Bids & Proposals Manager- Nordics (al genders)

Stark Defence; Stockholms kommun; Hybrid; SEK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Stark Defence, a Nordic defence technology company, seeks a Bid and Proposals Manager in Stockholm. You will own end-to-end bid management, apply the Shipley Method, and drive a robust governance framework. Travel up to 1–2 times per month within the Nordic region is expected.

You will collaborate with sales, technical teams, and SMEs to craft compliant, compelling proposals and maintain a content library for reuse.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing and winning large, complex bids.
• Must be fluent in English and a Nordic language (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or Finnish).
• Eligible to obtain and maintain Security Clearance.
• Office in Stockholm four days a week with one day remote.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full bid lifecycle from opportunity identification to submission and contract award.
• Implement Shipley Method for capture and bid management and governance.
• Drive gate review governance and ensure high‑quality inputs for decision‑making.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, technical teams and BD personnel to develop compliant proposals.
• Develop and maintain reusable content, templates and proposal resources.
• Coordinate workshops and ensure on‑time, high‑quality bid planning and submission.
• Report progress against sales targets and maintain CRM data quality.
• Keep abreast of industry trends, competitor activities, and government procurement regulations.
• Partner with Sales to translate early-stage activities into structured bid strategies.

Skills

Bid management

Shipley Method

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

English + Nordic languages

Communication

Tools

Microsoft 365+

Google WorkSuite

HubSpot

ERP Systems

Job description

About Us

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software‑defined, mass‑scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We’re focused on delivering deployable, high‑performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today.

Your mission

As the Bid and Proposals Manager, you will lead and manage the development of compelling and LLP‑winning bids for defence contracts in STARK’s Nordic entity. Reporting to the Managing Director of Nordics and International Bidding Director, you will be responsible to own and drive the end‑to‑end management of the bid process, ensuring compliance with the Shipley Method and implementing a robust gate review governance approach. You will be an anchor to our sales team in the Nordics. It is less about generating opportunities and more about capturing them in a disciplined and methodical way as well as conduct market surveillance and manage information. You will also be in charge of reporting our progress against sales targets to STARK’s central sales team and do regular reporting on our CRM tools. We are looking for an experienced colleague that takes the initiative and is also generally willing to travel up to 1‑2 times per month within the STARK Nordic Region.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full bid lifecycle, from opportunity identification through to submission and contract award.
• Implement and maintain the Shipley Method for capture and bid management, ensuring best practices are followed.
• Drive and uphold the gate review governance framework to ensure consistent, high‑quality inputs for decision‑making throughout the bid process.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, technical teams, and BD personnel to develop compelling and compliant proposals.
• Develop and maintain a library of reusable content, templates, and proposal resources.
• Facilitate colour review workshops in accordance with Shipley Method, and coordinate technical and programme planning workshops.
• Orchestrate end‑to‑end bid planning, defining critical milestones and driving adherence to strict submission deadlines to ensure on‑time, high‑quality delivery.
• Contribute to post‑bid reviews to identify areas for improvement and lessons learned.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of industry trends, competitor activities, and government procurement regulations.
• Partner closely with the Sales team to translate early‑stage front‑end activities into structured, actionable bid strategies that drive tangible outcomes.
• Champion regional bid compliance, ensuring all proposals meet strict regulatory and client‑specific compliance standards.
• Drive Shipley Method‑based capture planning and shape winning strategies well ahead of the formal RFP stage.
• Support the best use of CRM, and drive the currency and hygiene of information within the system. Projecting and reporting on demand pipelines to STARK’s central sales team will be a core part of the role.

Qualifications

• Willing and able to work out of our office in Stockholm, Sweden regularly four days per week (one day remote).
• Must be able to communicate fluently and professionally in English and a Nordic language (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or Finnish). Knowledge of several Nordic languages would be an advantage.
• Proven experience in managing and winning large, complex bids, preferably in an established defence Prime or large defence company selling to Nordic defence ministries.
• Excellent project management, organisational, and time management skills.
• Strong written, communication and collaboration skills to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Proficiency with market‑typical Software and Office tools as Microsoft 365+ or Google WorkSuite, ERP Systems and CRM Software as Hubspot.
• Adaptability to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic startup environment with a strong drive for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain Security Clearance.