Bid & Commercial Manager

Morgan Ryder Associates; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency in the defence sector is seeking an experienced Commercial & Bid Manager. This role involves managing the bid lifecycle for high-value defence projects. The ideal candidate will have experience in commercial and bid management within regulated environments, with excellent communication and negotiation skills. The position offers a competitive salary, performance-based bonus, and benefits, with a hybrid working pattern.

Benefits

Performance-based bonus

Car allowance

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension

Healthcare

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commercial management, bid management or contract management within a highly regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of MOD procurement frameworks and tendering processes.
• Skilled in drafting and negotiating complex contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end bid process, ensuring proposals are commercially robust and compliant.
• Oversee contract negotiation and management.
• Manage bid governance and risk assessments.

Skills

Commercial management

Bid management

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Job description

Commercial & Bid Manager - Defence Sector

Location: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in Nunthorpe office + occasional customer visits)

Full-time, Permanent

£70,000 basic + Bonus + Car Allowance + 25 Days Holiday + Excellent Benefits

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced Commercial & Bid Manager to lead the end-to-end bid and contract management process within our growing defence sector business.

This is a pivotal role, responsible for managing the full bid lifecycle – from opportunity identification and qualification, through proposal development and submission, to contract negotiation and handover into delivery. You'll play a key part in ensuring commercial success, compliance, and profitability across a portfolio of high‑value defence and aerospace opportunities.

Working 2-3 days per week from our Nunthorpe office, you'll collaborate closely with technical, project, and business development teams to produce compelling, compliant, and competitive bids.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end‑to‑end bid process, ensuring all proposals are commercially robust, compliant and deliverable.
• Oversee contract negotiation, drafting and management in line with company and client requirements.
• Manage bid governance, approvals and risk assessments.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop win strategies and pricing models.
• Ensure all bids adhere to MOD, defence and aerospace regulatory standards.
• Support post‑award contract performance and change management.
• Provide commercial guidance to project and operational teams.

About You

• Proven experience in commercial management, bid management or contract management within a highly regulated environment (defence, aerospace or similar).
• Strong understanding of MOD procurement frameworks, contracting standards (DEFCONs, NEC, etc.) and tendering processes.
• Skilled in drafting and negotiating complex contracts.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented and able to manage multiple complex bids simultaneously.

What's on Offer

• £70,000 basic salary
• Performance‑based bonus
• Car allowance
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Additional perks including pension, healthcare and flexible working

Hybrid working pattern: 2-3 days in Nunthorpe office, remainder working remotely or visiting clients as required.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Equal opportunities are important to us. We believe that diversity and inclusion at Morgan Ryder Associates are critical to our success as DE&I positive company, so we want to recruit, develop and keep the best talent. We encourage applications from everyone, regardless of background, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, belief, age, family or parental status and any other characteristic.

Please note that calls to and from the offices of Morgan Ryder Associates Ltd. may be monitored or recorded. This is to ensure compliance with regulatory procedures, record business transactions and for training purposes.