Proposal Manager at Ames Construction in Denver, CO

Ames Construction has been building America for more than 60 years, and the people who work here are the reason we continue to succeed.

We are a full-service, heavy civil and industrial contractor building critical infrastructure, including highways, bridges, mines, dams, rail, and more. Our teams take on challenging projects that keep communities safe, supply chains moving, and the country connected.

At Ames, we are Fueled by Family and Driven by Ownership. That means we look out for one another, take pride in what we build, and take responsibility for our actions, our results, and the long-term health of the company.

Guided by our core values of People, Team, Our Bond, Persistence, and Vision, we do what we say we will do, push through challenges and deliver work we’re proud of.

When you join Ames, you’re joining a company built for long-term success — where skilled people, strong teams, and disciplined execution come together to build careers and a better future.

The Proposal Manager will lead development, preparation and submittal of proposals for projects being pursued which includes: identification of proposal content requirements, collaboration with Pursuit, Operations, Engineering and Administrative coworkers to develop winning strategies, proposal development and submittal, relationship building with Clients and industry partners, and providing development and training opportunities.

Expected outcomes of the Proposal Manager role include, but are not limited to:

• Effective communication.
• Professional, developed relationships with coworkers.
• Identification, recruitment, development and training of coworkers.
• Professional, developed relationships with clients and industry partners.
• Effective, well formatted and written proposals in compliance with the Project Documents.
• Deliver compliant, professionally produced proposals within customer defined timeframes.
• Collaboration and proposal alignment with estimating, risk and wellness, legal, scheduling, quality, environmental and preconstruction efforts.
• Continued support of project pursuits through post bid updates, interviews and proposal review meetings and negotiations.
• Clear communication of proposal contents to preconstruction and construction teams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that safety is Ames number one value.
• Understand project delivery methods (e.g., DB, PDB, CMGC, Best Value), become familiar with each and propose best practices for proposal content based on the client’s delivery method.
• Conduct research on potential clients and competitors to tailor proposals to specific needs and preferences.
• Analyze RFP/RFQ documents, identifying key requirements, deadlines, and evaluation criteria.
• Gather and incorporate relevant industry data, statistics, and case studies into proposals.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, estimators, project controls, legal, risk and wellness, quality, environmental, graphic design and other team members to gather project specific information.
• Monitor and download Project Documents to Ames SharePoint site or system drive in collaboration with the Senior Pursuits and Preconstruction Manager.
• Organize and format proposal content, develop compliance matrix and ensure compliance with client requirements.
• Write, edit, and proofread proposal sections to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
• Manage version control of proposal documents.
• Schedule and lead proposal kickoff meetings to define roles, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Coordinate proposal review meetings and track action items to ensure deadlines are met.
• Create and maintain a proposal library of templates, boilerplate content, and graphics.
• Collaborate with graphic designers to create visually appealing proposal elements, including charts, diagrams, and images.
• Ensure that proposal visuals align with the overall design and messaging.
• Conduct thorough quality checks on final proposal documents to ensure accuracy and compliance with all RFP requirements, addressing any issues or discrepancies before submission.
• Collaborate with regional leadership to identify key personnel to be named in the proposal.
• Develop resumes of key personnel to be included in the proposal.
• Email, hand deliver or upload final RFP documents to client’s web-based portal on or before date and time in which the RFP is due.
• Support pursuit group through the post-bid proposal clarification, BAFO and negotiation process including attending proposal review meetings, updating proposal contents, narratives, etc.
• Participate in hand-off meetings to clearly communicate proposal contents to preconstruction and construction teams.
• Develop and implement market strategies to increase the company's visibility and market share within the heavy civil and industrial construction industry.
• Conduct market research to identify industry trends, competitors, and potential opportunities.
• Create market collateral, including brochures, presentations, and case studies, highlighting the company's strengths and achievements.
• Organize and represent the company at industry events, conferences, and trade shows.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing clients and key stakeholders.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for upselling and cross-selling services to current clients.
• Assist in identifying and targeting potential clients and strategic partners.

Experience, Education & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Communications, or a related field, with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience
• Proven experience in proposal development, marketing, or a related role within the construction or professional services industry
• Strong proposal management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and shifting priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on clarity and persuasiveness
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign
• Working knowledge of the heavy civil and/or industrial construction industry preferred
• Strategic and creative thinker with the ability to develop compelling content and messaging
• Comfortable using cloud-based platforms and virtual collaboration tools in a fast-paced pursuit environment
• Skilled in conducting interviews with technical professionals to extract key information, including asking clarifying and follow-up questions to develop strong proposal content
• Demonstrated experience in persuasive writing and basic graphic design, including infographics, flowcharts, and organizational charts
• Ability to independently lead Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) and pre-qualification submittals with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Comfortable coordinating with third-party consultants for writing, editing, and 2D/3D visualization support as needed

Working Conditions

• Office Environment – extensive sitting at desk and computer; some standing, bending at the waist, stooping and reaching required; ability to lift 5-20 pounds occasionally.

Total Rewards

People are the most important asset at Ames Construction.

• Base salary range is $90,000-$130,000 a year, which varies depending on many factors, including experience, skills, and knowledge.
• This role is eligible for a discretionary bonus.
• Ames offers generous retirement benefits, including Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) participation and a 401k match.
• Ames' non-craft health benefits package is designed so that our team members flourish, with medical, dental, and vision (all at one low premium), voluntary benefits, company holidays, and paid time off. Please see the Benefits section of our Careers page for more information.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test is required

Ames Construction is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.