Bid Manager

Arriva; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free rail travel on Arriva services

Employee discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Professional development

Job summary

Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS) is recruiting a Bid Manager in Derby with hybrid working. You will own bids from qualification through to submission, coordinating operations, finance, legal and HR to develop compelling proposals and winning solutions.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial Bids, you’ll manage multiyear opportunities in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely, accurate response content and strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing the full bid lifecycle from qualification to award.
• Strong bid writing and proposal development skills.
• Experience in formal tender or procurement environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full bid lifecycle from qualified opportunity through to submission and contract award.
• Develop persuasive, high-quality bid responses tailored to customer requirements.
• Coordinate contributions from Operations, Finance, Legal and HR teams.
• Manage bid plans, timelines and governance processes to ensure successful submissions.
• Maintain and continuously improve bid content libraries, case studies and supporting documentation.
• Solution Design & Commercial Development: translate customer requirements into practical, deliverable transport solutions.
• Engage with suppliers and supply chain partners to support bid development.
• Represent ARTS during client meetings, presentations and clarification discussions.
• Ensure contractual commitments and commercial assumptions are handed over to delivery teams.

Skills

Bid writing

Proposal development

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Commercial awareness

Education

APMP qualification

Tools

CRM system

Microsoft Office

Job description

Bid ManagerLocation: Derby (Hybrid Working)Contract: PermanentCompany: Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS)Who We AreAre you a talented bid professional looking for your next challenge? Do you have the commercial awareness, writing skills and drive to help win new business and support ambitious growth plans?If you're looking for a role where your contributions are valued, your ideas make a real impact and you're part of a growing and collaborative team, we'd love to hear from you.At Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS), we exist to prove that alternative transport can be better than the journey it replaces. Every year, we deliver over 80,000 rail replacement journeys, facilitate more than 20,000 train crew taxi journeys, and provide dedicated frontline support to customers across the UK.As we continue to grow, we're expanding into new markets and seeking a Bid Manager to play a key role in securing new business opportunities and helping shape the future of our organisation.The OpportunityReporting to the Head of Commercial Bids, you'll take ownership of bid opportunities from qualification through to submission, working closely with operational, finance and commercial stakeholders to develop winning solutions and compelling proposals.This is a hands-on role for an experienced Bid Manager who enjoys developing bid content, designing commercially viable solutions and managing multiple opportunities within a fast-paced environment. You'll also support the development of a Commercial Bids Executive and contribute to the continued growth of the ARTS business.What You'll Be DoingBid & Proposal ManagementManage the full bid lifecycle from qualified opportunity through to submission and contract awardDevelop persuasive, high-quality bid responses tailored to customer requirementsCoordinate contributions from Operations, Finance, Legal and HR teamsManage bid plans, timelines and governance processes to ensure successful submissionsMaintain and continuously improve bid content libraries, case studies and supporting documentationSolution Design & Commercial DevelopmentTranslate customer requirements into practical, deliverable transport solutionsWork with operational teams to develop costed and commercially viable proposalsSupport pricing development and commercial modelling activitiesIdentify risks, assumptions and opportunities within proposed solutionsEngage with suppliers and supply chain partners to support bid developmentPipeline & Opportunity ManagementManage multiple live opportunities across a varied pipelineSupport bid/no-bid decisions through commercial and strategic assessmentMaintain CRM records and provide regular pipeline updatesManage tender portals, clarification questions and submission requirementsWork closely with the Commercial Bids Executive to ensure seamless opportunity handover and progressionClient & Stakeholder EngagementRepresent ARTS during client meetings, presentations and clarification discussionsBuild positive relationships with procurement teams and key stakeholdersSupport the transition of successful bids into operational mobilisationEnsure contractual commitments and commercial assumptions are effectively handed over to delivery teamsWhat We're Looking ForProven experience managing the full bid lifecycle from opportunity through to awardStrong bid writing and proposal development skillsExperience working within formal tender and procurement environmentsCommercial awareness and experience supporting pricing or commercial modelling activitiesExcellent project management and organisational skillsThe ability to manage multiple concurrent bids and deadlinesStrong stakeholder engagement and communication skillsExperience mentoring or supporting junior colleaguesStrong Microsoft Office and CRM system skillsExperience within transport, rail, logistics, infrastructure or managed services environments would be advantageous. APMP qualifications and experience using eTendering platforms would also be desirable.Why Join ArrivaAt ARTS, you'll join an ambitious and growing business where you'll play a direct role in shaping our future success.We offer:Competitive salaryHybrid workingFree travel on Arriva branded rail services across the countryArriva Village employee discountsEmployee Assistance Programme with 24-hour confidential supportOpportunities for professional development and career progressionReady to Help Drive Our Growth?If you're an experienced Bid Manager looking for an opportunity to make a real impact within a growing organisation, we'd love to hear from you.