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
Experience with CRM, project accounting or digital asset management platforms used in the design industry
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. We don’t post all of the open positions so you might be a fit for a different role!
Axis Recruitment is a boutique recruitment agency specializing in connecting top talent with firms across the construction industry in North America. Our expertise spans Architecture, Urban Planning & Design, Interior Design, Engineering, Construction, Development, and Facilities Management/Operations.
We partner with a diverse range of clients, from leading consultants to innovative developers, ensuring tailored solutions for every hiring need. Our mission is to connect exceptional talent with opportunities that drive success for both clients and candidates. Let us help you build the future of the built environment.
