Bid Manager

SYOS Aerospace; Mount Maunganui; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SYOS Aerospace is seeking an experienced Bid Manager to own end-to-end bid processes across defense and dual-use markets. You will coordinate commercial, technical and executive teams to craft clear, compelling proposals and manage submissions under tight deadlines.

You will shape bid strategy with commercial teams, analyze competitors, influence pricing strategy, and ensure all submissions are compliant and aligned to customer requirements.

Qualifications

• Strong bid management, capture or proposal experience.
• Defense procurement and the bid lifecycle awareness.
• Strong commercial and business acumen.
• Enough technical fluency to engage credibly with engineering and product teams.
• Excellent written communication and the ability to turn complex information into a compelling story.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail.
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders without relying on hierarchy.
• Calmness and good judgement when the pressure is on.
• An understanding of security, export control and compliance considerations relevant to defense bids.
• You don't need to be an engineer – but you need to work with engineers and technical leaders.

Responsibilities

• Own formal bid responses from qualification through submission (RFI, RFP, ITT and tender).
• Own the gated bid process with go/no-go decisions and stage reviews.
• Set timelines, manage internal reviews and keep contributors accountable.
• Manage final submission logistics, portals and client/Authority liaison.
• Develop and embed clear win themes with Commercial to shape strategy.
• Conduct competitor and market analysis to inform bid strategy.
• Help shape pricing and price-to-win positioning.
• Produce high-quality, SYOS-branded proposals and narratives.
• Coordinate across commercial, technical and executive stakeholders to keep submissions compliant and aligned with customer requirements.

Skills

Bid management

Defense procurement

Commercial acumen

Technical fluency

Written communication

Organisational skills

Stakeholder influence

Calm under pressure

Security compliance

Job description

Own the bids that help shape where SYOS goes next.

SYOS is growing quickly across aerospace and dual-use markets, and our bids are a big part of that growth. We're looking for an experienced Bid Manager to take ownership of the end-to-end bid process -from the initial qualification through to submission. You'll bring together commercial, technical and executive teams, turn complex information into clear and compelling proposals, and keep everyone moving when the deadline is closing in. This is a role for someone who knows how to run a serious bid, influence senior stakeholders and produce work that stands up in competitive defense environments.

What You'll Be Doing

Own the bid process

• Lead formal RFI, RFP, ITT and tender responses from qualification through to submission
• Own the gated bid process, including go/no-go decisions and stage reviews
• Set timelines, manage internal review points and keep contributors accountable
• Manage final submission logistics, procurement portals and client/Authority liaison

Shape the strategy

• Work with Commercial to develop and embed clear win themes
• Conduct competitor and market analysis to inform bid strategy
• Help shape pricing and price-to-win positioning

Build compelling submissions

• Own the production of high-quality, consistent and SYOS-branded proposals
• Bring technical, commercial and leadership input together into a clear, compelling narrative
• Ensure submissions are accurate, compliant and aligned to customer requirements
• Maintain appropriate security, export-control and compliance considerations throughout the process

Bring people together

• Act as the central point of coordination across commercial, technical and executive stakeholders
• Influence and manage contributors who don't report directly to you
• Create clarity around what's needed, by when and from whom
• Keep the team calm, focused and moving when deadlines are tight

You'll have a proven track record of managing and delivering successful defense and/or dual-use bids, and be comfortable taking ownership from the first opportunity assessment through to submission.

You’ll Bring

• Strong bid management, capture or proposal experience
• A good understanding of defense procurement and the bid lifecycle
• Strong commercial and business acumen
• Enough technical fluency to engage credibly with engineering and product teams
• Excellent written communication and the ability to turn complex information into a compelling story
• Strong organisation and attention to detail
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders without relying on hierarchy
• Calmness and good judgement when the pressure is on
• An understanding of security, export control and compliance considerations relevant to defense bids

You don't need to be an engineer - but you do need to be comfortable working with engineers and technical leaders and understanding what makes a proposition credible.

Why SYOS?

We're building robotics and autonomous systems across air, land, sea and subsurface, working across defense and commercial markets in New Zealand and the UK.

We're a fast-moving business, which means you'll have real ownership and plenty of opportunity to shape how we do things.

You’ll work closely with people across the business and have a direct impact on the opportunities we pursue and win.

Big ideas. Real-world impact. And no shortage of interesting bids to get stuck into.

The flexibility

We're open to the right person working full-time or part-time.

If you're an experienced Bid Manager who enjoys owning the process, bringing people together and turning complex technical propositions into compelling bids, we'd like to hear from you.