HDR
Overview
Proposal Manager Team Lead, Strategic Pursuits at HDR. This role partners with the Transportation Business Group Strategic Pursuit Leaders (SPL). The position reports to the Strategic Pursuits Team Lead and manages a number of direct reports. The incumbent is a key partner to the SPLs, coordinating workload assignments so the proposal manager team produces winning, professional, competitive proposals for highly visible, complex opportunities.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with all Transportation Business Group Strategic Pursuit Leaders to understand needs and provide appropriate support during pre-positioning and proposal production phases.
Supervise the proposal managers across all strategic pursuits, ensuring efficient workload execution and determining when travel is necessary.
Understand active pursuit and proposal schedules to adjust work assignments and ensure coverage of all activities.
Manage proposal managers to coordinate and complete all parts of a pursuit or proposal, including adding staff for voluminous, complex, or tight-delivery scenarios.
Mentor proposal managers on improving proposal execution processes and the use of production tools and software, including interpersonal communication, time management, and conflict management.
Conduct routine performance appraisals for team members.
Serve as a Proposal Manager where appropriate (see Proposal Manager position).
Foster a self-directed, accountable team culture by delivering high-quality, client-ready materials.
Lead the full proposal lifecycle from kickoff through final production and interview, owning all deliverables and driving a smooth process.
Develop and manage pursuit tools (schedules, compliance matrices, templates, dashboards) and capture key themes and client priorities into a focused capture plan.
Review RFPs to create clear, actionable compliance matrices guiding proposal development.
Coordinate input from internal teams and external subconsultants with clear communication and alignment.
Track progress, manage deadlines, and adjust priorities to keep deliverables on schedule.
Support content development by preparing early drafts, capturing meeting notes, and distilling key differentiators into a focused capture plan.
Proactively communicate workload needs and availability.
Content Development & Quality: Write, edit, and format non-technical proposal content; collaborate with subject-matter experts to describe technical approaches and project understanding; develop qualifications, bios, data, forms, and terms for accuracy and compliance.
Support storyboarding, benefit statements, message development, project profiles, and other materials to demonstrate qualifications and differentiators; tailor content to project background.
Author and review draft proposal text for consistency, brand voice, and grammar; translate risks/issues into PSOE (problem, solution, outcome, evidence) tables and work with graphic designers to produce reader-friendly visuals.
Identify gaps in draft text based on capture planning, PSOE exercises, and RFP requirements.
Visual & Layout Skills: Coordinate with designers to format documents using InDesign; develop draft presentation materials and visuals that communicate complex content clearly; ensure timely delivery of brand-consistent materials.
Quality Control & Compliance Checks: Create schedules for content and graphics reviews; monitor progress to meet internal deadlines and quality standards; perform technical editing and compliance checks as needed.
Pre-positioning, Collateral & Material Management: Gather and organize project background data, resumes, histories, and collateral to support differentiating sections; partner with marketing to promote sector qualifications and collateral in advance of an RFP.
Continuous Process Improvements: Leverage AI tools and other software to improve efficiency; monitor against best practices; contribute to debriefs and HDR procedures and file-management standards.
Qualifications
A minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience.
Self-starter with a track record of completing projects with limited oversight.
Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies; excellent written and verbal communication.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign).
Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry’s standard procurement practices for professional services.
Ability to motivate and inspire others; track record of winning high-value contracts in the A/E/C industry.
Experience writing compelling content based on information from technical staff.
Interpersonal skills: strong organization, ability to meet deadlines, attention to detail, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
Comfort with travel (approximately 10-20%); ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
What We Believe & Our Commitment HDR is an employee-owned company that values inclusion and empowerment to bring authentic selves and ideas to work every day. HDR maintains eight Employee Network Groups and offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and professional development benefits. The compensation range varies by location and experience; listed ranges reflect full-time regular positions and may differ for temporary or part-time roles.
Other Information Primary Location: United States-Colorado-Denver. Other locations listed in the job posting. Job posting date: Aug 29, 2025. HDR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Affirmative Action employer. Applications from qualified individuals are considered without regard to criminal histories or convictions.
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Responsibilities
Collaborate with all Transportation Business Group Strategic Pursuit Leaders to understand needs and provide appropriate support during pre-positioning and proposal production phases.
Supervise the proposal managers across all strategic pursuits, ensuring efficient workload execution and determining when travel is necessary.
Understand active pursuit and proposal schedules to adjust work assignments and ensure coverage of all activities.
Manage proposal managers to coordinate and complete all parts of a pursuit or proposal, including adding staff for voluminous, complex, or tight-delivery scenarios.
Mentor proposal managers on improving proposal execution processes and the use of production tools and software, including interpersonal communication, time management, and conflict management.
Conduct routine performance appraisals for team members.
Serve as a Proposal Manager where appropriate (see Proposal Manager position).
Foster a self-directed, accountable team culture by delivering high-quality, client-ready materials.
Lead the full proposal lifecycle from kickoff through final production and interview, owning all deliverables and driving a smooth process.
Develop and manage pursuit tools (schedules, compliance matrices, templates, dashboards) and capture key themes and client priorities into a focused capture plan.
Review RFPs to create clear, actionable compliance matrices guiding proposal development.
Coordinate input from internal teams and external subconsultants with clear communication and alignment.
Track progress, manage deadlines, and adjust priorities to keep deliverables on schedule.
Support content development by preparing early drafts, capturing meeting notes, and distilling key differentiators into a focused capture plan.
Proactively communicate workload needs and availability.
Content Development & Quality: Write, edit, and format non-technical proposal content; collaborate with subject-matter experts to describe technical approaches and project understanding; develop qualifications, bios, data, forms, and terms for accuracy and compliance.
Support storyboarding, benefit statements, message development, project profiles, and other materials to demonstrate qualifications and differentiators; tailor content to project background.
Author and review draft proposal text for consistency, brand voice, and grammar; translate risks/issues into PSOE (problem, solution, outcome, evidence) tables and work with graphic designers to produce reader-friendly visuals.
Identify gaps in draft text based on capture planning, PSOE exercises, and RFP requirements.
Visual & Layout Skills: Coordinate with designers to format documents using InDesign; develop draft presentation materials and visuals that communicate complex content clearly; ensure timely delivery of brand-consistent materials.
Quality Control & Compliance Checks: Create schedules for content and graphics reviews; monitor progress to meet internal deadlines and quality standards; perform technical editing and compliance checks as needed.
Pre-positioning, Collateral & Material Management: Gather and organize project background data, resumes, histories, and collateral to support differentiating sections; partner with marketing to promote sector qualifications and collateral in advance of an RFP.
Continuous Process Improvements: Leverage AI tools and other software to improve efficiency; monitor against best practices; contribute to debriefs and HDR procedures and file-management standards.
Qualifications
A minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience.
Self-starter with a track record of completing projects with limited oversight.
Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies; excellent written and verbal communication.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign).
Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry’s standard procurement practices for professional services.
Ability to motivate and inspire others; track record of winning high-value contracts in the A/E/C industry.
Experience writing compelling content based on information from technical staff.
Interpersonal skills: strong organization, ability to meet deadlines, attention to detail, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
Comfort with travel (approximately 10-20%); ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
What We Believe & Our Commitment HDR is an employee-owned company that values inclusion and empowerment to bring authentic selves and ideas to work every day. HDR maintains eight Employee Network Groups and offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and professional development benefits. The compensation range varies by location and experience; listed ranges reflect full-time regular positions and may differ for temporary or part-time roles.
Other Information Primary Location: United States-Colorado-Denver. Other locations listed in the job posting. Job posting date: Aug 29, 2025. HDR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Affirmative Action employer. Applications from qualified individuals are considered without regard to criminal histories or convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr