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
Please submit your application in English. Thank you! 