Commercial Bid Manager (Cardiff)

SMS PLC; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy services company based in Cardiff is seeking a Bid Manager to manage proposal documents and lead business development for Metering and Data opportunities. The role involves coordinating responses, managing tender processes, and ensuring high-quality submissions. Ideal candidates will have experience in bid management and project management. The position offers hybrid working arrangements and a supportive environment focused on sustainability and innovation.

Benefits

25 personal holiday days

Hybrid working options

Life Insurance

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave

Pension matching scheme

Qualifications

• Proven bid and tender management experience.
• Strong ability to develop bid management processes.
• In-depth understanding of the tender process.

Responsibilities

• Lead bid responses in coordination with the wider business.
• Coordinate responses for RFI and Requests for Information.
• Manage business development tools and templates.

Skills

Bid management

Project management

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Analytical skills

Education

Graduate with relevant degree

Project Management qualification

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

HubSpot

Job description

Working closely with private and public sector partners we are playing a critical role in transforming and decarbonising the UK economy by 2050.

What’s in it for you?

• 25 personal holiday days per year (with additional 8 public holidays) increasing to 30 personal days after 5 years of service (includes options to buy and sell)
• Hybrid working options
• Automatic enrolment onto our Employee Participation Scheme
• Enhanced Maternity leave, Paternity and Adoption leave
• 24/7 free and confidential employee assistance service
• Medicash health plan offers cashback on everyday healthcare treatments such as optical, dental and physio treatments
• Discounted gym memberships and free 24/7 online GP
• Life Insurance (4 x annual salary)
• Pension matching scheme (up to 5% of salary)
• Internal and external accredited courses, secondments and study support

About the role

The Bid Manager will produce all bid/proposal response documents relating to SMS Energy Services Ltd. Their primary focus is to own the business development lifecycle to win new Metering and Data opportunities from Energy Suppliers, TPIs and Direct Customers ensuring that bid submissions are completed on time and to the highest standard.

In addition, they will take a lead on the day‑to‑day monitoring and management of the company’s tender portals to ensure SMS has visibility of all relevant opportunities and support the administration of our internal CRM which tracks all new sales.

The role has been created to meet the growing requirements and ambitions of SMS as we start the next phase of exciting growth in this market.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead bid responses in coordination with the wider business
• Programme management of new and organic growth business activity through our defined governance process
• Coordinate responses for RFI and Requests for Information
• Analyse prequalification and tender documents, make recommendations to the Business Development Director and manage the production of tender submissions and checking the finished documents
• Coordinate internal stakeholders and customer liaison throughout the bidding process from project identification through to closure
• Coordinate negotiation of commercial documents with clients
• Ensure smooth handover of new customers from Commercial teams through to internal operational delivery teams as part of BAU
• Manage business development tools, e.g., pipeline tracker (HubSpot), business development subscriptions and software
• Coordinate the creation and document control of template documents to be used by SMS, as required
• Input into SMS marketing collateral and responsibility for updating changes
• Engender a culture of continuous improvement and embrace the Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality systems employed by SMS

Qualifications

• Graduate with a relevant degree (or equivalent), e.g., Business, Law, Marketing, Journalism
• Project Management / Business Management qualification is desirable
• Proven bid and tender management experience
• Strong ability to develop bid management processes and actively drive successful submission activities
• In‑depth understanding of the end‑to‑end tender process including direct award, framework and DPS procurement processes
• Knowledge of procurement practices, standards and law pertaining to the public sector
• Strong commercial awareness and results‑oriented mindset
• Excellent project management skills demonstrated from experience including business process improvements and governance
• Ability to lead lessons‑learnt sessions post bid and drive actions to strengthen processes
• Working knowledge of MS Word, MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across all departments and levels within the business

Working Hours & Location

• Monday to Friday, 8:30–5:00, 40 hours per week
• Hybrid working: 2 days in office and 3 days at home
• Location: Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Why choose us?

Choosing to work for SMS means choosing to make a difference. We are changing how businesses and consumers use energy for the better, helping achieve a greener, sustainable, and more affordable energy system for everyone. Through our range of innovative energy solutions, we are delivering the future of smart energy.