Bid Manager & Proposals Writer

As part of Bouygues Construction's Public Works division, VSL International participates in the construction of major technical structures and guarantees their structural safety and durability: transport infrastructure (bridges, tunnels), industrial and energy production structures, and commercial buildings.

VSL's business is based on four areas of expertise

• Structural systems and technologies
• Civil engineering
• Foundations and soil engineering
• Preservation, structural repairs, renovation and optimization of structures.

VSL has 4,000 employees at 25 locations worldwide (Asia and Oceania, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Canada).

VSL, part of Bouygues Construction, is a global leader in specialist construction and structural engineering solutions. With expertise spanning structural repairs, post-tensioning, bridge works, and specialist civils, VSL plays a key role in maintaining and enhancing the UK's critical infrastructure.

We're looking for an experienced Bid Manager & Proposal Writer to join our growing Work Winning team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives on developing winning strategies, producing high-quality proposals and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to secure landmark projects across the UK.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Work Winning, you'll take ownership of bids from initial opportunity through to submission and contract award. You'll coordinate technical, commercial and operational teams, develop compelling win strategies and produce customer-focused submissions that clearly demonstrate why VSL is the right delivery partner.

This is a highly visible role that combines strategic thinking, exceptional writing ability and strong project management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Bid Management

• Lead allocated bids from Go/No Go through to submission and award.
• Develop and manage bid programmes, ensuring deadlines are achieved.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary bid teams and facilitate review meetings.
• Manage governance, approvals, risks and client clarifications throughout the bid lifecycle.

Proposal Development

• Develop compelling win themes and customer-focused messaging.
• Write, edit and review high-quality technical and non-technical submissions.
• Translate complex engineering solutions into clear, persuasive proposals.
• Ensure all responses fully meet client requirements and evaluation criteria.

Strategy & Work Winning

• Support opportunity qualification and bid strategy development.
• Facilitate workshops to identify key differentiators and value propositions.
• Challenge technical teams to maximise customer value and innovation within submissions.

Stakeholder Management

You'll work closely with senior leaders across the business, including:

• Managing Director
• Head of Strategy & Partnerships
• Business Line Directors
• Engineering and Operations teams
• Commercial and HSEQ teams
• Supply chain partners
• Designers, consultants and Marketing

You'll build strong relationships while confidently driving contributors towards the highest submission standards.

Continuous Improvement

• Manage proposal quality through structured review stages.
• Capture lessons learned and drive continual improvement.
• Maintain and develop VSL's proposal library, including case studies, methodologies, CVs, technical content and submission templates.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines excellent writing skills with commercial awareness and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.

Essential

• Proven experience managing bids within construction, engineering or infrastructure.
• Outstanding written communication and proposal writing skills.
• Ability to interpret complex technical information and present it clearly.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent deadlines.
• Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of tender evaluation processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.

Desirable

• APMP Foundation or Practitioner qualification.
• Degree in English, Marketing, Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts.
• Experience of public sector procurement.
• Experience within civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, bridges or specialist construction.

Why Join VSL?

At VSL, you'll be part of a collaborative, supportive team delivering some of the UK's most technically challenging infrastructure projects. You'll have the opportunity to influence major bids, work alongside industry-leading professionals and contribute directly to the continued growth of our business.

We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits and genuine opportunities for professional development within an international organisation backed by Bouygues Construction.

If you're passionate about creating winning submissions and want to play a key role in securing the future of major infrastructure projects, we'd love to hear from you.

Interested? Apply now and let's build the great structures of tomorrow together!