Job Details

Overview

HDR is seeking a Proposal Manager, Strategic Pursuits to partner with the Transportation Business Group Strategic Pursuit Leaders. Your primary responsibilities will be to support highly visible, complex opportunities by producing winning, professional, competitive proposals.

Responsibilities

Proposal Management & Coordination

• Foster a self-directed, accountable team culture by delivering high-quality, review- and client-ready materials.
• Lead the full proposal lifecycle, from kickoff through final production and interview, owning all deliverables and driving a smooth, efficient process.
• Develop and manage pursuit organization tools, including schedules, compliance matrices, templates, and assignment dashboards, using collaborative online platforms. Includes capturing meeting notes and action items, translating key themes and client priorities into a focused capture plan.
• Review and interpret RFPs to create clear, actionable compliance matrices that guide proposal development.
• Coordinate input from internal teams and external subconsultants, maintaining alignment and clear communication throughout.
• Track and communicate progress, manage deadlines, and adjust priorities to keep the team and deliverables on schedule.
• Support content development by preparing early drafts, capturing meeting notes, and distilling key themes and differentiators into a focused capture plan.
• Proactively communicate workload needs and availability.

Content Development & Quality

• Write, edit, and format non-technical proposal content to ensure clarity and consistency.
• Work closely with specialized experts to write and visualize technical approaches and project understanding information.
• Develop qualifications, bios, data, forms, and terms to be accurate and compliant.
• Support the creation of storyboarding, benefit statements, message development, project profiles, and additional data to demonstrate aligned qualifications and differentiators.
• Research project background and tailor content accordingly.
• Author and review draft proposal text for consistency, brand voice, and grammar to remove errors and redundancy.
• Integrate risks and issues identified by the pursuit team into the PSOE (problem, solution, outcome, evidence) table, and coordinate with graphics to present information in a reader-friendly format.
• Identify gaps in draft proposal text that need to be addressed, based on capture planning, PSOE exercises, and RFP requirements.

Visual & Layout Skills

• Compose and format documents with reader-friendly graphics and layout. Maintain an intermediate level of InDesign with a view to advancing.
• Coordinate with marketing resources, including graphic designers and data keepers, and communicate progress with the Strategic Pursuit Leader.
• Collaborate with technical leads to develop draft presentation materials and transform complex content into clear visuals with designers.
• Provide clear direction and timely communication to achieve high-quality deliverables.
• Develop materials such as interactive presentations and leave-behinds to communicate key messages and differentiators.

Quality Control & Compliance Checks

• Create schedules and time blocks to conduct appropriate reviews of content and graphics during production.
• Monitor progress to ensure internal deadlines and quality processes are met.
• Work with Strategic Pursuit leaders to meet expectations for quality, graphics, and proposal format.
• Perform or request technical editing and compliance reviews to ensure accuracy and alignment with RFP requirements.
• Continuously improve processes for producing high-quality materials.

Pre-positioning, Collateral & Material Management

• Research project background, news articles, and meetings; keep data organized in collaborative tools.
• Gather and refine resumes, project information, histories, photographs, and other data to support key differentiating sections.
• Develop materials such as interactive presentations and marketing collateral to support team messaging.
• Collaborate with leadership to analyze marketplace, client, and project-specific research.
• Partner with the marketing team to develop sector qualifications and collateral in advance of RFPs.

Continuous Process Improvements

• Learn and apply AI tools and software to improve efficiency and output quality.
• Support proposal quality by aligning with best practices and industry standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement through debriefs and knowledge sharing.
• Act as a subject matter expert, following HDR procedures, policies, and best practices, including standard file management and archiving.

Skill Aptitude

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Capable of meeting deadlines and working under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Attention to detail and adherence to HDR brand guidelines.
• Self-starter, team-oriented, and able to work with diverse personalities and styles.
• Active listening to inform proposal strategy and content.
• Adaptable to client needs and able to communicate concerns or improvement ideas.
• Interest in transportation industry terminology and environment.
• Comfortable collaborating with all levels of the organization; able to work independently or in cross-functional teams.
• Clear problem-solving approach and sound professional judgment.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships to support proposal delivery.
• Enthusiasm for developing a professional proposal management career.

Computer Skills

Advanced: Word, PowerPoint, Teams/SharePoint, OneNote

• InDesign, Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator, and CRM systems (Salesforce, Oscar, Watson, Proposal Development Marketing System) as well as new collaborative tools as they are released.

Tier advancement of the role

• Proposal Manager
• Senior Proposal Manager
• Principal Proposal Manager

Additional Items For The Position

• Active participation in HDR's employee-owned culture.
• Desire to join a high-caliber team and contribute to growth and achievement.
• Positive contributor to team culture and a commitment to excellence.
• Estimated travel: 10-20%.
• Reports to the Strategic Pursuits Proposal Manager Team Lead.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years relevant industry experience.
• Proven self-starter with a history of delivering projects with limited oversight.
• Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including InDesign.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. We build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day, shaping our collaborative culture and trust with clients and communities.

Our Commitment

As employee-owners, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is welcomed, valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. HDR supports eight Employee Network Groups and provides a comprehensive benefits package that promotes ownership, health, and success.

Primary Location: United States-Colorado-Denver

Other Locations: United States-Texas-Round Rock; United States-North Carolina-Charlotte; United States-California-Long Beach; United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park; United States-Florida-Fort Lauderdale; United States-Pennsylvania-Bethlehem; United States-Oregon-Salem; United States-Maryland-Baltimore; United States-Texas-Fort Worth; United States-Montana-Missoula; United States-District of Columbia-Washington DC; United States-Texas-Houston; United States-California-Irvine; United States-Wisconsin-Madison; United States-Florida-Tallahassee; United States-Mississippi-Jackson area; United States-Nevada-Reno; United States-Colorado-Fort Collins; United States-Iowa-Des Moines; United States-New York-Albany; United States-California-Berkeley; United States-California-Folsom; United States-Oregon-Portland; United States-Montana-Bozeman; United States-Texas-El Paso; United States-Colorado-Durango; United States-Texas-Corpus Christi; United States-Washington-Seattle; United States-Nevada-Las Vegas; United States-Montana-Billings; United States-Texas-Dallas; United States-Montana-Helena; United States-Washington-Spokane; United States-Virginia-Arlington; United States-Iowa-Cedar Rapids; United States-Colorado-Englewood; United States-Washington-Pasco; United States-Colorado-Grand Junction; United States-Texas-Austin; United States-Louisiana-Metairie; United States-Virginia-Virginia Beach; United States-California-Claremont; United States-Massachusetts-Boston; United States-Iowa-Ames; United States-Oregon-Bend; United States-Missouri-St Louis; United States-Arizona-Tucson; United States-Pennsylvania-Mechanicsburg; United States-Washington-Olympia; United States-Washington-Vancouver; United States-Colorado-Colorado Springs; United States-Louisiana-Lafayette; United States-Hawaii-Honolulu; United States-Oklahoma-Tulsa; United States-Maryland-Fulton; United States-Arizona-Phoenix; United States-Kentucky-Louisville; United States-Georgia-Atlanta; United States-South Carolina-Greenville; United States-Illinois-Rosemont; United States-Pennsylvania-Plymouth Meeting; United States-California-Walnut Creek; United States-Oklahoma-Oklahoma City; United States-Tennessee-Memphis; United States-Montana-Kalispell; United States-Louisiana-Baton Rouge; United States-Missouri-Springfield; United States-Washington-Gig Harbor; United States-Rhode Island-Providence; United States-Ohio-Cleveland; United States-South Carolina-Fort Mill; United States-Florida-Tampa; United States-Florida-West Palm Beach; United States-Ohio-Columbus; United States-California-Ventura; United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga; United States-Kentucky-Lexington; United States-Ohio-Cincinnati; United States-Georgia-Pooler; United States-South Dakota-Rapid City; United States-Missouri-Forsyth; United States-Washington-Bellevue; United States-Missouri-Kansas City; United States-South Dakota-Sioux Falls; United States-Alabama-Mobile; United States-Florida-Sarasota; United States-North Carolina-Wilmington; United States-Tennessee-Nashville; United States-Kentucky-Elizabethtown; United States-New Jersey-Newark; United States-Kentucky-Paducah; United States-New Mexico-Albuquerque; United States-New York-White Plains; United States-Missouri-Columbia; United States-Texas-Tyler; United States-California-San Francisco; United States-South Carolina-Charleston; United States-Virginia-Roanoke; United States-South Carolina-Columbia; United States-Minnesota-Thief River Falls; United States-Virginia-Vienna; United States-North Carolina-Asheville; United States-Florida-Orlando; United States-New Hampshire-Bedford; United States-Alaska-Anchorage; United States-Minnesota-Minneapolis; United States-Indiana-Indianapolis; United States-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh; United States-Wyoming-Lander; United States-New York-Syracuse; United States-California-San Diego; United States-Michigan-Lansing; United States-Pennsylvania-Philadelphia; United States-Virginia-Glen Allen; United States-Iowa-Davenport; United States-California-Riverside; United States-Nebraska-Lincoln; United States-Montana-Butte; United States-Virginia-Newport News; United States-Nebraska-Omaha; United States-New Jersey-Pennington; United States-Illinois-Springfield; United States-California-Sacramento; United States-Connecticut-Rocky Hill; United States-New York-New York; United States-Oregon-Ashland; United States-Michigan-Ann Arbor; United States-Utah-Salt Lake City; United States-North Carolina-Winston-Salem; United States-North Dakota-Bismarck; United States-Washington-Everett; United States-Maine-Portland; United States-California-Oakland; United States-Idaho-Coeur d'Alene; United States-North Dakota-Fargo; United States-New Jersey-Woodcliff Lake; United States-Florida-Jacksonville; United States-Illinois-Chicago; United States-California-Los Angeles; United States-Wyoming-Gillette; United States-Idaho-Boise; United States-North Carolina-Raleigh; United States-Texas-San Antonio; United States-West Virginia-Charleston; United States-Florida-Crestview

Industry: Marketing/Communications

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Business Class: Marketing and Admin

Job Posting: Aug 29, 2025

What HDR Believes and Our Commitment statements plus EEO note are included above; we will keep essential equality statement: We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories.