Proposal Manager ( Water treatment Industry

Designation:
Proposal Manager Responding to:
Commercial Director 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.

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.

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage the proposal and tendering function for EPC projects in Water & Wastewater Treatment, Oil & Gas, and Municipal sectors.
• Define and implement proposal strategies, governance frameworks, and best practices to maximize win probability and operational efficiency.
• Provide strategic input for bid/no-bid decisions, risk evaluation, and executive-level business planning.
• Drive process improvements, knowledge sharing, and adoption of standardized tools across global proposal operations.

Team & Resource Management

• Manage a cross-border team of proposal engineers located in UAE and India, ensuring seamless collaboration and resource utilization.
• Assign workloads, set priorities, and monitor progress across multiple proposals simultaneously.
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members to build technical and managerial capabilities.
• Conduct performance reviews, define KPIs, and ensure continuous skill development across both regional teams.
• Establish succession plans and training programs to support long-term team sustainability.

Proposal Development & Governance

• Oversee preparation of technical and commercial proposals, ensuring alignment with client specifications, company policies, and compliance requirements.
• Review and approve process designs, PFDs, P&IDs, BOQs, cost estimates, and execution strategies.
• Implement standardized proposal templates, systems, and documentation to maintain consistency across UAE and India teams.
• Ensure proposals undergo proper internal reviews, approvals, and risk assessments prior to submission.

Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Coordinate with engineering, procurement, design, finance, legal, and project management teams to integrate accurate inputs into proposals.
• Partner with business development and sales teams to align proposals with client objectives and market positioning.
• Represent the company in client-facing presentations, technical clarifications, and commercial negotiations during pre-award phases.
• Build and maintain relationships with key clients, consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors to strengthen the company’s market competitiveness.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Track bid pipeline, proposal performance, and win/loss ratios, and present detailed reports to executive management.
• Conduct post-bid analysis to capture lessons learned and implement continuous improvements.
• Benchmark team performance ensuring consistency, knowledge transfer, and operational efficiency.

• 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, M , MB , 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.