Bid Manager

RHL - Recruitment Holdings Limited; Leatherhead; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

RHL - Recruitment Holdings Limited is seeking a Bid Manager for a defence division, based in Leatherhead, with hybrid working (3 days in office, 2 days remote) and a 6-month duration. The role involves bid governance, proposal development, and cross-functional collaboration to maximise win probability.

The position requires leadership across bid teams, governance, compliance with customer requirements, and continuous improvement of bid processes within the Defence Nuclear Technology Solutions

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the entire bid lifecycle from opportunity qualification through submission and post-submission activities.
• Develop and implement bid strategies aligned with capture plans, customer requirements and business objectives.
• Manage bid schedules, deliverables, reviews and governance activities to ensure successful submission outcomes.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary bid teams and maintain focus on customer requirements, win themes and evaluation criteria.

Job description

Position – Bid Manager

Location – Leatherhead

Hybrid working: 3 days in the office, 2 days remotely.

40 hours per week.

Duration – 6 months. Potential for longer

Rate – Negotiable. Please state desirable rate. Inside IR35

Our global engineering services business is now actively seeking applications for a Bid Manager for its defence division.

The Role

To manage bid governance, coordinating proposal development activities, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, and fostering collaboration across the business to maximise win probability. This role will also support the development of bid processes, knowledge management and continuous improvement initiatives across the Defence Nuclear Technology Solutions (DNTS) business

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Bid Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage the entire bid lifecycle from opportunity qualification through submission and post-submission activities.
• Develop and implement bid strategies aligned with capture plans, customer requirements and business objectives.
• Manage bid schedules, deliverables, reviews and governance activities to ensure successful submission outcomes.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary bid teams and maintain focus on customer requirements, win themes and evaluation criteria.

Proposal Development & Coordination

• Lead the planning, development and production of proposal responses across technical, management, commercial and pricing volumes.
• Coordinate Bid Writers, Proposal Managers, Subject Matter Experts and key contributors to ensure timely delivery of high-quality content.
• Ensure technical, management and commercial responses present a coherent, compelling and customer-focused solution.
• Review and challenge proposal content to improve compliance, quality, clarity and competitiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with Business Development, Capture Managers, Operations, Technical Authorities, Commercial, Legal and Supply Chain teams throughout the bid lifecycle.
• Facilitate bid workshops, kick-off meetings, review sessions and governance activities.
• Engage with partners, subcontractors and suppliers to coordinate contributions and ensure proposal integration.
• Provide regular progress updates, risk reporting and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Bid Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, public procurement regulations and company governance processes.
• Coordinate bid reviews, action tracking and submission assurance activities.
• Maintain bid documentation, audit trails and submission records.
• Track, collate and coordinate responses to pre- and post-submission clarifications.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Identify commercial, technical, operational and delivery risks associated with pursuits.
• Develop mitigation plans and work with stakeholders to address risks proactively.
• Support solution development and pricing activities to improve competitiveness and deliverability.

Continuous Improvement

• Analyse bid outcomes, customer feedback and lessons learned to improve future performance.
• Support the development and improvement of bid processes, templates and knowledge management systems.
• Promote adoption of bid management best practice, including Shipley and APMP methodologies.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Support Bid Directors on strategically important pursuits and portfolio management activities.
• Assist Capture Managers, Proposal Managers, Bid Writers and Coordinators in organising bid teams and deliverables.
• Maintain and develop bid libraries, templates, case studies and reusable content resources.
• Support resource planning and bid workload forecasting across multiple concurrent opportunities.
• Contribute to pipeline reviews, growth initiatives and pursuit planning activities.
• Support partner and supply chain engagement activities during pursuits where required.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Bid Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage the entire bid lifecycle from opportunity qualification through submission and post-submission activities.
• Develop and implement bid strategies aligned with capture plans, customer requirements and business objectives.
• Manage bid schedules, deliverables, reviews and governance activities to ensure successful submission outcomes.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary bid teams and maintain focus on customer requirements, win themes and evaluation criteria.

Proposal Development & Coordination

• Lead the planning, development and production of proposal responses across technical, management, commercial and pricing volumes.
• Coordinate Bid Writers, Proposal Managers, Subject Matter Experts and key contributors to ensure timely delivery of high-quality content.
• Ensure technical, management and commercial responses present a coherent, compelling and customer-focused solution.
• Review and challenge proposal content to improve compliance, quality, clarity and competitiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with Business Development, Capture Managers, Operations, Technical Authorities, Commercial, Legal and Supply Chain teams throughout the bid lifecycle.
• Facilitate bid workshops, kick-off meetings, review sessions and governance activities.
• Engage with partners, subcontractors and suppliers to coordinate contributions and ensure proposal integration.
• Provide regular progress updates, risk reporting and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Bid Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, public procurement regulations and company governance processes.
• Coordinate bid reviews, action tracking and submission assurance activities.
• Maintain bid documentation, audit trails and submission records.
• Track, collate and coordinate responses to pre- and post-submission clarifications.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Identify commercial, technical, operational and delivery risks associated with pursuits.
• Develop mitigation plans and work with stakeholders to address risks proactively.
• Support solution development and pricing activities to improve competitiveness and deliverability.

Continuous Improvement

• Analyse bid outcomes, customer feedback and lessons learned to improve future performance.
• Support the development and improvement of bid processes, templates and knowledge management systems.
• Promote adoption of bid management best practice, including Shipley and APMP methodologies.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Support Bid Directors on strategically important pursuits and portfolio management activities.
• Assist Capture Managers, Proposal Managers, Bid Writers and Coordinators in organising bid teams and deliverables.
• Maintain and develop bid libraries, templates, case studies and reusable content resources.
• Support resource planning and bid workload forecasting across multiple concurrent opportunities.
• Contribute to pipeline reviews, growth initiatives and pursuit planning activities.
• Support partner and supply chain engagement activities during pursuits where required.

Experience Requirements

Experience

• Relevant experience in Bid Management within Defence, Nuclear, Government, Infrastructure or similarly regulated sectors.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex competitive bids from qualification through submission.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams across technical, operational, commercial and business functions.
• Strong understanding of public sector procurement and tendering processes.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong presentation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure while maintaining quality and compliance.

Technical Skills / Knowledge

• Strong understanding of Bid Management, Capture Management and Business Development best practices.
• Knowledge of UK Public Sector Procurement regulations and frameworks.
• Experience applying Shipley, APMP or equivalent bid management methodologies.
• Strong proposal development, content management and review skills.
• Effective risk management, planning and organisational capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.