Bid Manager in Toronto

Description of the company: Our client is a large multi-disciplinary design practice with studios across several countries and a well-established Toronto office. Their work spans the full range of the built environment: healthcare, education, residential, workplace, retail, transit and large mixed-use developments. They've built a reputation strong enough that they get to be selective about who they partner with.

Internally, the culture is the main thing our previous hires have appreciated: dedicated people and culture teams, a formal mentorship program, funded professional development and accreditation support, reimbursed professional memberships, personal days, an office closure over the December holidays, a solid benefits package, and an active social calendar including charitable and community work.

Why is this role open: Growth. The practice is expanding its proposals and pursuits function across multiple offices, and this is a new seat on the Toronto team.

Responsibilities:

• Run proposal submissions end to end - RFPs, RFQs and EOIs - and make sure what goes out the door is sharp, accurate and visually strong.
• Watch procurement portals and databases for opportunities that fit the firm's target sectors and growth plans.
• Screen incoming opportunities for fit, level of effort and realistic odds of winning before the team commits resources.
• Run kick-off and progress meetings so everyone contributing to a submission stays aligned.
• Shape the win strategy for each pursuit - the themes, the differentiators - and make sure the writing and graphics actually deliver on it.
• Build and hold the submission schedule, working backwards from the deadline and keeping the critical path moving.
• Dig into each client's context so the response speaks to what they actually care about.
• Pull the necessary inputs from principals and project leads: project detail, client background, fee approach, sub-consultant information.
• Keep the reusable content library current and well organized - bios, project sheets, case studies, boilerplate, credentials, templates - including using AI tools to speed up assembly so more time goes into custom content.
• Support the team preparing for shortlist interviews and client presentations.
• Maintain pipeline data in the CRM: submission values, outcomes, business development activity.
• Spot patterns in wins and losses and turn them into process improvements.
• Provide background research on target clients and decision-makers.
• Direct the work of junior team members supporting submissions.
• Take part in business development activity to stay close to the market.

Must-haves:

• 5 years in proposals, pursuits, bid management, technical or creative writing, or business development, ideally within architecture, engineering, construction or another design-led field.
• Track record managing complicated submissions with a lot of moving parts: multiple contributors, sub-consultants, service lines.
• Post-secondary education in architecture, design, marketing, English, journalism or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of Canadian public procurement and common project delivery models.
• Strong writing: clear, persuasive, well-edited, and able to turn scattered technical input into a coherent story.
• Organized and methodical, detail-obsessed, comfortable running several deadlines at once without letting quality slip.
• Confident in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign especially) and Microsoft Office.
• Collaborative, open to feedback, and pragmatic when things need to change mid-pursuit.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience with CRM, project accounting or digital asset management platforms used in the design industry.
• Exposure to pursuits that cross offices, regions or borders.

Work style: 3-4 days in office.

Compensation: $90-$100K.

Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process.

DEI Disclosure: At Axis, we consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, colour, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any characteristic protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement.