Global Bid Manager

Sodexo; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in quality of life services is seeking a Global Bid Manager to oversee the bid management process for complex, multi-country business development opportunities. The ideal candidate will possess extensive management experience in bidding environments and excellent project management skills. This role offers a competitive salary, car allowance, and numerous benefits, including a retirement plan and employee assistance programs.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Car allowance

Bonus

Sodexo retirement plan

Gym discounts

24/7 employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Graduate calibre ideally allied to sales, marketing, or operations.
• Extensive experience in a bidding environment with management skills.
• Excellent project management skills and attention to detail.
• Proven capacity to manage complex bid document development processes.
• High knowledge of bid management technologies (Ariba, SAP, MS Office).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritize in a high-pressure environment.
• Awareness of market trends with capacity to convert research into strategies.
• Ability to direct a remote team and motivate many senior leaders.
• High level of project management experience and understanding of Sodexo practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end bid management for large-scale opportunities.
• Manage multiple ongoing bids directing daily activities.
• Establish program management for each bid.
• Act as contact for problem solving and clarifications.
• Manage risks that impact the bid team's timelines.
• Ensure governance processes are followed.
• Prepare Opportunity Assessment and Go/No Go materials.
• Guide subject matter experts in response development.
• Author responses that may not exist in Sodexo.

Job description

Join Sodexo as a Global Bid Manager and play a pivotal role in developing, growing, and retaining business across international markets. You'll lead a high-performing bid management function, steering complex, multi-country tender processes and delivering winning proposals for Global Strategic Accounts. With a sharp focus on quality, consistency, and strategic alignment, you'll ensure every bid reflects our value proposition and supports our global sales strategy.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

Main Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end bid management process for large-scale, complex, multi-country / multi-region business development opportunities
• Manage multiple ongoing bids to client timelines, directing the various bid teams' activities on a daily basis
• Establish program management for each bid, then own and run the bid and coordinate the work of the bid team, including developing the bid plan and chairing regular core team meetings
• Act as a single point of contact for problem solving and internal clarification questions
• Identify, track, manage, elevate and resolve risks that impact the bid team's ability to meet client timelines / requirements
• Ensure bid team follows internal governance and approval processes to ensure timely decision making needed for the bid
• Prepare Opportunity Assessment / Go_No Go materials, in coordination with sales lead
• Prepare Kick Off, Core Team, and Steer Co communications, in coordination with sales lead
• Oversee the development of the response drafts of RFI, RFP, presentation / yellow pad materials, site solutions and other client communications as part of the bid process
• Create, issue and manage response templates; establish the bid response timetable
• Populate standard answers; source, edit / re‑write material from previous tenders and bid library to re‑purpose relevant materials , leveraging AI tools balanced with human touch
• Guide subject matter experts in the development of their assigned responses
• Author certain responses that may not otherwise exist in Sodexo

Please see attached job description for further information regarding the role requirements.

The Ideal Candidate

• Of graduate calibre ideally allied to the areas of sales, marketing, or operations / business
• Extensive experience within a bidding environment. Supervisory/management experience a plus
• Excellent project management skills with strong focus on attention to detail; track record of successfully managing and delivering multiple projects on time
• Proven capacity to effectively manage complex bid document development processes (bid writing, bid design, content management, stakeholder management), ensure consistently high standards are maintained, and ensure compliance to client requirements
• High level of knowledge, skills and aptitude with bid management technologies - Ariba/SAP/Client-specific bid portals; MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint are key requirements)
• An excellent communicator (verbal and written) with the ability to influence at senior level. Experienced at communicating across geographies, cultures, and time zones. Always professional, and ensures confidentiality of information is maintained as needed
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and organise in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment. Has a high level of management ability and awareness of customer focus
• Ability to understand and apply latest technology and techniques to improve bid deliverables (including but not limited to proposal automation, AI, prompt engineering, CRM, etc.)
• Ability to motivate and direct a remote team, including senior leaders, many of whom will not be based in the same geography and are not direct reports.
• Awareness of market trends; ability to leverage market / industry research into actionable intelligence; convert findings into applied, specific information and suggestions that add value to sales strategy and client value proposition development
• The ideal candidate will have a high level of project management experience, an understanding of Sodexo practices and structure, the ability to draw upon global resources, and be able to work independently

Package Description

Competitive salary + car allowance + bonus

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

You'll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you'll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you'll be able to thrive in your own way.

In addition, we offer 20+ Sodexo benefits such as Sodexo retirement plan, discounts to over 1,900 brands to shop online, Gym discount to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme providing independent support to overcome whenever life has its obstacles including emotional support, legal and financial advice.

For further details regarding our Sodexo benefits please see attached.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

About The Company

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves. We recognise that we're on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.