Fee Proposal Writer - Ecological Consultancy

Location: Cambridge office
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on relevant skills and experience
Working pattern: Cambridge office-based, with hybrid working considered where appropriate

MKA Ecology is looking for a Fee Proposal Writer to support the preparation, coordination and issue of high-quality ecological consultancy fee proposals.

The role will focus mainly on the smaller fee proposals that form part of our day-to-day work, with opportunities to support larger tenders and bids as they arise.

This role would particularly suit an ecologist who is looking to move into a more office-based commercial role while continuing to use their ecological knowledge. We will also consider experienced proposal writers who have strong ecological, planning or environmental consultancy knowledge.

A good understanding of ecological consultancy is essential. The successful candidate will need to understand technical survey requirements, methodologies, project risks, client instructions, numerical information and commercial priorities so that proposals are accurate, realistic and credible.

The role will be based in our Cambridge office. Regular office attendance is important so that the postholder can work closely with Directors, ecologists and the wider administration team, build technical understanding and stay connected to the work of the business.

About MKA Ecology and the Ecology Group

MKA Ecology is part of the Ecology Group, a partnership of specialist ecological and environmental consultancies operating across the UK. Together, we are building a market-leading group that supports organisations in making consequential decisions that shape nature, development and financial capital. Each business within the Group retains its own identity, leadership and culture, while benefiting from the wider expertise, technology and investment that comes from being part of a larger organisation.

What this means for you

As part of the Ecology Group, you will have access to opportunities beyond those available within a single office. You will be able to collaborate with specialists across ecology, landscape architecture, water and geoscience, and environmental planning, while benefiting from structured progression through the CIEEM levels and support from in-house specialists. It is the stability, support and career opportunities of a larger organisation, while retaining the close-knit culture that makes MKA Ecology what it is.

Role purpose

The Fee Proposal Writer will play a central role in coordinating and preparing ecological fee proposals and supporting documentation. The role is focused on producing technically accurate, commercially appropriate and timely proposals, while improving the quality, consistency and efficiency of MKA Ecology’s proposal process. The postholder will support the business in achieving its fee proposal KPI alongside supporting a number of larger bids more intermittently.

Key responsibilities

Fee proposal preparation and coordination

• Identify and coordinate suitable ecological fee proposal opportunities.
• Prepare and issue high-quality fee proposals, quotations and supporting documents.
• Ensure opportunities are progressed promptly and issued by the required deadline.
• Work with Directors, Project Managers and ecologists to gather technical and commercial input.
• Check that proposals properly reflect ecological scope, survey requirements, methodology, constraints, timescales, risks, deliverables and pricing information.
• Support ecologists with proposal wording, structure and presentation where needed.
• Attend proposal briefings and relevant internal or external meetings where required.
• Support larger tender and bid submissions as opportunities arise.

Technical quality and review

• Ensure proposal content is technically credible and reviewed by the appropriate Director or ecologist before issue.
• Challenge unclear, incomplete or unrealistic content before it is issued.
• Maintain a clear audit trail of assumptions, technical input, review comments and final submissions.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies, numerical errors or unclear requirements and raise these promptly.
• Contribute to improvements in proposal quality, consistency and success rates.

Proposal workload and visibility

• Monitor proposal activity and maintain visibility of live, upcoming and issued opportunities.
• Prioritise multiple proposal deadlines effectively.
• Keep Directors and relevant colleagues updated on progress, blockages and information needed.
• Help develop practical ways to improve the speed, quality and consistency of fee proposals.
• Maintain key proposal templates and supporting technical information so that submissions remain current and accurate.

Business development support

• Support the business in identifying relevant client requirements and proposal trends.
• Liaise professionally with clients or procurement contacts as part of the proposal process where required.
• Contribute to discussions about opportunity suitability, workload, commercial value and strategic fit.
• Support general business development activity where relevant.

Performance expectations

The role will have clear performance expectations, reviewed regularly. These may include:

• Supporting the business in achieving its fee proposal KPI.
• Timely progression and issue of agreed fee proposal opportunities.
• Consistent compliance with client instructions and deadlines.
• Technically accurate proposals with appropriate input from Directors and ecologists.
• Accurate handling of numerical information, including fee information, rates, costs and pricing assumptions.
• Evidence of effective prioritisation across multiple deadlines.
• Clear communication with internal stakeholders on progress, risks and actions required.
• Visible monitoring of proposal workload, issued proposals and upcoming opportunities.
• Effective support for larger bids and tenders as they arise.
• Continuous improvement in the quality, consistency and efficiency of proposal submissions.
• Final KPIs will be agreed once the postholder is in role and has completed an appropriate induction period.

About you

The successful candidate will have:

• A strong understanding of ecological consultancy, ideally gained through working as an ecologist or in a closely related technical role.
• The ability to understand ecological survey requirements, methodologies, client briefs, project risks and commercial considerations.
• Strong numerical skills, with the ability to work accurately with fee information, rates, costs, budgets and proposal pricing assumptions.
• Excellent written English, with the ability to produce clear, concise and persuasive fee proposals.
• Strong attention to detail and a practical approach to quality control.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Confidence working with Directors, Project Managers and technical colleagues.
• A commercially aware approach and willingness to take ownership of proposal activity.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• Experience preparing fee proposals, quotations, technical reports, tenders or commercial submissions.
• Experience working in ecological consultancy.
• Understanding of UK planning, protected species, habitat survey work, Biodiversity Net Gain or environmental assessment.
• Experience interpreting client requirements and translating technical information into clear written submissions.

What we offer

MKA Ecology offers a supportive working environment, training and development opportunities, a competitive salary, annual leave, pension, hybrid working options where appropriate, company sick pay, sabbatical scheme, cycle scheme and employee referral scheme.

Where the successful candidate is an ecologist, MKA Ecology will maintain and fund their CIEEM membership.

Equal opportunities

MKA Ecology is committed to fair, consistent and non-discriminatory recruitment. Applicants will be considered on their ability to meet the requirements of the role.