Via is on a mission to create public transportation systems that provide far greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education. Our platform serves as the technology backbone for modern transit networks, transforming antiquated and siloed public transportation systems into smart, data-driven, and efficient digital networks. With hundreds of agency partners around the world, Via is recognized as the leading transportation technology and service provider globally.
As a Senior Proposals Manager, you will work at the heart of that mission: forging and shaping new partnerships with public transit providers across the DACH region through thoughtful, exceptionally-written proposals. You will operate with significant autonomy alongside Via's senior leadership, bringing your own strategic perspective to competitive procurements, mentoring junior team members, and setting the standard for proposal quality across the organization.
This role is for people with a keen interest in technology and a genuine passion for writing. It is hybrid and Berlin based.
About the Role:
- Lead competitive procurements end-to-end with full ownership: evaluation, strategy, creation of exceptional proposal content, review, and submission — acting as the internal authority on proposal quality and process
- Drive winning strategies for high-stakes procurements in close partnership with Via's Partnerships, Expansion, and Finance teams
- Lead the optimization and AI-driven automation of the proposal response process, working directly with senior leadership to define the function's future direction
- Translate complex product specifications into clear, compelling prose that moves decision-makers, and raise the bar for how the broader team communicates Via's value
- Generate original, persuasive content by reading what a potential partner really needs and deploying deep command of Via's technology, transit norms, and the latest innovations from across the industry
- Manage communications with potential partners with skill and professionalism, and support senior team members in interviews with cities and transit agencies
- Mentor more junior members of the proposals team, contributing to hiring and team-building as the function scales
About You:
- At least 7 years of relevant experience to guide you
- An exceptionally strong writer and communicator — colleagues seek out your feedback, and your work has influenced real decisions at an organizational level
- Highly strategic: you anticipate problems before they surface, shape direction rather than respond to it, and hold the full complexity of a procurement while never losing sight of what wins
- A self-starter who brings new ideas to the table, drives process improvements, and operates with minimal oversight in ambiguous situations
- Steady, thoughtful, organized, and solution-oriented: you're the person others look to when the challenge is complex and the stakes are real
- Fully fluent in German and English — native or bilingual level in German is a must
Bonus points if you have:
- Written and published original essays, op-eds, or content — especially on transit, urbanism, mobility, or business strategy
- Led and won multiple business or public sector proposals, pitches, or deals
- Prior experience at a startup, transportation consulting firm, management consulting firm, or in the public sector
- Fluency in additional languages beyond German and English (e.g. French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch)
What We Offer:
- Becoming part of a company that was awarded for its commitment to social good
- Salary range: between €100,000 - 115,000 per year, plus equity. Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills.
- A hybrid work and a lovely office situated in the heart of Berlin, in Mitte
- Weekly team lunch and breakfast
- Urban Sports Club membership
- Company pension scheme (bAV) with a 20% employer contribution
- 30 vacation days a year
There has never been a more exciting time to be on the cutting edge of public mobility. Ready to join the ride?
Via is an equal opportunity employer.