Bid Project Manager

Rheinmetall Electronics UK (REUK); Newport; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company in Newport is seeking a Project Governance Lead to ensure effective project planning and management for bids. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in project management within technical environments, strong communication skills, and a proficiency in MS Project. The position offers a dynamic work environment and opportunities for career development alongside a competitive salary.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible working hours

BUPA Healthcare and Dental Insurance

Employer pension contributions of 6.8%

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Experience in project management or planning in a technical or engineering field.
• Understanding of bid and proposal processes.
• Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and development for project management documentation.
• Manage project schedules and budgets.
• Ensure adherence to project governance processes.

Skills

Project management experience

Bid and proposal skills

Commercial acumen

MS Project proficiency

Strong communication skills

Education

APM Project Management Qualification or equivalent

Tools

MS Project

ERP systems (e.g., SAP B1)

Job description

Job Purpose

To embed robust Project Governance and project planning rigour during the critical bid and planning stages of the project lifecycle. This role is accountable for ensuring all programmatic and commercial due diligence is conducted prior to order acceptance.

Responsibilities & Tasks

Bid & Planning Phase Management

• Lead the planning and development of the baseline project management documentation for all new bids and proposals.
• Create, manage, and baseline the initial project schedule in MS Project, ensuring it is resource‑loaded and realistic for scenario modelling.
• Establish the initial project budget, cost model and forecasts in collaboration with Sales.
• Develop the preliminary Risk & Opportunity Log, facilitating initial workshops to identify and assess key programmatic risks.

Governance, Risk & Due Diligence

• Act as the PMO lead for programmatic and commercial due diligence, ensuring all proposed solutions are deliverable and aligned with internal capabilities.
• Ensure Customer and REUK commercial terms and conditions are fully reviewed by the relevant SME’s and meet the relevant risk appetite for the project.
• Ensure the proposed scope of works is clear, unambiguous, and fully understood by the project team.
• Implement and champion adherence to all Project Governance and Stage Gate processes during the planning (pre‑contract award) phase.
• Act as a key stakeholder in project closure meetings to capture lessons learned, ensuring relevant findings are fed back into all future planning, estimating, and risk assessments.

Stakeholder & Handover Management

• Work in close collaboration with the Sales Lead to align project, commercial and technical strategies for the bid.
• Act as the primary PMO representative in bid/no‑bid decisions and bid review meetings, providing clear analysis on project viability.
• Lead, document, and manage a comprehensive handover process to the designated Execution Project Manager at the point of Order Acceptance.
• Ensure all baseline documentation (schedule, budget, risk log, assumptions, etc.) is complete and successfully transferred.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in a project management or project planning role within a technical, engineering, or manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience in a bid, proposal, or pre‑sales environment, with a strong understanding of the "front‑end" of the project lifecycle.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in project estimating, costing, and budgeting.
• High proficiency in scheduling tools (MS Project) and creating detailed, costed and resource loaded plans.
• A foundational understanding of the project lifecycle and project management principles, aligned with the APM best practices.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to negotiate and influence across commercial and technical functions.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain Security Clearance.

Desirable

• An APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) or equivalent.
• Experience using an ERP system (e.g., SAP B1).
• Familiarity with UK defence and procurement processes/standards.
• Experience in conducting formal risk management workshops.
• Experience in continuous improvement processes and the facilitation or capture of lessons learned.

Personal Attributes

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in all bid documentation, especially in costings and schedules.
• Analytical: Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities, able to assess viability and risk.
• Proactive & Organised: A self‑starter who can manage multiple, concurrent bids and prioritise effectively to meet strict deadlines.
• Collaborative: A strong team player who can build effective working relationships with Sales, Engineering, and the wider PMO.
• Resilient: Remains calm and professional under pressure, particularly when managing challenging bid deadlines and negotiations.
• Flexibility: Adapts readily to changing bid requirements, shifting priorities, and competing deadlines, finding practical solutions to unexpected challenges.
• Upholds the highest standards of integrity and ethical behaviour in all dealings.

Key Performance Indicators

• Handover Completeness: Percentage of projects handed over to the Execution PM with all baseline documentation complete and approved.
• Bid Quality: Percentage of bids submitted with a fully baselined schedule, budget, and risk log.
• Project Baseline Accuracy: Measured by the variance between the as‑sold budget/schedule and the initial performance of the execution phase (e.g., CPI/SPI at 3 months).
• Bid Turnaround Time: Adherence to internal deadlines for providing programme data to the Sales team.
• Lessons Learned Implementation: Demonstrable evidence of captured lessons learned being actioned within new project plans, schedules, and risk logs.

Other Details

Full time 37.5 hrs per week.

Salary dependant on experience / qualifications.

We want REUK to be the employer you choose to build your career with. We have lots of opportunity to grow as our business continues to grow.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.

We are passionate about finding the right people to join us and we want you to be proud to work with us. Our vision is to become a recognised and respected solution provider while delivering high‑technology, high reliability & high‑quality products and systems.

As an REUK employee we offer you:

• 25 Days holiday plus Bank holidays (increasing with service)
• The opportunity to work flexibly and to work your contracted hours over the week so that you can enjoy an early finish on a Friday.
• 4‑times Death‑in‑Service Benefit (after 3 months of service)
• BUPA Healthcare & Dental‑Care Insurance (after successful completion of probationary period)
• Long Service Rewards
• Employer Pension contributions of 6.8%
• Salary sacrifice scheme for Cycle to Work
• Discounted Ferry Bookings
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Bi‑Monthly on‑site massages
• Excellent Training Opportunities
• Recommend a friend scheme
• Excellent canteen facilities with a state‑of‑the‑art kitchen, pool table and tuck shop
• Staff social events throughout the year
• Recognition for your work

Due to our pre‑employment checks, we require applicants to have lived in the UK for at least 5 years.

To Apply

Please send your CV to [e-mail].