Bid Manager (Defence & Security)

SoCode Limited; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an experienced Bid Manager to focus on Defence & Security in Great Chesterford, Essex. This hybrid role involves managing the full bid lifecycle, working closely with sales and engineering teams. Ideal candidates should have several years of technical bidding experience, a relevant degree, and strong client management skills. Competitive salary ranges from £65,000 to £75,000 depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Strong background in government procurement and B2B bidding.
• Several years of experience managing bids in a technical services environment.
• Experienced in preparing commercial and technical bid/proposal documents.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the full lifecycle of bids from opportunity qualification to proposal submission.
• Own the bid management process within the business.
• Prepare and deliver compelling bid documentation aligned with customer requirements.

Skills

Government procurement

B2B bidding

Bid management

Client management

Proposal writing

Education

Degree in electronics, physics, or a related technical discipline

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

Overview

Bid Manager (Defence & Security) – Great Chesterford, Essex | Full-time | Hybrid (min. 3 days in office) | £65,000 - £75,000 (dependant on experience)

I'm currently partnered with a business in Great Chesterford who are looking to hire an experienced Bid Manager to join their team, with a focus on Defence & Security. This is a customer-facing role, working closely with sales, engineering, and client teams to manage and coordinate the full bid lifecycle process.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the full lifecycle of bids, from opportunity qualification through to proposal submission, contract negotiation, and acceptance (Must have experience of writing own bids).
• Own the bid management process and drive its ongoing development within the business.
• Lead regular bid review meetings, assigning tasks, setting timescales, and defining deliverables.
• Work with stakeholders across sales, engineering, the CTO office, legal, and others to gather input.
• Prepare and deliver compelling bid documentation, ensuring alignment with customer requirements (including contributions to project plans).
• Lead responses to supplier onboarding questionnaires.
• Manage government frameworks, including regular reviews to identify new opportunities.
• Take ownership of the CRM system (HubSpot), including monthly reporting against sales targets.
• Liaise with legal on bid information to support review of terms and conditions.
• Support subcontractor management on collaborative bids.
• Oversee successful handovers from proposal acceptance through to project execution, working closely with project managers.
• Coordinate with engineering and project management teams to forecast weekly resource requirements.

About You

• Strong background in government procurement as well as B2B bidding.
• Several years of experience managing bids in a technical services environment, ideally within Defence.
• Degree in electronics, physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experienced in preparing both commercial and technical bid/proposal documents.
• Comfortable dealing directly with clients in a professional setting.
• High energy, proactive, and a self-starter.
• Able to operate confidently when facing challenge or uncertainty.