Pre-Contracts Manager - Water Infrastructure
Pre-Contracts Manager - Water Infrastructure
Location: Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth)
Employment Type: Full-time
Seniority Level: Senior Management
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Pre-Contracts Manager to lead the front-end bidding and tendering process for major water infrastructure projects across Australia. This role is critical to securing work on large-scale panel contracts and frameworks with government water authorities and utilities.
As a key member of the pre-contracts and business development team, you will be responsible for managing complex bids, developing winning strategies, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to position the business for success in a competitive market.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end pre-contracts process for major water infrastructure bids, including large panel and framework agreements.
- Develop and implement bid strategies that align with client expectations, commercial objectives, and technical capabilities.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary bid teams, including estimators, planners, engineers, legal, and commercial personnel.
- Engage with clients, joint venture partners, and subcontractors during the pre-contract phase to build strong relationships and ensure alignment.
- Oversee the preparation of high-quality tender submissions, ensuring compliance with all technical, commercial, and contractual requirements.
- Provide risk analysis and mitigation strategies during the bid phase.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of market trends, client procurement strategies, and competitor activity in the water sector.
- Support handover to delivery teams post-award to ensure continuity and clarity of project scope and commitments.
About You
- 10+ years of experience in pre-contracts, tendering, or commercial roles within the infrastructure or construction industry.
- Proven experience managing bids for large-scale water infrastructure projects, particularly within panel or alliance contracting environments.
- Strong understanding of Australian water sector procurement processes and client expectations (e.g., Sydney Water, Melbourne Water, SA Water, etc.).
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Commercially astute with a strong grasp of contract law, risk management, and pricing strategies.
- Ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously under tight deadlines.
- Engineering, Construction Management, or Business-related degree preferred.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a global Tier-1 contractor with a strong pipeline of water infrastructure projects.
- Work on high-profile bids that shape Australia's water future.
- Collaborate with industry-leading professionals in a supportive and high-performance culture.
- Enjoy flexible working arrangements and career development opportunities.
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your CV and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organisations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.Â
That's why we recommend registering your CV so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.Â
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customised support on how to optimise your CV to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.