Proposal Manager

Job Title

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Bid / Proposal Manager

Global Occupier Services

Hybrid - London or Birmingham offices, UK

Cushman & Wakefield is a global leader in commercial real estate services, helping clients transform the way people work, shop, and live. The firm’s 52,000 employees in more than 70 countries provide deep local and global insights that create significant value for occupiers and investors around the world.

Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest commercial real estate services firms with revenues of $10.1 billion across core services of agency leasing, asset services, capital markets, facilities services (branded C&W Services), global occupier services, investment management (branded DTZ Investors), tenant representation, and valuations & advisory.

The Global Occupier Services business within Cushman & Wakefield have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Proposal Manager to join our market-leading Global Occupier Services function, based in either our London or Birmingham offices.

As a central part of the Global Occupier Services (GOS) business development team, the Proposal Manager works directly with the platform teams and aligns with the central sales and commercial teams and is involved in managing formal bid proposals and capability documents.

This role supports regional multi-service pursuits and has a developing understanding of real estate service lines. The Proposal Manager serves as the key liaison coordinating all internal work streams to finalise proposal responses and presentations. The role is also responsible for tracking renewal data and supporting knowledge management to support reuseable content.

Core Responsibilities:

• Manage the entire proposal and presentation development process ensuring that every member of the pursuit team, including sales leads, operational subject matter experts, pricing, and graphic designers know what is expected and when tasks are due.
• Develop strategic messaging, win themes, strategies, and creative design approaches
• Create a proposal responsibility matrix and schedule and keep track of proposal progress
• Works closely with sales and operations subject matter experts as solution contributors and/or reviewers
• Develops a tailored proposal clearly describing the value of the solution; liaises with subject matter experts as required to contribute to and review the response
• Work with sales team and leadership to ensure required approvals at various stages are met
• Writes Executive Summaries and forewords/cover letters
• Identify all graphic design needs and engage appropriate design resources
• Manages production and on-time electronic and/or hardcopy delivery to clients
• Write, edit, format, and proof all proposal and presentation deliverables. Responsible for conducting red team reviews with team members to ensure high-quality work products.
• Manage the preparation of other deliverables related to the new business opportunity such as presentations and follow-up requests.
• Organise and attend prep sessions for all opportunities in-line with best practice.
• Support Head of Bid Management & other Senior Proposal Managers on large regional or strategic bids.
• Support new content development efforts and strategic firm initiatives as needed.
• Leverage past professional experience to identify and introduce process improvements and best practices related to business development and proposal management. Champion efforts to ensure all deliverables are aligned with the firm’s brand.
• Perform pursuit close-out activities; work with Central Knowledge Management to ensure revised and new content is uploaded to content library.
• Support upkeep of content library including improvements to searchability.
• Take part in best practice and knowledge-sharing sessions with cross-regional teams
• Develop strong working relationships with subject matter experts, service line leads and senior GOS leadership
• Perform other related duties as required or requested.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or related field preferred
• APMP qualification

Knowledge & Experience:

• Demonstrable experience in a proposal management environment
• Demonstrated ability to assimilate, coordinate, and respond to global and regional RFIs and RFPs
• Experience in Real Estate and or Facilities Management preferred
• Experience of working on Client procurement portals preferred

Skills & Personal Qualities:

• Excellent English Language skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented; strong organizational skills and effective time management
• Ability to repurpose existing content or create new written material as needed.
• Ability to interface with people at all levels of the organization including senior executives and cross-functional and regional teams
• Ability to work well and thrive under pressure within sometimes rapidly changing work requirements
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat; InDesign and desktop publishing skills are a plus
• Experience with SharePoint
• Interest in exploration of AI tools

We foster a culture of inclusion that embraces the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We firmly believe that our diversity enhances our team's capabilities, leading to improved decision-making, innovation, and business outcomes.