Senior Bid Manager

Ceto Talent; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ceto Talent is seeking a Senior Bid Manager in Hemel Hempstead to own end-to-end bid delivery across a varied portfolio. You will lead qualification, strategy and submission while coordinating with operational, technical and commercial teams to ensure compliant, credible bids.

The role requires experience with main contracting or utilities, strong bid writing, and the ability to drive deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Occasional travel and UK driving may be involved.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing bids for main contractor, construction, civil engineering, infrastructure or utilities.
• Experience managing multiple bids with competing deadlines.
• Strong bid writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Experience developing tender responses from first principles.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end bid process from qualification through to submission, clarification and post-tender review.
• Develop bid strategies, programmes, governance arrangements and submission plans.
• Manage multiple concurrent bids across strategic frameworks and smaller, fast-paced opportunities.
• Lead bid mobilisation, win-strategy and response-planning workshops.
• Translate client requirements and evaluation criteria into clear response strategies and deliverables.
• Write, develop and edit high-quality technical, commercial and qualitative tender responses.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to understand pricing strategy, contractual requirements, risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary stakeholders and subject matter experts to ensure timely contributions.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of bid processes.

Skills

Bid writing

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication

Microsoft 365

Education

APMP accreditation

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Senior Bid Manager

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Bid Manager to take ownership of a varied portfolio of opportunities from initial qualification through to submission, clarification and post-tender review.

This is a hands-on role within a lean pre-construction and work-winning environment, managing multiple bids simultaneously and working closely with operational, technical, commercial and senior stakeholders.

You will be responsible for creating structure, pace and accountability across the bid process, ensuring every submission is strategically aligned, commercially sound, technically credible, compliant and delivered to a high standard and within demanding deadlines.

The role would suit an experienced Bid Manager or Senior Bid Manager with a background in main contracting, construction, civil engineering, infrastructure, utilities or electrical/MEICA.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end bid process from qualification through to submission, clarification and post-tender review.
• Develop bid strategies, programmes, governance arrangements and submission plans.
• Manage multiple concurrent bids across strategic frameworks and smaller, fast-paced opportunities.
• Lead bid mobilisation, win-strategy and response-planning workshops.
• Translate client requirements and evaluation criteria into clear response strategies and deliverables.
• Write, develop and edit high-quality technical, commercial and qualitative tender responses.
• Work closely with operational teams to develop credible methodologies covering programme, sequencing, resources, logistics, interfaces and risk.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to understand pricing strategy, contractual requirements, assumptions, exclusions, risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary stakeholders and subject matter experts, ensuring timely and high-quality contributions.
• Challenge gaps, inconsistencies, risks and unsupported commitments before submission.
• Manage senior stakeholder engagement, including Directors and other decision-makers.
• Ensure technical, commercial and operational elements of the bid are consistent and aligned.
• Maintain bid libraries, case studies, project evidence, CVs and other work-winning content.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of bid processes, systems and tools.
• Support the development of innovative and digital approaches to bid management, including appropriate use of AI-enabled tools.
• Ensure final submissions are compelling, accurate, compliant, professionally presented and delivered on time.

About You

We are looking for an experienced bid professional who is confident taking ownership and driving the process rather than simply coordinating it.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience managing bids for a main contractor, construction, civil engineering, infrastructure or utilities organisation.
• Experience managing multiple bids and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong bid writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Experience developing tender responses from first principles.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leaders.
• A commercially aware and technically curious approach.
• Experience working within a pre-construction or work-winning environment.
• The ability to understand how programme, pricing, contractual requirements, risk and delivery methodology influence the overall bid proposition.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to establish clear actions, responsibilities and deadlines.
• Confidence challenging stakeholders constructively and escalating risks when required.
• The ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint.

Desirable Experience

• Experience bidding within the UK water sector or regulated utilities.
• Experience with major framework procurements.
• Background in civil engineering, infrastructure or electrical/MEICA contracting.
• APMP accreditation or another relevant bid or project management qualification.
• Experience implementing bid process improvements, knowledge management systems or digital/AI-enabled working practices.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking someone who is organised, commercially aware, persuasive and resilient, with the confidence to take ownership of complex bids and bring together people from across an organisation.

You will be comfortable working at both strategic and detailed levels - developing the overall bid strategy while also getting into the detail of the written response, evidence, methodology, programme and stakeholder actions.

Most importantly, you will be someone who can create momentum, challenge constructively, solve problems and deliver high-quality submissions against immovable deadlines.

Additional Requirements

Ability to travel occasionally to meetings and project/client locations.

Flexibility to work outside standard hours during critical tender periods when required.

Full UK driving licence desirable/required depending on business needs.

Relevant background checks may be required