Overview

Associate Director Technical Authoring Lead, Infrastructure Pursuits. Be part of an exceptional team that embraces technically demanding projects and challenges. Lead authorship of technical narratives for major infrastructure bids across highways, rail, water and environment and energy, with involvement in prestigious international infrastructure pursuits. Based from a UK office, the role supports our strategy for major infrastructure growth in the UK market and works closely with the 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.

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 client evaluation, helping bids differentiate and score highly.
• Interpret client evaluation frameworks and tailor responses to scoring criteria, consistently achieving strong quality scores.
• Collaborate with technical specialists and internal/external stakeholders to articulate complex technical solutions.
• Work with bid coordinators to plan, manage and deliver timely, high-quality deliverables.
• Coordinate with resourcing and commercial leads to ensure technical responses align with delivery strategies, resource planning and commercial positioning.
• Manage the bid quality assurance process including stage reviews.
• Translate bid strategies and pursuit plans into compelling narratives with input into future opportunities.
• Review technical inputs for completeness against scope, narrative coherence, and bid objectives.
• Contribute to marketing, presentation and thought-leadership content with Cities Directorship and Partners.
• Embed market insights, trends, and value propositions into bid content; develop tailored case studies and value proposition narratives for infrastructure markets.
• Upskill technical contributors and promote excellence in technical writing, including AI/Automation initiatives.

Your Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in managing complex public sector infrastructure bids within engineering, infrastructure, or construction, with a proven track record of high-scoring responses and winning bids.
• Experience authoring and shaping public sector bids in collaboration with technical experts across engineering environmental disciplines.
• Experience in design and build (D&B) environments or working with consultants and contractors.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and structuring of technical methodologies and bid content.
• Strong interpersonal skills to influence and engage multidisciplinary teams and build internal content contributor networks.
• Excellent organisational skills, able to manage multiple proposals concurrently while maintaining quality.
• Ability to review and elevate bid content authored by others.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and developing others’ authoring capabilities.
• Membership or certification in APMP (Association for Proposal Management Professionals).

What we offer

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, plus Bank Holidays.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Private Medical Health (family cover).
• Company Pension Scheme.
• Life Assurance and Income Protection.
• Flexible Benefits, including Cycle scheme, Dental, Optical, Travel insurance and corporate discounts.
• Early leave on the last Friday of each month (subject to business needs), which can amount to additional time off per year.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values flexible approaches to working patterns and welcomes applications from those seeking flexibility. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and invite applicants from underrepresented groups in the built environment. If you require adjustments during the application process, please contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can support you.

Job details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Information Technology
• Industries: Construction