Senior Bid Manager

Thales; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Half day Friday

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Volunteer hours

Life cover

EAP & wellbeing app

Employee discounts

Job summary

Thales UK is seeking an experienced Senior Bid Manager to lead end-to-end bid activities across complex, multidisciplinary opportunities, driving winning proposals with strong governance and stakeholder engagement.

The role features hybrid work (3 days on site) with flexible full-time or part-time options, and offers exposure to UK and international opportunities plus a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering bids in complex environments.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience across full bid lifecycle, ideally within defence or similarly complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end management of complex bids.
• Deliver high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals.
• Collaborate with capture teams to develop winning strategies.
• Manage bid budgets, pricing, risks, and governance.
• Support customer engagement, presentations, and negotiations.

Skills

Bid management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Job description

Hybrid working arrangement: 3 days per week on site (based on full-time hours)

Working hours: Full time or part-time hours available

A fantastic opportunity for an experienced bid professional to lead complex business-winning activities and play a key role in securing strategic opportunities. As Senior Bid Manager, you will work with multidisciplinary teams, driving the development of compelling, competitive proposals while ensuring strong governance, stakeholder engagement, and commercial focus.

What this role has to offer

• Lead high-value, strategically important bid opportunities
• Work across diverse technical, commercial, and customer-facing teams
• Influence business growth and future programmes
• Develop and shape winning bid strategies
• Gain exposure to UK and international opportunities

Core Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• You can read about some of our other benefits here: UK benefits | Thales Group

Integrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS)

Our main purpose is to protect and defend. We provide rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement and support. We cover three sectors: Surface Attack & Air Defence (UK), Air Defence (International) and Air Operations & Services as well as Space.

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Main Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end management of complex bids
• Deliver high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals
• Collaborate with capture teams to develop winning strategies
• Manage bid budgets, pricing, risks, and governance
• Support customer engagement, presentations, and negotiations

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Proven track record of delivering successful bids within complex, multidisciplinary, and commercially driven environments
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent commercial and financial awareness
• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities
• Experience across the full bid lifecycle, ideally within defence or similarly complex environments

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.