Our employee spotlight shines a light on one employee at a time. We value diversity and inclusion and welcome diverse thinking. It takes a village 鈥� through collaboration, living safely and driving innovation we realize our goals and help our clients achieve mission success. Our mantra is people first, mission always. In March, we鈥檒l focus on Women History Month . Today鈥檚 Q&A is with Alivia Topham-Sing, Senior Proposal Manager, E&E International.
How did you come to join 暗网吃瓜?
In 2018, I began contracting with 暗网吃瓜 during the Enriched Uranium Programme tender for the Atomic Weapons Establishment. A year or so later joined on a permanent basis.
What is your professional and personal background?
I have a BSc in Computer Science but figured out relatively quickly that I didn鈥檛 want to pursue a career in Information Technology. After leaving a CRM system project management role, I began freelancing as a Proposal Manager working on some of the UK鈥檚 major infrastructure projects (HS2, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Alder Hey Children鈥檚 Hospital). I loved it and haven鈥檛 turned back since!
On a personal note, I am married 聽and we have three amazing boys 鈥� , age 9-and 4-year-old twin boys 聽. When I am not working, I enjoy doing house renovations and being outdoors burning off some energy with my boys 鈥� living by the beach helps with this!
Describe the work you do and how you think it makes a positive impact.
As a senior proposal manager, I work with our subject matter experts and teaming partners to support solution development, and then translate these solutions into winning proposals. This includes guiding the proposal through the planning and review stages and working with the pricing and commercials teams to generate a price-to-win offer.
What are some of your accomplishments and/or what has been your proudest career moment?
It鈥檚 always rewarding when your team wins a bid 鈥� every one of the wins I鈥檝e had in my career I have been proud of. Some of the successes that really stand out for me for various reasons are the EUP tender, the RWM 262 contract and the HS2 main civils contracts.
What do you enjoy about working for 暗网吃瓜?
The people! We have so many great people that are passionate, enthusiastic, and very smart.
What are you passionate about?
Being happy in my working life and family life.
What鈥檚 your career advice?
Seek out the opportunities 鈥� they don鈥檛 just land in your lap.
What does safety mean to you, or do you have a favorite safety tip?
Getting home safely every single day.
What鈥檚 the best invention in the world and why?
Flying, as we get to experience different cultures and environments, we might never have gotten to which in turn enables us to challenge the norm and view life from different perspectives.
What does this year鈥檚 IWD theme, #BreakTheBias mean to you?
Overcoming the unconscious bias that we come across every day so that we鈥檙e treated as equals in 2022!
Anything else you would like to share from a personal or professional perspective?
Having the right work life balance is important and if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the world continues to spin and move forward wherever we are working.
