Bid Manager

BAE Systems - UK; Christchurch; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in the UK is seeking a Bid Manager in Christchurch. This role involves managing the bid process, overseeing the bid team, and ensuring high-quality submissions. Ideal candidates have experience in business winning environments and strong communication skills. The position offers flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Enhanced annual leave

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience in business winning and bidding environments.
• Willingness to learn and develop in a business winning environment.
• Foundational understanding of bid management or a related area.

Responsibilities

• Manage the bid process and track progress.
• Establish the bid team and governance framework.
• Identify and manage risks associated with bids.
• Close down projects with lessons learned.

Skills

Business winning experience

Strong communication skills

Bid management toolsets proficiency

Knowledge of bid best practices

Education

APMP qualification

Job description

Overview

Job title: Bid Manager. Location: Christchurch, London, Frimley. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this role.

Salary: Up to £51,000 (dependent on skills and experience).

Responsibilities

• Manage the bid process, including creation of the bid plan, tracking progress, setting up reviews, and providing background material to reviewers
• Establish the bid team and bidding environment, including Project Share
• Ensure that effective governance (i.e. Assurance Framework and other review mechanisms) and mandated reporting policies are adhered to, as well as other best practice (Shipley colour) reviews utilised as required
• Derive bid budget; monitor costs, timescales and resources used, and take action where these deviate from the agreed budget or task contingency
• Identify, assess and manage risks to the success of the bid and take action with appropriate management support
• Take ownership of the customer proposal / formal response, managing the structure, ensuring relevant inputs are received, and owning the editing and formatting of the final content
• Close down of the “project” at the end of a bid, including personal performance reviews, project lessons learned and harvesting of reusable collateral (i.e. improved propositions, updated processes, reusable modules)

Qualifications

Essential:

• Experience in business winning and bidding environments
• Strong communication skills with internal and external stakeholders
• Willingness to learn and develop within a business winning environment
• Proficiency with bid management toolsets
• Knowledge of current bid best practice techniques
• Foundational understanding of bid management or a related specialist area

Desirable:

• APMP qualification

The Team

As a Bid Manager, you will oversee the management and delivery of high-quality, competitive bid responses across the full bid lifecycle — from opportunity qualification through to closure. You will lead the development and execution of the bid and assurance plan, coordinate the creation of compelling submission content, and ensure all deliverables meet quality and compliance standards.

In addition, you will provide guidance and coaching on bidding best practices to colleagues across the business, helping to build capability and strengthen the organisation’s ability to bid successfully.

Benefits

You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and a Company contributed Share Incentive Plan. You’ll also have access to additional benefits such as flexible working, an employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and employee discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date

2nd October

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.