Proposal Manager

About the team

We are in search of a skilled and dynamic Proposal Manager to join our team in Hengelo. As a Proposal Manager at Thales Hengelo, you will play an essential role and be responsible for the planning, organizing, writing, editing and managing winning proposal documentation.

You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams such as Sales, Bid Management, Product Segments and Legal to create compelling proposals that address customer requirements and differentiate our offerings in the global market.

The Bid Management department currently consists of about 40 Bid Managers, Proposal Managers, Financial Engineering Specialists and Bid Support employees. The department is responsible for managing 250 complex bids on average per year.

About your future job

As Proposal Manager you will support the Bid Teams in their success by:

• Lead the end-to-end proposal development process, from initial kick-off meeting to final submission, ensuring compliance with both customer requirements and internal standards
• Develop win themes, value propositions and positive discriminators according to the Shipley best practice while actively contributing to writing assignments
• Conduct thorough reviews of proposal content with stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the validated bid baseline and compliant to internal processes
• Manage proposal timelines and milestones by proactively identifying and addressing potential delays, safeguarding on-time delivery
• Maintain a repository of proposal content, templates and best practices to streamline future proposal development activities
• Initiate and proactively participate in Proposal Management improvement plans, e.g.:
• Maintain and develop standard text excerpts, technical documentation, promotional material and tools which serve as a base for proposal development and standardization
• Develop forward-thinking initiatives for future proposals to drive continuous improvement in the proposal process.

Why you would be a good match

As a Proposal Manager you have/are:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field
• Proven experience with working in an international environment and affinity with high-tech products
• Relevant experience in Bid & Proposal Management
• The ability to oversee complex situations and to manage multi-task environments
• A team player with a strong dedication to achieve common team goals
• An enthusiastic and persistent personality with good communication skills
• Strong in motivating and structuring stakeholders of all levels
• Flexible and open-minded personality with a can-do mentality
• Proven experience in working with IT resources such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and proposal tooling & methods
• Fluent in English and Dutch speaking; proficiency in German is a pre
• APMP certification is a plus.

What's in it for you

• A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment, including the freedom for initiative and good ideas
• Room for personal and professional growth within our organization, for example in regards to technical, commercial or international skills
• Valuable international collaboration with co-workers from 68 different countries around the globe
• A comfortable work space in a modern environment, with a focus on flexibility and the right work life balance
• Within Thales, we implemented hybrid working, for example two days a week from home and three days in the office, if your role allows it
• You have proven experience with working in an international environment and affinity with high-tech products.
• Salary, fitting travel allowance, and the ability to personalize your employment conditions: for instance, you can trade days off for internet costs, our bicycle plan, company fitness and relocation costs
• 40 days off per year (PTO). Yes, really.