Bid & Project Planning Manager

Octagon Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering & technology manufacturer is seeking a Bid & Project Planning Manager to join their team in Southampton. The role involves managing project bids, creating documentation, and ensuring seamless handover to delivery teams. Candidates should have project management experience in engineering, commercial awareness, and be eligible for UK security clearance. This position offers hybrid work flexibility and a competitive salary of £45,000 - £50,000.

Qualifications

• Experience in project management or planning within engineering/manufacturing.
• Background in bids, proposals, or front-end project lifecycle.
• Strong commercial skills in estimating, costing, and budgeting.
• Eligible for UK Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead bid planning and build baseline project documentation.
• Create detailed resource-loaded plans using MS Project.
• Run early risk & opportunity workshops.
• Drive project governance and commercial due diligence.
• Support bid/no-bid decisions with viability analysis.

Skills

Project management experience

Commercial awareness

MS Project proficiency

Stakeholder management skills

Tools

MS Project

Job description

Bid & Project Planning Manager

Defence Technology / Security Clearance Required

Southampton / Hybrid / Flexible hours

£45,000 - £50,000

A leading engineering & technology manufacturer is looking for a Bid & Project Planning Manager to join their growing team in Southampton.

This role sits at the front end of the project lifecycle, partnering closely with Sales and Engineering to build robust schedules, budgets, risk logs and governance for all new bids and proposals. You’ll ensure projects are deliverable, commercially sound, and ready for seamless handover to the delivery team once contracts are secured.

Responsibilities

• Lead bid planning and build baseline project documentation (schedule, budget, cost model, assumptions, risk log)
• Create detailed resource-loaded plans using MS Project
• Run early risk & opportunity workshops
• Drive project governance, commercial due diligence, and stage‑gate compliance
• Support bid / no‑bid decisions with clear viability analysis

Qualifications

• Experience in project management or project planning within engineering / manufacturing
• Background in bids, proposals, or front‑end project lifecycle
• Strong commercial awareness : estimating, costing, budgeting
• High proficiency with MS Project
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Eligible for UK Security Clearance

If you’re highly organised, commercially aware and enjoy shaping projects from day one, this is a great opportunity to join a forward‑thinking engineering business working on complex, high‑value programmes