Global Bid Manager

Sodexo; Matosinhos; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Flexible working hours

Health & Life Insurance

Meal allowance

Extra vacation day

Multicultural projects

Wellbeing activities

Job summary

Sodexo Business Services (SBS) is seeking a Global Bid Manager to develop, grow and retain Sodexo business by leading a bid management function for global bids.

You will oversee end-to-end bid processes across multiple countries, coordinate cross-functional teams, and ensure high-quality, timely responses that communicate our win themes and value proposition.

Hybrid working model with opportunities to work with European markets and growth across sales, finance, and legal.

Qualifications

• Graduate-caliber candidate in sales, marketing, or operations.
• Five+ years in bidding environments; supervisory experience a plus.
• Strong planning, prioritization and organizational skills under pressure.
• Knowledge of AI tools, CRM systems and proposal automation.
• Ability to lead a remote team across geographies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end bid management for large-scale, multi-country opportunities.
• Manage multiple bids to client timelines and direct bid teams.
• Establish program management for each bid and chair core team meetings.
• Coordinate with SMEs and leadership; keep stakeholders updated.
• Develop go-to-market strategy for bids with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with procurement and senior client contacts during bid process.
• Support bid governance and maintain bid library.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Bid management

Strategic thinking

AI tools usage

Education

Graduate degree in business or related field

Tools

Proposal automation tools

CRM tools

AI tools (generative)

Job description

In 1966, in Marseille, Pierre Bellon laid the foundations of what would become Sodexo, guided by a simple yet powerful idea: improving everyday life through services that truly matter.

Today, Sodexo is a global leader in Food and Services, supporting people at every moment of life, at work, in schools, hospitals and communities. With 426,000 colleagues across 43 countries, we serve 80 million consumers every day, generating €24.1 billion in revenues. Our growth goes hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility, driven by our purpose: to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all.

About Sodexo Business Services (SBS)

Portugal is no exception! Eight years ago, we established Sodexo Business Services (SBS), our shared service center. Here, you will have the opportunity to join various Financial teams such as Record to Report, Order to Cash, Purchase to Pay, Financial Analysis, and Master Data, supporting European markets and ensuring business growth.

Join Us!

We are looking for talented professionals to be part of our team, bringing unique skills and perspectives to help us grow even further.

Global Bid Manager

To develop, grow and retain Sodexo business through delivering the segment sales strategy by overseeing and leading a bid management function for global bids.

To actively manage and direct the tender process for complex, multi-country / multi-region Global Strategic Account bids, utilizing standardized methods and tools to guide bidding teams through tasks and activities to achieve highly productive, winning client sales proposals.

To add value and effective support to the business development function by ensuring that through the bid management team, all documentation is of a high standard, clear, appropriate to the project, and communicates the agreed win themes / value proposition.

What will you do?

1.Project Management:

• Oversee the end-to-end bid management process for large-scale, complex, multi-country / multi-region business development opportunities
• Manage multiple ongoing bids to client timelines, directing the various bid teams’ activities on a daily basis.
• Establish program management for each bid, then own and run the bid and coordinate the work of the bid team. This includes developing the bid plan and organizing and chairing regular core team meetings
• Act as a single point of contact for problem solving and internal clarification questions
• Identify, track, manage, escal​e and resolve risks that impact the bid team’s ability to meet client timelines / requirements
• Ensure bid team follows internal governance and approval processes to ensure timely decision making needed for the bid

2.Bid Response Management:

• Prepare Opportunity Assessment / Go_No Go materials, in coordination with sales lead
• Prepare Kick Off, Core Team, and Steering Committee communications, in coordination with sales lead
• Oversee the development of the response drafts of RFI, RFP, presentation / yellow pad materials, site solutions and other client communications as part of the bid process
• Create, issue and manage response templates; establish the bid response timetable
• Populate standard answers; source, edit / re-write material from previous tenders and bid library to re‑purpose relevant materials, leveraging AI tools balanced with human touch
• Guide subject matter experts in the development of their assigned responses
• Author certain responses that may not otherwise exist in Sodexo
• Prepare case studies and other reference materials (capability presentations, tour guides, etc.)
• Ensure bid responses are accurate, reflect the determined win themes / value proposition, and are delivered on time
• Coordinate bid close‑out with bid management team to enrich bid library; provide constructive feedback on library content

3.Value Proposition Development:

• Assist in the development of the go‑to‑market strategy for each bid. Work with core team (sales, operations, solution development, HR, finance, legal) to build tailored solutions that result in a ‘win‑win’ for client & Sodexo
• Challenge the bid team to continually rethink and refine these strategies to address client needs and evolving market dynamics

4.Stakeholder Management:

• Coordinate with the core team (sales, operations, solution development, HR, finance, legal, bid design/production) to agree bid details and timelines
• Liaise with SMEs to ensure their engagement and input to the solution, as part of solution workshops and bid response development
• Consult regularly with leadership and keep stakeholders up to date on bid status, changes, and potential issues and resolutions
• Manage / grow relationships with internal stakeholders across Sodexo’s operating countries
• Act as liaison with external client stakeholders during the bid process (incl. consultants, client procurement and senior personnel) as needed (note: business development is first point of contact with clients)
• Arrange post‑bid / lessons learned discussions and support implementation of resulting actions

5.Other activities may include but not be limited to:

• Support GSA targeting activities, pipeline management, governance of other sales activities as needed
• Support country‑specific requests that may bubble up from “must win” opportunities (as time and priorities permit)
• Support Head of Bid Management, GSA with governance and communication across Sodexo’s bid management community globally, taking an active role in bid management professional family meetings
• Support the development and refinement of the bid management framework by providing feedback and ideas and inputting / updating existing tools and processes

What You Need to Succeed:

• Of graduate caliber ideally allied to the areas of sales, marketing, or operations / business
• 5+ years’ experience within a bidding environment. Supervisory/management experience a plus
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize in a high‑pressure, time‑sensitive environment. Has a high level of management ability and awareness of customer focus
• Ability to understand and apply latest technology and techniques to improve bid deliverables (including but not limited to proposal automation, AI tools (generative and agentic), CRM tools, etc.)
• Ability to motivate and direct a remote team, including senior leaders, many of whom will not be based in the same geography and are not direct reports.
• Sound experience and good understanding of document development & production (content and design) for large‑scale bids
• Awareness of market trends; ability to leverage market / industry research into actionable intelligence; convert findings into applied, specific information and suggestions that add value to sales strategy and client value proposition development
• Knowledge of Sodexo’s go‑to‑market strategy, position in the marketplace and the comparative strengths and weaknesses of competitors' services and/or products, and the ability to apply this understanding to new business opportunities.
• The ideal candidate will have a high level of project management experience, an understanding of Sodexo practices and structure, the ability to draw upon global resources, and be able to work independently

What we have to offer you?

• Hybrid working model;
• Flexible working hours;
• Health & Life Insurance;
• Meal allowance paid in Meal Card;
• Additional Days off: extra vacation day, employee’s birthday, volunteering day;
• Opportunity to grow professionally inside the Company;
• Possibility to participate in multicultural projects;
• Several internal activities aiming to promote our team´s wellbeing.

Learn more about Sodexo: YouTube - Sodexo.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

Sodexo is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit.

Data Privacy:

We respect your privacy. Your personal data will be used exclusively for recruitment purposes, processed under GDPR regulations, and treated confidentially. For further details, contact [e-mail]