Proposal Manager
WDSL is a leading supplier of high specification integrated maritime propulsion shaft line solutions and a manufacturer of high specification shaft line components. Our solutions are trusted by over 70 navies globally. We are pursuing an exciting growth strategy and, to accelerate our momentum, we are seeking to add an experienced Proposal manager to our existing Growth Development Team.
We are now looking for a
Proposal Manager
to join our team working for a better future.
The position is permanent, and the preferred location is in Havant, Portsmouth
What you will be doing
Responsible for leading the proposals team to deliver high quality, competitive and compelling bids and proposals. This role oversees the end-to-end proposal development process, manages pricing strategies across the business, and ensures successful bid management for large-scale projects.
Employed on a permanent basis and based out of our office in Havant, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Wartsila operates a hybrid working regime that is consistent with the goals of business. Travel to other UK sites and overseas travel can be expected and will be required from time to time.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong customer-focused mindset, consistently deliver results on time, and demonstrate a high level of ownership and commercial awareness. Comfortable operating within a technical and engineering-focused environment and possess a proven track record of leading teams to achieve multiple, and sometimes competing, objectives.
As Proposal Manager, your work will focus on these responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Management
1. Lead, mentor and develop a team of proposal specialists.
2. Allocate resources effectively to meet proposal deadlines and business priorities.
3. Promote a collaborative and high-performance culture within the team.
Bid Management
4. Take ownership of complex, high-value bids from initiation to submission.
5. Coordinate cross-functional teams including sales, operations, legal and finance to develop winning strategies.
6. Lead bid kick-off meetings, reviews and post-submission debriefs.
7. Create and present review gate presentations and coordinating all required internal and third-party inputs.
8. Managing bid resources in line with approvals and allocating specific and clear responsibilities to all members of the Bid Team
9. Identifying the full scope of bid deliverables and allocating a “Solution Lead” against each deliverable
Pricing Strategy & Commercial Oversight
10. Develop and maintain pricing model and strategies to ensure competitiveness alongside profitability for new build / lifecycle opportunities.
11. Ensure all proposals are compliant, persuasive and aligned with client requirements and business objectives.
12. Review and approve pricing, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
Stakeholder Collaboration
13. Work closely with engineering, operations, finance and lead teams to gather input and ensure proposals reflect operational capabilities.
14. Liaise with clients, partners, and subcontractors to clarify requirements and strengthen proposal content.
15. Provide regular updates to senior leadership on proposal pipeline, win/loss analysis, and strategic opportunities.
Continuous Improvement
16. Drive continuous improvement in proposal quality, efficiency and win rates.
17. Monitor industry trends and competitor activity to inform pricing strategies.
To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:
18. Strong leadership skills and can demonstrate a team working ethos
19. Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a bid manager in a comparable environment
20. A demonstrable track record of winning complex bids
21. Familiarity with comprehensive Bid Lifecycle Management processes
22. Strong stakeholder management skills
23. Commercial awareness
24. Proven experience in proposal management or bid coordination, or commercial pricing.
25. Strong analytical and financial acumen.
26. Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
Desirable:
27. Degree level qualification (any subject)
28. Experience bidding to UK and overseas clients in the Defence sector
29. Experience using MS Project
Why you and us?
We at Wärtsilä believe in empowerment, ownership and taking responsibility of our work. We support each other’s growth and co-creation is the true basis of our innovation. We have courage to see opportunities and take initiative.
We are authentic and honest, and we strongly believe in that by being your own true self you can accomplish so much more. We don’t always get it right the first time, and if mistakes are made, we make sure to learn and grow from them. We want everyone to voice their opinions freely. That is why we have built an environment that empowers you and everyone around you, and where you can feel safe and cared for. Are you eager to be part of this ambition?
We have an amazing team and we are excited about our work and the impact it has on building sustainable societies. We are looking to find a colleague with this shared passion for smart technologies and a sustainable future.
Contact & next steps
We hope to hear from you soon, by submitting your application through our careers portal. We aim to keep you updated on the process throughout.
For further questions please reach out to Jess Baxter with any questions related to this position (only for questions from direct job applicants, applications through email will not be recorded or responded to).
Welcome to join us in shaping the decarbonisation of marine and energy!
Last application date: 29/08/2025
At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.
Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.
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