Job Specification: Tendering and Pre-Contracts ManagerLocation: Castlebar with travel as required to carry out roleAbout My Client:My client is a leading Irish mechanical engineering contractor. With a strong reputation for quality, safety, and innovation, my client delivers high-performance engineering solutions across a wide range of sectors including Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Commercial, Hotel & Leisure, High-End Residential, Public, Industrial, Logistics, Food, Data Centre, Mining, and Energy. As the company continues to grow, my client is expanding its maintenance and facilities management division to support clients with ongoing service, reliability, and operational excellence.The Role:The Tendering and Pre-Contracts Manager leads all front-end commercial and technical activities required to secure profitable mechanical projects for the company. The role manages the tendering team, ensures the quality and accuracy of submissions, oversees pre-qualifications, manages case studies & capability statements, and maintains a proactive tender pipeline.This position ensures consistent, compliant, and competitive tender outputs while developing the team's capability and improving processes, SOPs, and systems.Main Duties and Responsibilities:Tender Management and Strategy:Manage the end-to-end tender process for mechanical projects across public and private sectors.Review tender documentation, specifications, drawings, and client requirements.Conduct risk assessments, clarifications, and propose viable win strategies.Coordinate with internal technical and commercial teams to develop compliant tender submissions.Ensure tender submissions reflect company standards, competitive pricing, and strategic positioning.Maintain accurate tender programme to ensure on-time delivery.Pre-Qualifications (PQs) and Frameworks:Take ownership of all Pre-Qualification submissions for: Public Sector (HSE, OPW, Local Authorities, ESB)Private sector (consultants, QS firms, main contractors)Maintain and update: Company capability statementProject case studies library (1–3-page versions + short summaries)CVs and organisational structure diagramsDevelop standardised PQ templates to reduce turnaround time.Represent the company at networking events, trade shows, and industry functions.Project Case Studies & Marketing-Aligned Bid Content:Maintain a repository of: Mechanical project case studies (completed, ongoing, flagship)High-quality images, project metrics, technical innovations, client quotesSector-specific capability bundles (Healthcare, Pharma, Education, Commercial, Public Bodies)Ensure case studies are updated quarterly and aligned with marketing material.Work with marketing to strengthen brand positioning in bids.Reporting and Performance Monitoring:Maintain tender tracking dashboards (win/loss, conversion rates, pipeline value).Produce monthly Pre-Contracts report for Senior Management review.Identify pipeline gaps and advise Senior Management on resource/market requirements.Conduct weekly call-downs for updates and intelligence gathering.Contribute to business planning and strategic growth initiatives.Costing, Pricing and Rates Management:Work with estimators to review labour, plant, materials and subcontractor quotes.Ensure pricing assumptions are accurate and robust.Lead value engineering and alternative solution proposals.Maintain the Rates Book (updated bi-yearly with feedback from live jobs).Benchmark prices and ensure competitiveness across multiple sectors.Tender to Contract Award Handover:Deliver structured tender handover meetings with Contracts, QS, and Project Engineers.Provide a complete tender pack including: Priced BOQClarifications & exclusionsRisk registerVE proposalsProgramme assumptionsKey supplier/subcontractor quotes and allowancesEnsure the receiving delivery team signs off the handover.Process Improvement, SOPs & Governance:Draft, maintain, and roll out: Tendering SOP including pricing templatePQ SOPTender to Contract Handover SOPDocument control processEnsure annual review and approval of all SOPs.Identify process gaps and implement improvements.Drive continuous improvement across the team and tendering function.Knowledge, Skills and Experience:Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services, QS, Construction Management or similar.5–10+ years experience in tendering, pre-contracts or estimating (Mechanical/MEP).Prior experience leading a team.Strong technical understanding of mechanical systems (HVAC, LPHW/CHW, plumbing, BMS interfaces).Strong commercial awareness (budgets, prelims, risk, margin control).Strong communication and negotiating skills.Self-starter with initiative and accountability.Excellent organisational and follow-up skills.Strong interpersonal presence with ability to build relationships at all levels.Alignment with company values of integrity, teamwork, and client excellence.Full clean driver's licence.What they Offer You:The opportunity to join an ambitious and growing organisation.Monday to Friday working week finishing early on Fridays.20 days annual leave plus 10 bank holidays.Competitive base salary with annual salary reviews.A company laptop and phone.