Proposals Manager

• Stable and growing Global CRO
• Flexibility and positive work environment
• Opportunity for growth and development

The Proposals Manager is a subject matter expert (SME)-level role responsible for leading RFPs (Request for Proposals). This role serves as a critical partner to Sales, Finance, Legal, and both Operational & Executive leadership, providing strategic oversight, driving cross-functional alignment, and enabling commercial scalability. The Proposals Manager will lead the end-to-end development of core RFP deliverables, oversee high-impact client engagements, and guide transformational initiatives that elevate the function's performance and visibility across the organization

Who are we?

We're Avance Clinical a Contract Research Organisation. We offer specialised services supporting drug development for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. We have a rich history in this area with our founding roots dating back to the 1980's. If you already work in this industry you'll know that we are experts in our field.

Why should you join Avance Clinical?

We appreciate that our most important asset is our people. We offer a fun, friendly work environment and a culture that values honesty and respect. We have a strong sense of team. We genuinely appreciate each individual but recognise the collective when achieving success.

We are committed to creating a flexible work environment for our people by supporting them to balance their work commitments and personal needs, both now and into the future.

Core Responsibilities

• Proposal Development: Serve as the central point of contact for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Information (RFIs), ensuring alignment with client expectations and operational input. Coordinate and lead internal strategy review meetings for opportunities, ensuring clarity on roles, win strategy, timelines, and strategic positioning. Lead the preparation, direct overall process strategy inclusive of leading initial RFP kick-off strategy call with bid team, and development of complex RFPs/RFIs), ensuring alignment with client requirements and internal Avance value proposition capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders, including project managers, clinical operations, feasibility, regulatory affairs, and finance teams, to gather necessary information and ensure accurate and competitive proposals, resource assumptions and timelines.
• Budgeting and Costing: Act as a strategic advisor on bid positioning, pricing logic, and commercial risk during the RFP stage.
• Deliverable Finalization: Write and edit proposal content to clearly articulate Avance Clinical's value proposition, differentiators, and alignment with client needs. Provide oversight and guidance on budget assumptions, pricing strategy, and bid risk assessment, collaborating closely with finance and operational leads. Ensure timely delivery of proposals in line with client deadlines, maintaining version control and adherence to brand and content standards. Drive and finalize strategic RFP/RFI text in both Word & PPT format as required along with overall finalization of both Avance format budget grids and detailed sponsor format client grids when required.
• Client Engagement: Participate in client meetings and presentations to understand project needs, address queries, and build strong relationships.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all proposals are compliant with regulatory requirements, company standards, and client specifications.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the development and enhancement of proposal templates, processes, and best practices to improve team and individual efficiency and effectiveness. Track and report proposal metrics including turnaround times, win/loss data, average deal size, and root cause analysis for lost opportunities to inform continuous improvement.
• Identify and coordinate third party vendor proposals, relevant to the respective RFP.
• Change Orders: For ongoing projects support development of change order budgets
• Adhere to Avance Clinical's relevant policies and SOPs.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in proposal development within the CRO industry.
• Proven ability working within a business development team within a CRO or associated clinical trials industry environment including experience in client meetings, cost and proposal development, project award and contract management;
• Excellent written communications skills including the ability to write SOPs and reports;
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to set priorities, analyse problems, formulate clear and effective solutions and coordinate tasks;
• Ability to work on multiple tasks under pressure in a fast-paced and multi-disciplinary team environment;
• Ability to take initiative in problem solving and in exercising judgment;
• Ability to work harmoniously and cooperatively with other people and to work independently without supervision;
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, cost drivers, and service models for early- and late-phase clinical trials.
• Experience supporting global proposals and working with cross-regional teams is highly desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel, Word, PowerPoint); experience with Salesforce or proposal automation tools is a plus.
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders across functions and seniority levels.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking and Client Focus
• Project Management and Organisational Skills
• Communication and Storytelling
• Quality Orientation and Attention to Detail

What we offer

• Stimulating work
• Project diversity
• An intellectual challenge
• An agile & flexible workplace
• Opportunity to progress
• Stability
• Sense of community
• A leadership team that are working together on a common goal
• Flexible work options
• Great tools / tech to do your job

What next?

As a growing business we're looking for likeminded people to join us – we hope that's you.

• To join our team please submit your CV & cover letter as one Microsoft Word document
• You must have full Australian working rights to be considered

At Avance difference is encouraged, its celebrated and it's something we strive for. We empower cultural, disability, LGBTI+, and gender equality.