Head Proposals

Descon Engineering Ltd is looking for a highly skilled and strategic Head of Proposals to oversee the comprehensive review and development of design engineering proposals within the oil & gas, petrochemical, and related industrial sectors. This senior leadership role requires full accountability for ensuring the quality, competitiveness, and profitability of proposals. The successful candidate will drive effective bid strategies across Lump Sum Turnkey (LSTK), Long-Term Agreements (LTA), and Direct Hire contracts, working closely with cross-functional teams to secure winning projects.

Key Responsibilities

Proposal Leadership: Take charge of the end-to-end review process for engineering proposals, ensuring thorough validation of scope, design bases, deliverables, and man-hour estimates. Maintain high technical accuracy and alignment with project requirements.

Commercial Strategy: Develop and implement winning bid strategies in collaboration with Business Development, Finance, and Engineering leadership. Analyze margins, pricing assumptions, and the long-term impact on business growth to optimize proposal outcomes.

Bid/No-Bid Decision Making: Assess the strategic fit, commercial returns, and delivery feasibility of potential projects. Provide clear recommendations to executive management on whether to proceed with bidding.

Risk & Contract Governance: Identify contractual, commercial, and technical risks early in the proposal process. Work closely with Legal and Contracts teams to define assumptions, exclusions, and risk mitigation plans to safeguard company interests.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement: Lead technical and commercial negotiations with clients during the bid phase. Ensure seamless coordination and alignment across all relevant business functions to support successful proposal submissions.

People & QHSE Leadership: Mentor and develop high-performing proposal and design teams. Uphold strict adherence to Descon’s Integrated Management System (DIMS), Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), and Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (QHSE) standards.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Process Engineering.

Experience: A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in proposal development, design engineering, and bid management within the petrochemical or oil & gas industries.

Core Competencies

- Strong commercial and business acumen with the ability to evaluate complex financial and contractual scenarios.
- Proven expertise in commercial risk assessment and contract negotiation.
- Demonstrated leadership skills, including team management and effective stakeholder engagement.
- In-depth knowledge of LSTK, LTAs, and major project execution frameworks.

This role offers an opportunity to lead a critical function within a reputable engineering company, contributing directly to business growth and project success. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with strategic vision and strong leadership capabilities to drive excellence in proposal development and execution.