BID Manager

ICES: Data, Discovery, Better Health; Dartford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Hard Facilities Management is seeking a Bid Manager to oversee the bid process, ensuring timely and high-quality submissions. The role requires expertise in bid leadership, strategic input, and the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams effectively. Candidates should possess strong commercial awareness and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing complex bids in Hard FM.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of facilities management contracts.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of the bid process.
• Provide high-level input into bid/no-bid decisions.
• Develop detailed bid plans and timelines.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Commercial Awareness

Organizational Skills

Project Management

Education

Degree or equivalent experience in Business, Engineering, FM

APMP or other bid/proposal management certification

Job description

Role

Bid Manager

Reporting Line

Business Development Director, Artic

Direct Reports

N/A

Location

Hybrid – Dartford office; travel to client sites; WFH

About Artic

Artic Building Services is a leader in Hard Facilities Management across London and the Home Counties. We offer a comprehensive suite of technical and engineering solutions, ensuring the smooth operation of our clients’ Mechanical, Electrical, and Hard FM Plant.We also offer a specialist Projects capability to support our clients with major installations and capital works.

With a proven track record supporting hundreds of clients, we specialise in high-end commercial, healthcare, and higher education facilities. We build strong partnerships and tailor our solutions to integrate seamlessly with our clients’ existing operations, giving them peace of mind and allowing them to focus on their core business.

About the role

The Bid Manager is central to our work-winning capability.They are responsible for overseeing the end-to-end bid process, ensuring the timely and high-quality submission of proposals to secure new business opportunities and contract renewals. They collaborate with cross-functional teams within Artic and the wider Mecsia group where appropriate, including sales, finance, operations, HR and IT.

The role sits at the centre of the Artic BD team, which also includes marketing, mobilisation and business development.

This role requires a dynamic bid manager with a deep understanding of bid processes, pricing and proposals, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the ability to motivate diverse teams to deliver winning proposals in tight timeframes. The role requires expertise in both detailed public sector procurement processes and the creation of flexible, client-focused proposals for commercial clients.

Key responsibilities

• Bid Leadership: Own the full lifecycle of the bid process - from opportunity assessment through pre-qualification, to submission and post-bid review.
• Strategic Input: Provide high-level input into bid/no-bid decisions, leveraging market intelligence and business priorities.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with Artic senior leadership, operational teams, and subject matter experts to gather intelligence, define winning strategies, and ensure alignment with corporate goals.
• Bid Planning: Develop detailed bid plans, timelines, and resource allocations, ensuring all submissions are completed to deadline.
• Content Management: Oversee creation, coordination, and review of all bid content, including written responses, pricing models, and supporting documentation.
• Performance Reporting and CRM Update: Maintain accurate and timely updates of CRM for all relevant opportunities.
• Commercial Oversight: Work alongside estimating teams to ensure bids are commercially sound, and aligned with contractual requirements.Work with external legal expertise where required.
• Client Focus: Meet potential clients, develop relationships and join site visits where appropriate.Ensure all proposals are tailored to client needs, demonstrating value, innovation, and compliance with service level agreements (SLAs).
• Continuous Improvement: Drive improvements to the bid process, tools, templates, and knowledge base, promoting best practice and efficiency.
• Market Awareness: Stay up to date with market trends, competitor activity, and public sector procurement changes relevant to our services and sectors.

Key Requirements

Essential

· Proven experience managing complex bids in the Hard FM, technical services, or building services sector.

· Strong understanding of facilities management contracts.

· Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver winning bids under tight deadlines.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a sharp eye for detail.

· Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to interpret pricing models and identify commercial risks.

· Familiarity with procurement portals and public sector tendering processes.

· Highly organised, with strong project management and time management skills.

· Ability to influence and communicate effectively at Board level.

· Excellent Microsoft skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· A driving license is essential.

Desirable

· APMP or other bid/proposal management certification.

· Experience with CAFM systems and asset lifecycle costing.

· Degree or equivalent experience in Business, Engineering, FM, or a related field.

· Tender/Bid design ability