Junior Proposal Specialist

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. 

Smiths Detection, is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.  

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a Proposal Specialist with strong commercial acumen and cybersecurity expertise to lead the development of compelling, commercially-sound proposals and solution documentation. This role combines technical proposal writing with commercial and pricing strategy, ensuring all bids reflect both technical excellence and commercial viability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead storyboard sessions with bid/proposal team members and stakeholders.
• Develop high-quality written responses for RFPs, RFQs and tenders, with particular emphasis on pricing rationale and commercial terms.
• Coordinate cross-functional input from sales, technical, finance, legal and commercial teams to ensure alignment on pricing strategies and commercial positioning.
• Support full tender preparation including technical response, Bill of Quantities, pricing models, programme and services proposals.
• Develop comprehensive cybersecurity solution proposals, including architecture descriptions, compliance narratives and commercial justification of technical approaches.
• Collaborate with commercial and finance teams to prepare pricing models, cost breakdowns, financial proposal documentation and commercial terms that reflect market positioning and value delivery.
• Edit and refine technical and commercial documents to ensure clarity, consistency, compliance and commercial coherence.
• Maintain reusable proposal templates, pricing frameworks and knowledge libraries to support efficient bid development.
• Support strategy development including win themes, pricing strategies and commercial differentiation.
• Ensure adherence to bid governance, commercial compliance requirements and submission deadlines.
• Deliver completed written proposal responses to the Proposal Manager against agreed RFP deadlines, escalating commercial or pricing issues as required.
• Re-write and edit proposal responses from stakeholders across sales, marketing, technical, programme, finance, commercial, legal and supply chain functions.
• Identify and re-work existing pre-written content and pricing frameworks from the library for quick-turnaround opportunities.
• Develop reusable tools, bid templates, pricing models and proposal literature to ensure efficient compilation and delivery of commercially optimised bids across markets and regions.
• Ensure formal bid management processes are adopted and adhered to for both high-value, complex, longer lead-time opportunities and shorter lead-time bids.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies including Ethics, Health and Environment Safety.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• B.Tech / B.E in Computer Science, Cyber Security, IT, Electronics.
• Background or exposure to Cyber Security technologies (network security, SIEM, SOC, risk management).
• Strong technical writing and proposal development experience with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting pricing proposals, costing models and financial bid documentation.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and proposal management tools; Adobe FrameMaker experience is advantageous.
• Strong time management and ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously.

Competencies and Experience:

• 3–5 years' experience in technical proposal writing within technology or cyber security industry.
• Experience working on large tenders, RFP responses and enterprise or government bids.
• Ability to understand complex technical architectures and convert them into customer-focused proposals.
• Experience collaborating with sales, cyber security architects, finance and commercial teams.
• Strong analytical, editing and document structuring capabilities.

We offer…

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)