Principal Bid Manager

CDW UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

CDW UK is seeking a Principal Bid Manager based in Manchester to lead complex, high-value bids and oversee the entire proposal lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in bid management and a proven track record in strategic bids. Responsibilities include establishing high-performing teams, managing proposal submissions, and driving continuous improvement in bid quality. CDW values curiosity and a willingness to engage with AI technology. This position promotes an equitable workplace where individuals are recognized for their talents.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in bid and proposal management within a sales or vendor-side environment.
• Proven track record of leading complex, high-value or strategic bids end-to-end.
• Exceptional facilitation and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead bid/no-bid decisions with clear rationale and recommendations.
• Own and manage complex proposal projects from qualification to submission.
• Develop and manage proposal plans, including risk analysis and governance milestones.

Skills

Bid and proposal management

Stakeholder management

Project management

Proposal writing

Strategic thinking

Education

APMP Foundation accreditation

Job description

Job Summary

As a Principal Bid Manager, you will lead complex, high‑value and strategically critical bids across CDW. You will be accountable for shaping winning bid strategies, governing the end‑to‑end proposal lifecycle and elevating bid quality through best‑in‑class proposal management.

Operating as a senior, trusted partner to Sales, Business Development and Delivery teams, you will establish and lead virtual bid teams, define pursuit strategy, oversee governance and ensure the delivery of high‑quality, compliant and compelling proposals. In addition, you will play a key role in developing CDW’s bid management capability, mentoring others and driving continuous improvement across the function.

What You’ll Do

• Lead bid / no‑bid decisions, providing clear strategic rationale and recommendations for pursuit
• Own and manage complex proposal projects from qualification through to submission, working in close partnership with the Account Manager
• Develop and manage detailed proposal plans, including risk analysis, contingency planning and governance milestones
• Establish and lead high‑performing, cross‑functional virtual bid teams, ensuring clarity of roles, accountability and engagement
• Facilitate proposal strategy sessions and storyboarding workshops, underpinned by customer insight and competitive analysis
• Coach, challenge and support contributors to drive high‑quality, customer‑focused content and consistent messaging
• Review, critique and shape proposal content to ensure coherence, compliance and a compelling, win‑focused narrative
• Ensure all internal governance, approval and qualification processes are followed
• Provide senior oversight of bid presentations where required, including messaging, slide development and rehearsal preparation
• Lead post‑submission and post‑decision reviews, capturing lessons learned and developing actionable improvement plans
• Identify high‑quality reusable content and contribute to the ongoing development of the bid content library
• Act as a subject‑matter expert and mentor within the bid community, supporting capability uplift and best practice
• Proactively lead and contribute to initiatives that improve CDW’s bid and proposal management maturity

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Significant experience in bid and proposal management within a sales or vendor‑side environment
• Proven track record of leading complex, high‑value or strategic bids end‑to‑end
• Deep understanding of strategic proposal management, including qualification, planning, storyboarding and governance
• Exceptional facilitation and stakeholder management skills; able to influence, motivate and challenge senior contributors
• Strong project management capability with the ability to lead under pressure and manage multiple concurrent bids
• Commercially and business‑savvy, with the ability to align bid strategy to broader account and organisational objectives
• High level of customer empathy, with the ability to interpret RFPs and uncover underlying customer drivers
• Advanced strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills
• Strong proposal writing, editing and quality assurance capability
• Comfortable operating in a high‑profile, deadline‑driven environment
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor others, contributing to team and function development
• APMP Foundation accreditation desirable, with Practitioner or progression toward it strongly preferred

CDW is committed to being an AI‑fluent organization. We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever‑evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision‑making. You don’t need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work.

CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.