Proposals Engineer

About the Role

Based in Navan, County Meath, Ireland, this position of Proposals Engineer reports directly to the Group Engineering and Technology Manager. The role is central to driving company growth by leading the coordination and delivery of compelling bids aligned with group goals. Responsibilities span managing opportunities from tender initiation through to contract award, with a focus on technical and commercial bid leadership, ensuring submissions are of high quality and align with financial and strategic objectives. The sectors served include Food, Beverage, and Pharmaceutical industries.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage the complete proposal lifecycle from bid qualification through contract award, ensuring compliance and submission quality.
• Identify and develop key value propositions and winning themes to maximize bid success.
• Formulate and apply effective commercial strategies focused on cost competitiveness and risk mitigation.
• Lead preparation of technical and pricing bid components aligned with client expectations.
• Conduct thorough contract reviews and risk assessments while managing customer procurement interactions.
• Maintain high standards for bid quality, compliance, and governance to enhance scoring potential.
• Work towards meeting targeted win rates and backlog aligned with business objectives.
• Analyze market trends and opportunities to ensure bidding efforts support strategic aims.
• Coordinate inputs from design, estimating, and project delivery teams to optimize bid quality and value.
• Collaborate with supply chain partners to secure best-value procurement consistent with bid goals.
• Lead bid qualification assessments, delivering insightful recommendations for pursue or no-go decisions.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing proposals team promoting continuous improvement and excellence.
• Contribute strategically to business development and growth plans.
• Manage the proposal department’s budget effectively.
• Solve complex technical, strategic, and commercial challenges with a solutions-driven approach.
• Implement post-bid reviews and continuous feedback mechanisms to improve future bids.
• Ensure an organized and smooth transition from bidding phase to project delivery.
• Support client engagement and business growth initiatives by participating in meetings and development activities.
• Review and enhance bid management procedures and compliance frameworks continually.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Proven success in delivering bids for major construction or manufacturing projects.
• Background in fabrication and manufacturing is preferred.
• Experience within the Irish and/or UK water sector preferred, including managing bids from opportunity identification through submission.
• Strong leadership abilities in opportunity identification, win and commercial strategy development, and solution design.
• Deep understanding of the competitive market landscape.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to interface effectively with clients.
• Exceptional commercial insight and risk management capabilities.
• Skilled in managing complex opportunities involving multiple workstreams.
• Experience in process implementation or enhancement to ensure operational efficiency.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Quantity Surveying required.

Benefits and Working Conditions

• Opportunity to be part of an ambitious, expanding organization.
• Workweek from Monday to Friday with early finish on Fridays.
• 23 days of annual leave in addition to 10 public holidays.
• Access to a 24/7 confidential employee assistance program available to employees and their families.

About Glanua

Glanua is a leading provider of innovative and sustainable engineering solutions specializing in design, construction, operation, and maintenance of key water and wastewater infrastructure across Ireland and the UK. Clients include major water utilities such as Uisce Éireann, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Affinity Water. The company is committed to addressing environmental challenges through decarbonization and sustainability initiatives, maintaining a diverse and innovative workforce of over 600 professionals. Glanua emphasizes core values including Safety, Innovation, Integrity, Collaboration, Courage, Agility, Accountability, Diversity, and Inclusion. It is an equal opportunities employer promoting employee growth and creativity.