ISL is winning exciting work across Western and Northern Canada, and we are looking for a Proposal Lead ready to help strengthen how we pursue, develop, and deliver winning proposals.
If you are a collaborative leader with multi-partner proposal coordination experience, we look forward to hearing from you. This position can be based out of one of our locations across Alberta or British Columbia, including Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Canmore, or Grande Prairie.
A Little About Us
ISL is comprised of just over 600 employees including award-winning engineers, technologists, planners, landscape architects, scientists, and much more that work together to deliver infrastructure projects that minimize environmental impacts and maximize benefits to the community. Learn more about our work by visiting us on Instagram @islengineering / LinkedIn and feel free to join our ISL newsletter on LinkedIn: Inside ISL.
More about what we do:
- We deliver on a variety of multidisciplinary projects.
- We have extensive expertise – We have a variety of expertise and are comprised of five sectors specializing in Transportation, Municipal and Community, Bridges, Building and Structures and Land and Environment. Learn more about our areas of practice.
- We are award winning and recognized in industry – Visit our #ISLLife blog and learn
ISL’s Proposal Team supports all offices and all disciplines of business at ISL. Our objectives are to increase the win rate, delivering quality, creative and compliant proposals. ISL is winning exciting work across Western and Northern Canada, and we are looking for a curious, collaborative leader to help strengthen how we pursue, develop, and deliver winning proposals.
The key to our team’s success is:
- Teamwork – We are unique in how we approach proposal work. Multiple team members work together on each and every proposal, which means we can act as a stronger unit while growing our own individual skillsets. Everyone on the team is ready to jump in and lend a helping hand wherever they can—someone will always have your back!
- Team Leadership – In this role, you will oversee 4–5 team members, providing guidance, support, and mentorship while helping the team deliver high-quality proposal work.
- Responsiveness – We strive to support business development opportunities across the company with varying levels of strategic, creative advice that fits the proposal and the team.
- Collaboration – While driving the proposal schedule and deliverables, we coordinate seamlessly with internal and external teams at all levels to execute responses to all types of RFX’s.
- Ongoing Development - We have a culture of mentorship and leverage both hands-on and formal training opportunities to ensure that you have a versatile and diversified skillset that is fully funded.
About the Role
In between celebrating successes won with your team you look forward to making the following impact:
Responsibilities:
- Lead and prioritize a high-volume proposal workload across multiple concurrent pursuits, ensuring the team stays focused and on track.
- Guide proposal coordinators and technical contributors through the full proposal process, from planning and resourcing through to final submission.
- Maintain RFP compliance, proposal quality, documentation standards, and submission readiness on every pursuit.
- Build and manage pursuit schedules, track key deadlines, and hold contributors accountable for timely, high-quality inputs.
- Partner with Project Managers and technical leads to align pursuit strategy, resourcing, key messages, and client-focused content.
- Lead senior-level reviews, quality checks, and peer review processes to strengthen deliverables before submission.
- Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, mentoring, and development support to proposal staff.
- Support team growth, process improvement, and a positive team culture through onboarding, better tools, templates, workflows, and continuous improvement.
Who we are looking for:
- You are very experienced in multi-partner proposal coordination, preferably within a consulting engineering or architecture environment.
- You are a natural mentor with experience coaching and developing proposal coordinators or other related professionals across the full proposal lifecycle.
- You think strategically, improve processes, and look for ways to make proposal delivery sharper, smoother, and more efficient. You may even have an interest in AI and automation.
- You thrive in fast-paced environments with competing deadlines, and you can triage priorities calmly while keeping the team on track.
- You build trust with Project Managers and technical teams, influencing effectively and adapting your communication style to different people, regions, and working styles.
- You bring strong attention to detail, RFP compliance awareness, and the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, compelling, client-focused proposal content.
Your application should include the following:
- 6+ years of proposal coordination or proposal leadership experience on multi-partner pursuits, preferably within a consulting engineering, architecture, or AEC environment. We are happy to consider you also if you have a strong background in Proposal coordination with strong leadership aptitude and experience achieved elsewhere in your experience.
- Strong, hands-on knowledge of the RFP process and full proposal lifecycle, including compliance, scheduling, reviews, and submission requirements.
- Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, mentoring, or directly managing proposal coordinators or other professional team members.
- Clear examples of the scope, complexity, and value of proposals you have led or coordinated.
- Strong writing, Microsoft Office, template, and workflow skills, with an interest in AI and emerging technologies that can improve proposal strategy, efficiency, and quality.
Bonus:
- Understanding of municipal RFP processes is a definite asset.
- Experience in an AEC related industry would be an asset.
What ISL Offers
We value you for your contributions and want to ensure that your personal success is intertwined with your professional success. Our wellness philosophy encompasses the four pillars of physical, mental, financial and spiritual wellbeing which is why our benefits package is comprehensive and offers you some of the best available tools to maximize your career and lifestyle.
Here are some of the amazing benefits we provide:
- Flexible working hours
- Hybrid model of work
- Excellent mentorship
- Employer paid benefits including health, dental and extensive paramedical services
- Healthcare Spending and Lifestyle Option Accounts
- Group RRSP
- Annual bonus incentives
- Paid professional development opportunities and memberships
- 24/7/365 Employee Family Assistance program
Depending on your experience level, the salary range (based on a 40-hour work week) is:
$85,000 - $105,000
Location:
ISL is proudly located in over 16 offices across Western Canada. This position will be located in: Alberta or British Columbia, including Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Canmore, or Grande Prairie.
At ISL, we share an enthusiasm for community infrastructure. From planning through to design and construction management, we create nimble teams to tackle the unique requirements of every project. Our technical expertise encompasses transportation, land use planning, civil engineering, municipal, landscape architecture, heritage services, environmental management, water, structural, community engagement, geomatics, construction services and 3D visualization. Just the right size, ISL delivers on complex projects while being small enough to maintain strong, cohesive project teams and personal client attention and service.
At ISL your identity is part of our identity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) speaks to our core values and provides space for our teams to bring their authentic selves to work. ISL believes DEI creates the best outcomes for our clients while sustaining a happy and thriving work environment that allows for career development and opportunities for all staff. ISL is committed to a focused effort on continuous improvement and development of a respectful and safe workplace.
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position. Only those who will be selected for an interview will be contacted.
