Proposal Consultant - (BD-L5.7) at Zutari

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and pursuit leadership

• Plan, develop, and manage proposals and pursuits for the Africa market.
• Analyse Requests for Proposals (RFPs), tenders, and client requests to fully understand client needs, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria, and brief relevant technical leads accordingly.
• Research project opportunities, clients, competitors, and market context across various sectors and geographies.
• Actively participate in strategic go / no-go decision-making.
• Lead the development, brainstorming, and implementation of win strategies aligned with client drivers and Zutari’s strategic positioning.

Proposal development and content management

• Coordinate, manage, edit, integrate, and format inputs from subject matter experts across multiple disciplines.
• Create and customise CVs and project case studies tailored to specific client and opportunity requirements.
• Source, write, and tailor non-technical and generic content to align with the opportunity strategy and client priorities.
• Develop well-branded, compelling proposal documents and graphics, ensuring an effective balance between written content and visual storytelling in line with Zutari’s brand standards.

Compliance, governance, and submission

• Ensure bids are fully compliant with client requirements and evaluation criteria, including conducting internal quality and compliance reviews prior to submission.
• Contribute to the development of commercial offers in collaboration with commercial and technical teams.
• Ensure Zutari’s governance processes are followed throughout the proposal and pursuit development process.
• Manage the end-to-end submission process, including pre-submission reviews, and ensure proposals are submitted accurately and on time.

Post-submission and continuous improvement

• Participate in post-submission reviews and capture lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the sharing of proposal best practices across Zutari, including developing and maintaining content within the team library.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the business on all matters related to proposals and pursuits.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Degree or diploma in communications, marketing, design, humanities or related discipline.
• At least 10 years’ experience in proposals and pursuits management, preferably within a professional services environment (engineering, consulting, finance, legal or construction)
• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification advantageous.

SKILLS, AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Proven experience with Development Finance Institution (DFI) and donor-funded bids (essential).
• Exceptional Microsoft Word and PowerPoint skills.
• Excellent writing and editing skills; exposure to technical writing is beneficial.
• Strong experience in document design, layout, and visual presentation.
• Sound understanding of corporate governance principles and due diligence processes.
• Tactful and collaborative, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to perform effectively under pressure and manage significant responsibility.
• Strong analytical capability with exceptional problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to manage conflicting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, with strong quality control discipline.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Innovative, creative, and solutions-oriented.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and accountable.
• High levels of integrity and professionalism.