Overview

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. The role is based from one of our UK offices and will support our strategy for major infrastructure growth in the UK market, working closely with the Strategic Pursuits Director, Technical and Market Leaders and Bid Coordinators to author 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. This role involves being 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.
• Track record of producing 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.
• Coordinate 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.
• Work 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 compliance with 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 with a proven track record of high-scoring responses and winning bids.
• Experience authoring and shaping public sector bids and frameworks with input from technical experts across multiple engineering and environmental disciplines.
• Experience in design and build (D&B) environments or effectively collaborating with consultants and contractors.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and structuring of technical methodologies, evidence and strategic bid content.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to influence and engage multidisciplinary technical teams and build networks of content contributors.
• Excellent organisational skills, capable of managing multiple proposals concurrently while maintaining high quality.
• 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.
• Note: We encourage flexibility in working patterns and provide adjustments to support applicants; please contact recruitment@burohappold.com for accessibility considerations.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values flexible working patterns and is committed to inclusivity. We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexibility. We are actively working to improve representation in the built environment and invite applicants from underrepresented groups. If you need adjustments to the application process, please let us know.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Business Development
• Industries: Construction and Civil Engineering