Design Products and Proposals Manager

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this managerial role oversees Coftec's daily engineering design, product advancement, process engineering, and bidding activities. The position involves coordinating cross-disciplinary contributions, crafting compliant yet commercially sound solutions, fostering product enhancements, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical and commercial proposals. As a senior leader, the role supports standards improvement, drives innovation, manages team capacity, and contributes to business expansion and project execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creation of innovative, customer-specific and standard product solutions, aligning with company values like "Do it Better" and promoting novel offsite construction methods.
• Develop and execute a product design roadmap including team formation to fulfill goals.
• Oversee multi-disciplinary engineering and tender teams comprising mechanical, electrical, process, and product engineers.
• Maintain and enhance engineering standards, ensuring all designs are compliant, safe, practical, cost-effective, and aligned with legislation, industry norms, and client expectations.
• Lead design reviews, hazard operability studies (HAZOPs), and technical audits.
• Promote equipment and system standardisation and modularisation.
• Prepare technical and commercial proposals, and represent Coftec in client meetings and site visits.
• Manage product development from initial concept through commercialization, identifying market opportunities and emerging technologies.
• Coordinate cross-functional product design including mechanical, electrical, control systems, process, and CAD/BIM disciplines.
• Collaborate with suppliers and technology partners to innovate and safeguard intellectual property.
• Ensure product regulatory compliance (CE, UKCA, ATEX, etc.), manage certification, testing, documentation, audits, and external agency coordination.
• Lead process engineering for water, wastewater, and industrial treatment technologies, developing designs, process models, guarantees, and optimization strategies.
• Conduct equipment selection, specification, standardisation and lifecycle cost evaluation supporting operational and commercial objectives.
• Direct proposals, cost estimating, tender management, client negotiations, and develop innovative technical solutions balancing performance and cost.
• Conduct optioneering and value engineering studies for enhanced client value and profitability, advocating innovative modular/offsite solutions.
• Oversee commercial budgeting, pricing tools, margin improvement, and departmental resource planning.
• Serve as a technical liaison for clients and stakeholders, supporting business development and representing Coftec in industry forums.
• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering teams, implementing performance management, recruitment, and fostering a culture of quality and innovation.
• Ensure adherence to quality management systems, safety culture, corporate governance, and risk management.

Candidate Profile

• Autonomous leadership with ability to set direction and coaching standards.
• Accountability for business performance and compliance, with strong influence and communication skills at senior levels.
• Proven innovation management in complex, high-risk environments.
• Experienced in talent management and fostering inclusive, high-performing teams.
• Deep knowledge of product and portfolio standards to ensure quality and adherence.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (Level 8) in Mechanical, Electrical, Process, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering.
• Over 8 years’ experience in engineering design, product development, and proposal management.
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong familiarity with modular water and wastewater system design and process engineering.
• Expertise in water, wastewater, environmental or industrial process sectors.
• Solid record in successful estimating, tendering, and commercial proposals.
• Understanding of CE, UKCA compliance and related product certifications.
• Excellent commercial acumen, communication, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and leadership skills.
• Experience with AI bot/agent development for process automation considered a plus.
• Holds full valid Irish/European driving license.
• Valid work authorization to work in Ireland.