Bid Manager

Kier Group plc.; Falmer; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kier Group plc. is seeking a Senior Bid Manager to lead the Southern Water Framework bids from early positioning through to contract award.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams across design, operations, and estimating to deliver competitive, evidence-based tenders that align with strategic priorities and delivery capability. The role requires proven bid governance, strong communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex, high-value infrastructure bids through full lifecycle.
• Experience in Tier 1 contractor or major-project environments.
• Bid governance, assurance and senior stakeholder approvals.
• Understanding contract strategy, programme, cost, risk and delivery drivers.

Responsibilities

• Lead LOT 1 Water and LOT 2 Waste bids from Stage 1 to Stage 2, setting direction and pace.
• Own the Infrastructure Opportunity Roadmap and drive milestones.
• Coordinate design, operations, programme, commercial and estimating workstreams for compliant tenders.
• Take post-tender activity through to contract award, including clarifications and negotiations.
• Handover tender commitments and risks to delivery teams clearly.

Skills

Leadership

Bid management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Negotiation

Presentation

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Digital tools

Tools

NEC contracts

AI-enabled tools

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Bid Manager to join our Southern Water Framework team based in Falmer., Location: Hybrid working with a regional office based in Falmer, along with travel to projects & clients in the region

Hours: 40 hours per week - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us.

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.

Our Southern Water Framework is seeking an experienced Senior Bid Manager to lead complex, high-value and strategically important opportunities across the framework on securing Stage 2 Instructions. You will bring multidisciplinary teams together and develop differentiated, deliverable solutions that support sustainable and profitable growth. Working alongside the Framework Manager and Head of Estimating, you'll lead opportunities across the full work-winning lifecycle, from early positioning through to contract award and handover to delivery.

What will you be responsible for?

As a Senior Bid Manager, you'll be working within the Southern Water Framework team, supporting them in securing work that aligns with our strategic priorities and delivery capability.

Your day to day will include:

• Leading the portfolio of LOT 1 Water and LOT 2 Waste projects through Stage 1 ECI to successful Stage 2 Notice to Proceed, setting clear direction and pace throughout
• Owning the Infrastructure Opportunity Roadmap, setting milestones, leading key meetings and maintaining momentum as requirements evolve
• Integrating design, operational, programme, commercial and estimating workstreams to deliver compliant, client-focused and evidence-led tender submissions
• Leading post-tender activity through to contract award, including clarifications, competitive dialogue, presentations and negotiations
• Conducting structured handovers to delivery teams, ensuring tender commitments, risks and client expectations are clearly transferred and understood

A strong track record of leading complex, high-value infrastructure bids through the full lifecycle

• Experience within a Tier 1 contractor or comparable major-project environment, leading multidisciplinary teams across technical, operational, estimating, commercial, design, procurement and proposals functions
• Evidence of developing and delivering successful win strategies for competitive tenders, frameworks or strategic partnerships
• Experience of bid governance, assurance and senior stakeholder approvals, with the confidence to challenge, influence and make clear recommendations
• Strong understanding of infrastructure procurement and delivery models, NEC forms of contract and commercial risk, including how contract strategy, programme, risk allocation and delivery assumptions influence tender evaluation, commercial performance and successful project delivery
• Visible and collaborative leadership, with the ability to bring together, motivate and hold multidisciplinary teams to account
• Strong communication, negotiation and presentation skills, with the confidence and influence to engage effectively with senior internal & external stakeholders
• Commercially astute, with a clear understanding of contract, programme, cost, risk and delivery drivers
• Strategic and creative thinking, with the ability to analyse evidence, challenge convention and turn ideas into differentiated and deliverable solutions
• Highly organised and decisive, able to maintain pace, manage competing priorities and lead teams through demanding deadlines and change
• Confident using digital and AI-enable tools responsibly to support research, collaboration, planning, analysis and production, and proactive in helping the business adopt new approaches that improve how we work
• Full driving licence