Capture Manager

Navantia Uk; West of England; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Navantia UK is seeking a hands-on Project & Programme Manager to lead competitive bids for strategic contracts, including UK MOD programmes. You will balance strategic bid-winning with delivering complex projects, coordinating across engineering, sales, finance and operations to secure future contracts.

The role requires extensive experience in defence/shipbuilding bids, PM frameworks, and stakeholder management across international teams. BPSS clearance is required as part of onboarding.

Qualifications

• Degree in PM/Engineering/Business or related field.
• Extensive experience in project & programme management, bid management, or similar roles.
• Proven experience managing complex engineering bids or proposals in a competitive environment.
• Strong understanding of PM frameworks and tools (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Kanban, EVM, Predict! or equivalent).
• Experience working in cross-functional and international teams.
• Experience managing projects or programmes within defence, shipbuilding, heavy engineering or construction sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide programme leadership across functions to drive bid delivery for Navantia UK opportunities.
• Lead scope, governance, deliverables, and performance; plan and execute projects using established methods.
• Coordinate budgets, schedules, and resources; partner with engineering on costs, risks and dependencies.
• Lead end-to-end bid processes; collaborate with sales, finance, legal, and operations on compelling proposals.
• Manage timelines, milestones and deliverables to ensure on-time, high-quality submissions.
• Drive risk and opportunity management within bids and support pricing strategies with finance.
• Facilitate workshops and reviews; maintain bid libraries and lessons learned.

Skills

Project management

Bid management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional teamwork

Defence/shipbuilding domain knowledge

Education

Degree in Project Management, Business, Engineering, or related field

Masters preferred but not essential

Tools

PMP

PRINCE2

Agile

Kanban

EVM

Predict! (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description

To lead the preparation, execution and winning of competitive proposals for new strategic and high value contracts for Navantia UK including CAT A UK MOD Programmes (£400M+). This role sits at the intersection of project execution and bids, requiring the application of professional project management, commercial awareness and cross-functional and organisation leadership.

The successful candidate is a hands-on, structured professional who can balance strategic thinking (winning bids) with operational execution (delivering projects).

The Role

Project & Programme Management

• Provision of programme leadership across functions to drive successful bid delivery for major Navantia UK opportunities.
• Lead and continuously improve effective project scope, objectives, governance, deliverables, and performance.
• Plan, execute, monitor and enhance projects using established methodologies and tools (e.g. PID, PMO, Agile, SAP experience-SAFRAN).
• Control project schedules, budgets, and resources effectively coordinating across projects and business units.
• Work jointly with engineering in the product development, costs, risks, assumptions and dependencies
• Influence and coordinate internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure successful delivery.
• Track progress and report performance to senior management and clients, effectively escalating and resolving issues.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and issues proactively whilst actively exploiting opportunity.
• Provide project management rigour to deliver competitive future bids whilst meeting wider company obligations and security requirements.

Bid Lifecycle Management

• Work with Bid Managers and wider functions to lead the end-to-end bid process, from qualification through submission to successfully secure new contracts.
• Support business development objectives and lead response to Market Engagement/RFI/RFP/RFQ documents whilst defining and improving the win strategy and bid plan.
• Work closely with sales, technical, finance, legal, and operations teams to develop compelling and compliant proposals.
• Manage timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure on-time, high-quality submissions.
• Lead, review and improve bid content, including technical, commercial, and project delivery sections.
• Ensure effective deliver and drive deliverables and requirements, assign project timelines and lead gateway reviews according to bid / project requirements
• Drive effective risk and opportunity management within bids and propose mitigation strategies.
• Support pricing strategies and cost estimation in collaboration with finance teams.
• Manage equivalent activities for product development project lifecycles as needed

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a key interface between clients, business development, and internal teams.
• Management and communication of all key documentation and information
• Facilitate workshops, bid and performance reviews, and project meetings.
• Maintain strong relationships with stakeholders to support both bid success and project delivery.

Process Improvement

• Contribute to continuous improvement of bid and project management processes.
• Ensure maintenance and update of bid libraries, templates, and lessons learned.
• Ensure adherence to internal governance and best practices.

Qualifications

• Degree in Project Management, Business, Engineering, or related field (Masters preferred but not essential).
• Extensive experience in project & programme management, bid management, or similar roles.
• Proven experience managing complex engineering (ideally maritime) bids or proposals in a competitive environment.
• Strong understanding of project management frameworks and tools (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Kanban, EVM, Predict! or equivalent).
• Experience working in cross-functional and international teams.
• Experience managing projects or programmes, within defence, shipbuilding, heavy engineering or construction sectors

Additional Information

***Please note as part of the onboarding process all candidates will need to complete BPSS security clearance***

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at [e-mail] and one of the team will be in contact to help you.