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and develop strategic, competitive proposals, presentations, RFIs, RFQs, and other sales deliverables with proposal leadership, business development, project delivery teams, and technical contributors.
Support proposal schedules, organize assignments, track deadlines, compile content, format documents, coordinate reviews, and prepare final submissions.
Support proposal strategy and client-focused messaging by incorporating win themes, differentiators, value propositions, project experience, and technical input into proposals and presentations.
Work with internal stakeholders to tailor responses to client requirements, evaluation criteria, and pursuit-specific needs.
Promote consistent use of proposal processes, templates, tools, knowledge assets, and corporate standards.
Support the development and adoption of proposal best practices, standard operating procedures, review processes, and submission-readiness practices.
Capture lessons learned and identify opportunities to improve proposal quality, efficiency, consistency, and pursuit outcomes.
Support the management and accuracy of CRM opportunity information, pursuit tracking, wins and losses, client and contact data, and proposal-related records.
Coordinate with business development and proposal leadership to maintain reliable pipeline and pursuit information.
Coach the Proposal team on proposal planning, review expectations, tools, templates, and best practices.
Support proposal capability across teams through guidance, collaboration, training support, and knowledge sharing.
Lead complex proposal efforts, including pursuit planning, kickoff meetings, strategy development, content creation, review cycles, quality control, and submission readiness.