Bid Manager

FCDO Services; Ovingdean; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A government services organization in the UK is seeking a Bid Manager to manage proposals for government clients. The role involves collaborating with experts, ensuring accurate costings, and monitoring project progress. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in sales management and excellent communication skills. Benefits include competitive salary, generous holidays, and career growth opportunities, alongside on-site amenities like a gym and café.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Civil Service Pension

On-site gym

Interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes

Qualifications

• Recent experience in sales or commercial management, covering tenders, proposals, pricing, and contracts.
• Ability to secure understanding and organizational buy-in.
• Experience in writing technical elements of proposals.

Responsibilities

• Manage proposals for crown bodies or Five Eyes government customers.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts for product/service costings.
• Monitor progress and manage contributors to meet key milestones.

Skills

Sales management

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Degree or Level 6 qualification

Job description

Overview

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings, courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech, and more.

Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we're on. In our world, it all matters.

Commercial team and role

Balancing quality and value is a real skill, and it's one shared by our Commercial team, who make sure we meet the needs of government customers. They shape services with expert insights, win work through expert bid management, and help us reach new customers each day. Now, you’ve got the opportunity to join them.

Role focus

Understanding customer needs. Winning exciting bids. Knowing the impact of your work. It all matters. Manage proposals, shape futures.

Bid Manager responsibilities

• Working as a Bid Manager is a little different at FCDO Services. Rather than traditional tenders, the focus is on managing proposals, predominantly for crown bodies or Five Eyes government customers.
• Bring together customer wants, requirements, opportunities and potential risks, balanced with protecting FCDO Services’ interests, translating this into a final brief.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to ensure accurate product/service costings and delivery lead-times.
• Engage with Strategic Relationship Managers to establish pricing in line with relevant policies, strategies or existing customer agreements.
• Monitor progress and effectively manage all contributors to ensure key milestones are met.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Recent, relevant experience in sales or commercial management, covering tenders, proposals, pricing and contracts.
• First-hand insight into new business delivery and customer management with a track record of direct customer interaction.
• Ability to secure understanding and organisational buy-in, even when there’s resistance. Effective problem-solving and handling customer questions.
• Experience in writing technical and complex elements of proposals, plus capability to analyse, interrogate and evaluate information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate, summarise and present complex information succinctly and engagingly.
• Highly organised and detail oriented, with ability to adapt to competing priorities and meet deadlines and deliver results.

Desirable experience

• Experience in digital/tech proposals.
• Experience of product, project or service delivery across sectors such as construction, estates, logistics or professional services.
• Understanding of private sector best practice and public sector requirements.
• Project and risk management experience.
• Knowledge of NEC4 principles and contracts (advantageous).
• A degree or Level 6 qualification is desirable.

Benefits and career growth

Discover the support you need to grow your career further. We offer a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. You’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help progress your career with us.

Our offices feature an on-site gym, nursery, café and restaurant. We offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get to work. It’s a great set of benefits designed to support all you do.

Security and how to apply

Every colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Security Clearance (SC). Learn more about vetting at fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/.

Learn more

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk.

Commitment to diversity

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world. We support every individual so you always know you’re welcome and valued. We are a Disability Confident employer and a recognised ‘Carer Confident’ workplace.