Graduate Management Trainee - Proposals Management

Willmott Dixon; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job description

Graduate Management Trainee - Proposals Management

Willmott Dixon is looking for bright and ambitious graduates to join our Management Trainee programme in Proposals (Bid) Management within our Construction Wales & West business, based out of our Bristol office, near Pill.

This is more than just a first job in construction, it’s a launch pad for future leaders. Our program gives you real responsibility from day one, structured learning, and the chance to help shape communities through the buildings we deliver.

About the Role

As a Proposals Management Trainee, you will be directly involved in the bid process for our multi‑million‑pound building projects. Through creative, well‑thought‐out and engaging written content, we are able to ‘wow’ our customers and ultimately win work to deliver high quality buildings which shape communities.

You will be working with Willmott Dixon colleagues to engage and lead subject matter experts in addressing the customer’s needs and concerns, ensuring our proposals/bids offer best value for our customer. This is achieved by leading the business offer with compelling and persuasive written and oral content.

Our programme will give you a great foundation; you will get exposure to many areas of our business through placements in different disciplines such as Quantity Surveying, Estimating, and Design Management to develop your understanding of the construction business as a whole and not just your chosen specialism of Proposals Management.

Our graduate management trainee programme is 2 to 3 years in duration (depending upon your degree). We welcome applications from graduates studying a construction management degree who are strong written communicators, as well as graduates from other subjects, preferably those with a significant writing element such as English Language/Literature/Creative Writing, History, or Social Sciences.

Upon graduation from the programme, you will progress into an Assistant Proposals Manager role.

Why Willmott Dixon?

• With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose goes beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. We’ve been recently recognised as:
• One of the Top 10 “Big” Companies to Work For (Sunday Times, 2025)
• In the Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality (Times, 2024)
• Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 Best Workplaces (Financial Times, 2025)
• The first major contractor to win a King’s Award for Enterprise in sustainable development

We’ve been running our Management Trainee scheme for over 40 years, with many of our current senior leaders having started out here!

What Makes Our Program Stand Out?

• Earn while you learn – competitive salary with increases as you progress
• No student debt – we cover your tuition fees for part‑time study towards a relevant qualification
• Fast‑track progression – a proven route into management, with most trainees stepping into Assistant Management roles upon completion
• Real responsibility – you’ll manage live projects, not just shadow others
• Structured rotations – exposure across different functions to broaden your knowledge and skills
• Recognition – opportunities to take part in Trainee Challenges and even win our coveted Trainee of the Year
• Support professional memberships and accreditations i.e. - CIOB, RICS etc.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from:

• Graduates (construction management or English, History, Social Sciences)
• Graduates (construction management or English, History, Social Sciences)

The ideal candidate will

• Have strong problem‑solving and numeracy skills
• Be a good communicator and collaborator
• Show the drive to organise, influence and take responsibility
• Bring curiosity and resilience in a fast‑paced environment
• Ideally, have some exposure to construction (work experience, placement or similar)
• Valid driver's license

What You’ll Get

• Competitive salary + annual incentive bonus
• MEA - Motor Expenditure Allowance
• Funded college/university/vocational study fee
• Pension and life assurance
• Laptop and mobile phone
• Travel expenses
• Book allowance
• Training and study leave
• The opportunity to work on flagship projects that make a real difference

Next Steps

• Our Management Trainee roles start in September 2026.
• Applications close: Tuesday 24th February.
• Pre‑recorded video interview: invitation to complete videos from Friday 27th February with deadline to submit by Monday 9th March.
• Assessment centre: Take place week commencing 23rd March 2026.
• Offer to be made to successful candidate: On or before Friday 6th April 2026. If you decide to use AI tools to assist with drafting, reviewing, or refining your application, make sure that:
• The content accurately represents your own experiences and qualifications
• You can clearly and confidently explain all aspects of your submission
• Your unique perspective comes through clearly

Should you be shortlisted you’ll be asked to answer some questions via video recording. Please be aware feedback may only be available after the closing date.

Inclusion & Flexibility

We embrace diversity and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We also consider flexible and agile working requests.

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