Senior Proposals Manager

At IPS, we are global leaders in developing innovative solutions for the consulting, architecture, engineering, project controls, procurement, construction management, and CQV of technically complex facilities, primarily in the life sciences industry. We are looking for a talented Senior Proposal Manager to join our dedicated team at our office in Emeryville, California.

In this role, you will report to the Director, Sales and Proposals and serve as a strategic partner to business development, operations, marketing, project delivery teams, technical subject matter experts, and regional/global stakeholders. You may provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to the Proposals team and may have direct or indirect supervisory responsibilities based on organizational structure and business needs. You'll be responsible for leading complex, strategic, and high-priority proposal efforts from pursuit planning through final submission. Additionally, you'll oversee proposal schedules, kickoff meetings, strategy development, content creation, review cycles, quality control, and submission readiness to ensure deliverables are compliant, differentiated, client-focused, and aligned with company standards.

This role plays a leadership position in pursuit strategy, proposal operations, and message development, partnering with business development and operational leaders to identify win themes, develop value propositions, leverage relevant experience, and coordinate subject matter expertise to strengthen the company's competitive position. Operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, you may support multiple concurrent pursuits across regions, offices, and service lines while ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to client requirements.

Additional Responsibilities

• Coordinate and develop strategic, competitive proposals, presentations, RFIs, RFQs, and other sales deliverables in collaboration with proposal leadership, business development, project delivery teams, and technical contributors.
• This includes supporting proposal schedules, organizing assignments, tracking deadlines, compiling content, formatting documents, coordinating reviews, and preparing final submissions. (40%)
  
  
  • Support proposal strategy and client-focused messaging by incorporating win themes, differentiators, value propositions, project experience, and technical input into proposal documents and presentation materials.
• Work with internal stakeholders to help tailor responses to client requirements, evaluation criteria, and pursuit-specific needs. (20%)
  
  
  • Promote the 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 overall pursuit outcomes. (20%)
  
  
  • Support the management and accuracy of CRM opportunity information, pursuit tracking, wins/losses, client/contact data, and proposal-related records.
• Coordinate with business development and proposal leadership to help maintain reliable pipeline and pursuit information. (10%)
  
  
  • Coach the Proposal team on proposal planning, review expectations, tools, templates, and best practices.
  • Support the development of proposal capability across teams through guidance, collaboration, training support, and knowledge sharing. (10%)

• 7+ 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 within the A/E/C and/or life sciences industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-discipline proposals, qualifications, and sales submittals in a professional services, AEC, construction, engineering, consulting, life sciences, or other 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, with demonstrated ability to translate technical information into clear, compelling, client-focused proposal content.
• Proven 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.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time while working at a computer.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Requires the ability to review and analyze detailed documents and information with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

Work Environment

• Will primarily work in an IPS or home office assignment.
• Regular interaction with internal stakeholders, clients, and cross-functional teams across multiple locations and time zones.
• Operates in a fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent priorities and project deadlines.
• May require occasional work outside of standard business hours to support business needs, proposal deadlines, or client requirements.

Travel

• Travel is expected to be limited; however, occasional travel may be required to support regional offices, client interviews, strategic pursuits, training, or internal sales and proposal initiatives.

Safety

• This position is a safety-sensitive position.
• You may be designated for field work and attend activities at client sites where they work in construction, process, packaging, manufacturing, research or other "non-administrative" areas.

All interviews are conducted either in person or virtually, with video required.

IPS, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a global leader in technical consulting, architecture, engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, qualification, and validation services for technically complex facilities. Integration is how we think and work. It requires the ability to unite existing and emerging technologies into a process that reliably delivers products and accelerates speed to market. That end-to-end mindset allows us to be agile and anticipate challenges as we move projects toward operational readiness. IPS applies design and delivery expertise, client-side experience, and supplier-side insight to every project. We infuse our curiosity, our passion, and our commitment to partnership in delivering solutions at any scale. We meet our clients where they are and get them to where they need to go. That's only possible when we care as much as our clients do.

Specialties

Process Architecture, Process Design, Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Qualification, LEAN Project Delivery, Strategic Master Planning, Energy Conservation Management, Project Controls, Program/Project Management, Operations/Logistics Strategy and Planning, EPCMV, and Staffing Services.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at IPS without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law. IPS is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

Attention Search Firms/Third-Party Recruiters: IPS is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for employment opportunities with IPS. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at IPS via email, the Internet, or directly to hiring managers at IPS in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for a specific position will be deemed the sole property of IPS, and no fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by IPS as a result of the referral or through other means.

The salary offered for this role is between $120,000 and $160,000, but the actual salary offered is dependent on experience, skill set, and education.

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