We are looking for an experienced, forward-thinking Proposals Manager who will be based in either our Nottingham or Rugby office to take the helm of key pursuits. If you thrive on transforming complex technical ideas into winning proposals and inspiring multidisciplinary bid teams, this is your opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in our continued growth.
As Proposals Manager, you will serve as Stepnell's principal bidding expert, managing and leading strategic pursuits across major frameworks and flagship projects.
Reporting directly to the Framework Director, you will manage a team including Bid Writers and Bid Managers (as well as external consultants), driving high-scoring, client-focused bids from initial engagement through to contract award and delivery handover.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership & Development: Line-manage, mentor, and coach internal Bid Managers, Bid Writers, and external specialists across both regional and central functions.
- Pursuit Strategy & Bid Ownership: Take full ownership of strategic pursuits across diverse procurement routes, running bid launch events, managing bid programmes, and deploying budgets, teams, and risk/opportunity analyses.
- Workshops & Solution Architecture: Facilitate dynamic in-person and online bid workshops with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), extracting technical innovations and unlocking Stepnell's USPs to answer client-specific needs.
- Content & Creative Direction: Author and polish high-level, benefits-driven technical responses. Collaborate with graphic design to conceptualise compelling infographics, diagrams, and visual layouts.
- Quality Gateways & Governance: Chair rigorous review gateways, attend tender cost settlements, and ensure seamless alignment between technical solutions and commercial pricing.
- Client Engagement & Presentations: Lead Stepnell bid teams in client engagement sessions and final interview/pitch presentations.
- Knowledge Management & Emerging Tech: Oversee our central bid knowledge bank, championing modern pursuit tools, workflow platforms, and AI-assisted tender technologies.
- Continuous Improvement: Lead win/loss reviews, dissect client feedback, and lead comprehensive post-award handovers to operational site teams.
What We Are Looking For
- Proven Construction Bidding Track Record: Substantial experience leading major construction bids and public/private framework submissions (e.g., EoI, PSQ , ITT).
- People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage, support, and inspire direct reports and multidisciplinary bid teams under deadline pressure.
- Strategic Thinker & Communicator: Strong answer-planning, writing, and editorial skills with the ability to turn complex technical data into concise, persuasive prose.
- Facilitation & Presentation Skills: Confident leading SME workshops, client-facing interviews, and senior leadership review gates.
- Procurement Acumen: Strong understanding of UK public procurement regulations (including awareness of the Procurement Act 2023) and standard construction contract frameworks.
- Tech-Savvy: Proficient in bid portals, CRM systems, document management tools, and modern AI/knowledge-management applications (exposure to Adobe InDesign is an advantage).
Why Stepnell
At Stepnell, we're passionate about empowering our people to thrive. We believe in building fulfilling and rewarding careers by investing in talent, nurturing growth, and inspiring innovation. With the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation, we're proud to place our people at the heart of everything we do. Every team member is valued, and curiosity and collaboration are central to our team culture. We're committed to enabling our people to make a real impact and drive meaningful change throughout our business.
- To show our appreciation, we offer generous and competitive benefits including, an enhanced pension scheme with a Stepnell contribution of 7% to help secure your financial future, annual leave that increases with service and the flexibility to purchase more, a market leading employee referral scheme, and for eligible roles comprehensive health coverage, adjustable start and finish times and a car allowance or company car.
Join us in a collaborative and inclusive environment where your well-being is our priority, and your contributions are truly valued.
About Stepnell
As a family-owned business with over 159 years of history, Stepnell is built on stability, trust, and long-term thinking. We make decisions with the future in mind for our people, our clients and our communities.
Our capabilities span construction, property, development, energy solutions, bespoke joinery and concrete repair, allowing us to offer services that meet a wide range of client needs. Operating through eight regional offices in Rugby, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Wantage, Bristol, Southampton, and Exeter and across three core business units, we maintain a strong local presence while delivering consistently high standards.
Today, repeat clients account for 75% of our turnover a testament to our reliability and the quality of our relationships.
#J-18808-Ljbffr