Proposal Manager ( Water treatment Industry )

Company Overview: The Client has been a pioneering force in the United Arab Emirates since its establishment in 1992. Our journey has seen us transform from a modest provider of desalination systems to a forward-thinking enterprise, dedicated to delivering comprehensive water-centric services and innovative solutions.

Position Overview: As a Proposal Manager at the client, you will lead the proposals and tendering process across all business verticals, ensuring high-quality, timely, and strategically aligned submissions. This senior role demands a strong blend of technical expertise, leadership, and commercial acumen. You will manage and guide a team of proposal engineers and interface closely with senior management, clients, vendors, and internal departments to drive business growth through successful bids.

Key Responsibilities:

·     Leadership & Strategy

o    Lead and manage the proposal and tendering function for EPC projects in Water & Wastewater Treatment, Oil & Gas, and Municipal sectors.

o    Define and implement proposal strategies, governance frameworks, and best practices to maximize win probability and operational efficiency.

o    Provide strategic input for bid/no-bid decisions, risk evaluation, and executive-level business planning.

o    Drive process improvements, knowledge sharing, and adoption of standardized tools across global proposal operations.

·     Team & Resource Management

o    Manage a cross-border team of proposal engineers located in UAE and India, ensuring seamless collaboration and resource utilization.

o    Assign workloads, set priorities, and monitor progress across multiple proposals simultaneously.

o    Mentor, coach, and develop team members to build technical and managerial capabilities.

o    Conduct performance reviews, define KPIs, and ensure continuous skill development across both regional teams.

o    Establish succession plans and training programs to support long-term team sustainability.

·     Proposal Development & Governance

o    Oversee preparation of technical and commercial proposals, ensuring alignment with client specifications, company policies, and compliance requirements.

o    Review and approve process designs, PFDs, P&IDs, BOQs, cost estimates, and execution strategies.

o    Implement standardized proposal templates, systems, and documentation to maintain consistency across UAE and India teams.

o    Ensure proposals undergo proper internal reviews, approvals, and risk assessments prior to submission.

·     Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration

o    Coordinate with engineering, procurement, design, finance, legal, and project management teams to integrate accurate inputs into proposals.

o    Partner with business development and sales teams to align proposals with client objectives and market positioning.

o    Represent the company in client-facing presentations, technical clarifications, and commercial negotiations during pre-award phases.

o    Build and maintain relationships with key clients, consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors to strengthen the company’s market competitiveness.

·     Performance Monitoring & Reporting

o    Track bid pipeline, proposal performance, and win/loss ratios, and present detailed reports to executive management.

o    Conduct post-bid analysis to capture lessons learned and implement continuous improvements.

o    Benchmark team performance ensuring consistency, knowledge transfer, and operational efficiency.

Qualifications:

·       Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering (or equivalent).

·       Minimum 15 years of experience in technical proposal development, including at least 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.

·       Proven expertise in leading large-scale proposals for water and wastewater treatment projects (UF, RO, ZLD, STP, ETP, DM, MBR, MBBR, etc.) and EPC contracts in the Oil & Gas sector.

·       Strong knowledge of SWRO (Seawater Reverse Osmosis), process engineering, system design, equipment selection, budgeting, and cost estimation.

·       In-depth understanding of industry standards and regulatory compliance requirements in the Middle East.

·       Demonstrated ability to manage proposal teams with strong project planning, coordination, and leadership skills.

·       Hands-on experience in costing and market bench marking within UAE & GCC.

·       Excellent communication, presentation, and client engagement skills, with the ability to interface at senior stakeholder levels.

·       Proficient in proposal software, MS Office Suite, AutoCAD, and design tools for hydraulic and process calculations.