North Carolina Transportation Business Group Proposal Manager

DescriptionAt HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?Watch Our Story:' ' Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. We believe transportation is more than movement, it’s the foundation of connected, thriving communities. As part of HDR’s Transportation Business Group, you’ll help shape the systems that move people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably. From designing resilient highways and iconic bridges to advancing transit, passenger and freight rail, aviation, federal transportation ports and marine infrastructure, your work will directly support economic vitality, public safety, sustainable and resilient communities and quality of life. We bring together planners, engineers, architects, construction management staff, environmental, strategic communications, economists, management consultants and specialists across disciplines to solve complex mobility challenges with innovation, technical excellence, and a deep understanding of community needs. Whether you're modernizing aging infrastructure or pioneering next-generation transportation solutions, your contributions will help define the future of mobility. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead progress, drive meaningful impact, and leave a legacy of smarter, more connected transportation networks. We are all employee-owners at HDR, which is the foundation of our collaborative culture that connects employees around the world.For decades, we have been delivering transportation planning and design services across North Carolina. Our experience includes highways and roadways, bridges, aviation, transit and rail, corridor and regional mobility studies, freight and logistics improvements. We partner with clients to support the full project lifecycle—from long-range planning and environmental studies to design, construction support, and program delivery.We continue to expand our transportation presence across the region, supporting state DOTs, airports, regional agencies, and local municipalities as they advance critical infrastructure that improves mobility, safety, and economic vitality. For this position, we are focused on supporting our Transportation Business Group growth initiatives, strengthening key client relationships, and positioning HDR to win and deliver impactful projects that serve our communities.In the role of Proposal Manager, we'll count on you to:Lead and support transportation pursuit teams in developing and implementing effective win strategies, including capture planning for DOT, aviation, transit, municipal, and regional agency opportunitiesFacilitate multidisciplinary pursuit teams, working with technical staff and leadership to establish clear priorities, differentiators, key messages, and pursuit strategiesLead the end-to-end proposal development process for complex RFQ/RFP responses, including kickoff, scheduling, content development, reviews, document production, and final submissionPartner with technical leads, project managers, and leadership to translate complex transportation experience and technical concepts into clear, persuasive, client-focused messagingBuild strong, collaborative relationships with technical staff, management, and marketing team members to effectively advance pursuit and business development effortsServe as a senior marketing resource for the North Carolina Transportation program, providing day-to-day guidance, problem-solving, and leadership across pursuits and team prioritiesDevelop high-quality, visually compelling submittals aligned with HDR brand standards and tailored to client needsLead the development and preparation of interview materials, including presentation strategy, slide decks, leave-behinds, question-and-answer preparation, team rehearsals, and technology coordinationLead quality and strategy reviews to evaluate accuracy, consistency, responsiveness, and overall competitiveness of proposals and interview materialsFacilitate pursuit debriefs and incorporate lessons learned into future pursuit strategies, processes, and team developmentHelp prioritize pursuit activities and coordinate marketing resources across multiple concurrent deadlines and competing prioritiesManage, train, and mentor marketing staff while providing guidance to technical teams on business development and marketing best practicesSupport the continued development and implementation of best practices, tools, and processes that strengthen the overall North Carolina Transportation marketing programArticulate HDR’s transportation capabilities, differentiators, and competitive advantages across market sectorsPerform other duties as neededPreferred QualificationsBachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, English, Business, or a related field. A minimum of 8 years relevant industry experienceDeep knowledge of the A/E/C industry’s approach to procurement of professional services, with experience supporting transportation clients (e.g., DOTs, airports, transit/regional agencies, municipalities)Demonstrated experience supporting complex, multidisciplinary transportation pursuitsProven ability to influence and align teams in fast-paced, deadline-driven environmentsDemonstrated ability to motivate and inspire others and build consensus within teamsAbility and desire to travel and engage with teams and clients in person across the stateDemonstrated experience writing compelling, client-focused content based on input from technical staffStrong organizational and project management skillsQualificationsRequired Qualifications A minimum of 5 years relevant industry experience Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies Excellent written and verbal communication skills Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including InDesignWhat We BelieveHDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.Our CommitmentAs employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.Job Field: Marketing/CommunicationsSchedule: Full-timeEmployee Status: Regular