Job Description

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 bid 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 successful candidate will be employed on a permanent basis and will be based out of our office in Havant, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Wartsila operates a hybrid working regime that is consistent with the goals of business.

What you will be doing

The successful candidate will be employed on a permanent basis and will be 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.

We are looking for a dynamic, growth-minded Bid Manager with experience leading diverse, multi-disciplinary teams in responding to complex technical customer enquiries. The incumbent will demonstrate a passionate customer-focus, on time delivery, a strong sense of ownership, be commercially aware, be comfortable working in a technical, engineering environment and be able to demonstrate a track-record of winning complex new work integrating in-house and third-party products and solutions.

As Proposal Manager, your work will focus on these responsibilities:

Owning and delivering bid responses for the most important strategic pursuits for WDSL resulting in timely, compelling and competitive proposals focussed on customer needs and benefits. Working closely with Sale Leads during and prior to bidding to ensure solutions and proposals reflect Win Strategies Working with Sales Leads to ensure there is a differentiated WDSL Value Proposition and ensuring the Value Proposition is prominent in bid responses Creating the Bid Plan and schedule to include all activities required by the WDSL Business Management System Creating and presenting review gate presentations and coordinating all required internal and third-party inputs Identifying Bid Team members and Reviewers for approval at review gates Managing bid resources in line with approvals and allocating specific and clear responsibilities to all members of the Bid Team Identifying the full scope of bid deliverables and allocating a "Solution Lead" against each deliverable Supporting Sales Leads in developing a Price to Win and allocating target costs to Solution Leads Monitoring solution costs as they develop and managing mismatches with the target costs Managing the delivery team of cross-business functions including Commercial and Pricing and aligning their efforts to the Win Strategy Defining the proposal structure and coaching bid team members in effective proposal writing to include storyboarding, writing guidelines and proposal review processes with a relentless focus on driving high scoring outputs Working with external and internal stakeholders to ensure bids are managed effectively and efficiently Putting in place all required bid facilities Ensuring bids and tenders are completed to time, and quality. Conducting Lessons Learnt sessions following the submission of each bid Owning bid-related elements of the WDSL BMS

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:

Essential:

A minimum of 5 years' experience as a bid manager in a comparable environment Willingness to adopt the Wartsila culture. Familiarity with comprehensive Bid Lifecycle Management processes (Shipley or similar proprietary approach) A demonstrable track record of winning complex bids Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Office Tools including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams Strong leadership skills and can demonstrate a team working ethos Strong stakeholder management skills including at Board level Experience dealing with sub-contractors in a bidding environment Commercial awareness

Desirable:

Degree level qualification (any subject) Experience bidding to UK and overseas clients in the Defence sector Experience using MS Project

Package:

Role Banding 7/8 to be discussed WDSL offers a competitive package comprising: Salary Pension Holidays Etc.

Why Wartsila Defence Systems Limited?

At WDSL we believe in empowerment, ownership and taking responsibility for our work. We support each other's growth and believe this to be the true basis of our innovation. Together, we have courage to see opportunities and take initiative.

We are authentic and honest. We value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities. 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.

Everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.

Are you eager to be part of the WDSL growth ambition?

If you are keen to be part of our plans for growth as a WDSL Bid Manager, please provide, through the WDSL careers portal, a CV (maximum 2 sides) and a covering letter (maximum 1 side) covering the following:

(note: this approach will reveal, at a basic level, the candidate's ability to follow instructions, it will help filter out candidates with limited attention to detail or lack of ability in structuring a response)
Past relevant experience What is important to you and why you are interested in a career with WDSL How you would measure your success in this Bid Manage role What your development areas are and how you would hope to address them within WDSL to our mutual benefit

Security Restrictions:

Please be aware that that this position will be subject to security restrictions and the successful candidate must successfully complete a security clearance. This means that factors including your nationality, and previous nationalities you have or have held and/or your place of birth may limit the role you can perform for the business.

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, Talent Acquisition Partner, through email jess.baxter@wartsila.com with any questions related to this position (NO AGENCIES - Only for questions from direct job applicants, applications through email will not be recorded or responded to).



Welcome to join us in shapinecarbonisation of marine and energy!

Last application date: 08/08/2025


At Wartsila 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 Wartsila policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.