BW Water is seeking a Head of Proposal Management EMEA, based in Milan, to lead and develop a high-performing team responsible for delivering technically sound, competitive, and compliant proposals that drive regional business growth. As a key contributor to the regional Sales organization, this role plays a critical part in achieving both territory-specific and overall revenue targets.
This position sits at the intersection of strategy, technical expertise, and execution. It requires a solution-oriented leader who can build strong cross-functional collaboration across engineering, sales, and operations while ensuring the efficient development of high-quality proposals for industrial water and wastewater treatment projects.
- Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Environmental, or similar; Master’s preferred)
- Several years of experience in proposal management within water/wastewater or process industries
- Proven track record of leading and developing technical teams and delivering winning proposals
- Strong expertise in treatment technologies, cost estimation, and proposal/project development
- Solid understanding of commercial aspects, pricing strategies, and contract frameworks
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a hands-on mindset
- Fluent in English and Italian; additional languages are a plus
Team Leadership & Management
- Build, lead, and manage a team of Proposal Engineers, Process Engineers and Cost Estimation Engineers
- Foster a collaborative, high-performing work environment through mentorship, coaching and training
- Set clear performance expectations, provide feedback and conduct regular evaluation
Proposal Strategy & Development
- Collaborate closely with the regional sales team to understand client needs, project requirements and market dynamics
- Develop and implement winning proposal strategies aligned with business objectives
- Promote innovative, cost-effective and competitive solutions
Proposal Preparation & Execution
- Oversee the full proposal lifecycle from RFQ/RFP analysis to final submission
- Ensure the preparation of high-quality technical, commercial proposals and formal tenders
- Guarantee compliance with client specifications, timelines and internal standards
- Take an active role in preparing key proposals, ensuring technical accuracy, competitiveness and timely delivery
Technical & Commercial Expertise
- Provide guidance on treatment technologies, system design and cost estimation
- Evaluate RFQs/RFPs and define optimal technical and commercial approaches
- Liaise with procurement, fabrication, project teams and external partners to optimize design and costing
Stakeholder Management & Communication
- Participate in client meetings to clarify technical and commercial aspects of proposals
- Ensure alignment between proposal outcomes and project execution phases
- Maintain strong communication with internal teams, clients, contractors and vendors
Continuous Improvement & Performance
- Drive continuous improvement of proposal processes, tools and team performance
- Your everyday life should feel easier – enjoy meal vouchers that you can use flexibly at restaurants helping you stay energized throughout the day.
- Your health matters to us – benefit from private health insurance that gives you access to additional medical coverage and greater peace of mind beyond the public healthcare system.
- Your flexibility matters – enjoy a hybrid work model (smart working) with up to two days per week on average, giving you the freedom to balance office collaboration with focused work from wherever you work best.
Please submit your application in English. Thank you!