Overview

Associate Director Technical Authoring Lead, Infrastructure Pursuits

Are you a Technical Author with experience working in the built environment? Buro Happold is looking for a Technical Authoring Lead to spearhead the authorship of high-quality, multidisciplinary proposal narratives across our major infrastructure portfolio including Highways, Rail, Water and Environment and Energy, as well as the opportunity to become involved with prestigious international infrastructure pursuits.

Based from one of our UK offices, this role is critical to supporting our strategy for major infrastructure growth in the UK market. It will work closely with our Strategic Pursuits Director, Technical and Market Leaders and Bid Coordinators, taking ownership of authoring technically detailed and strategically compelling bid responses. Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role: Be part of an exceptional team that embraces technically demanding projects and challenges. Be at the forefront of changes in the industry such as reducing embodied carbon and modern methods of infrastructure design.

Key Duties

• Lead authorship of technical responses for major infrastructure bids, ensuring alignment with client requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Produce precise, compliant, and persuasive answers that withstand rigorous client evaluation, ensuring bids are differentiated and score maximum available points.
• Interpret client evaluation frameworks and tailor responses to fully address scoring criteria, consistently achieving top scores in quality assessments.
• Work with technical specialists and internal/external stakeholders to clearly articulate complex technical solutions.
• Collaborate with bid coordinators to plan, manage and deliver timely and high-quality deliverables.
• Work with resourcing and commercial leads to ensure technical responses remain aligned with evolving delivery strategies, resource planning, and commercial positioning.
• Manage the bid quality assurance process including stage reviews.
• Collaborate with the Strategic Pursuits Director to translate bid strategies and pursuit plans into compelling narratives and feed input into future opportunities.
• Critically review technical inputs to ensure completeness against scope requirements, narrative coherence, and bid objectives.
• Contribute to marketing, presentation and thought-leadership content in collaboration with Cities Directorship and Partners.
• Embed relevant market insights, trends, and organisational value propositions into bid content.
• Develop tailored case studies and value proposition narratives specific to infrastructure markets.
• Upskill technical contributors, champion continuous improvement including in AI/Automation, and promote excellence in technical writing across the organisation.

Your Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in managing complex public sector infrastructure bids within engineering, infrastructure, or construction sectors and a proven track record of high-scoring questions and winning bids.
• Demonstrable track record of authoring and shaping public sector bids and frameworks with input from technical experts across multiple engineering environmental disciplines.
• Experience within design and build (D&B) environments or effective collaboration with consultants and contractors.
• Exceptional skills in writing, editing, and structuring technical methodologies, evidence and strategic bid content.
• Strong interpersonal skills, capable of influencing and engaging multidisciplinary technical teams and building an internal network of content contributors.
• Excellent organizational skills, capable of managing multiple proposals concurrently while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to review and elevate the quality of bid content authored by others.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, including mentoring and developing others’ authoring capabilities.
• Membership / Certification in APMP (Association for Proposal Management Professionals).

What we offer

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, exclusive of Bank Holidays.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Private Medical Health (family cover).
• Company Pension Scheme.
• Life Assurance.
• Income Protection.
• Flexible Benefits - including Cycle scheme, Dental insurance, Optical Cover, Travel insurance and Corporate discounts.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values flexible working patterns as an important part of achieving balance. We welcome applications from those seeking flexibility in their careers. We strive for a diverse and inclusive culture where differences are valued and celebrated. If you require adjustments to the application process, please contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can support you throughout your application.