Senior Bid Manager - Strategy & Proposals Lead

Thales; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Half day every Friday

28 days annual leave (+ bank holidays)

Volunteer day

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Life cover

EAP & wellbeing app

Discount shopping schemes

Gym membership discounts

Job summary

Thales UK, Reading-based, is seeking a Senior Bid Manager to lead and deliver high-quality bids that align with our innovation objectives. You will collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams to produce compliant, compelling proposals and contribute to strategic wins.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, excellent stakeholder management, and experience across the bid lifecycle. Hybrid working with on-site presence is involved, and SC security clearance is required or pursued prior to

Qualifications

• Proven track record managing multiple fast-paced, successful bids including research, technology, consortium or teamed environments.
• Demonstrated ability to construct commercially and technically sound proposals addressing market needs.
• Strong organisational ability with excellent stakeholder management and team collaboration skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of bid lifecycle and bid management processes; ability to tailor approaches as needed.
• Experience working across commercial and finance functions.
• Proactive approach to risk identification, mitigation and baseline development.

Responsibilities

• Provide structure, clarity and governance across all bid management activities.
• Lead planning, development, review and submission of high-quality bid proposals and deliverables.
• Work with Capture Leaders and technical teams to develop win themes aligned to customer requirements and organisational strengths.
• Oversee cost estimation, pricing strategy and budgeting to ensure compliance and competitiveness.
• Support creation of initial project baselines, business cases, customer presentations and negotiations.
• Identify and implement improvements to bid management processes and capability.

Skills

Bid management

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Proposal development

Team collaboration

Risk management

Tools

Shipley Capture Bench

Job description

Thales UK, Reading-based, is seeking a Senior Bid Manager to lead and deliver high-quality bids that align with our innovation objectives. You will collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams to produce compliant, compelling proposals and contribute to strategic wins.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, excellent stakeholder management, and experience across the bid lifecycle. Hybrid working with on-site presence is involved, and SC security clearance is required or pursued prior to