Bid Manager

Bid Manager - hybrid role

Our client is an Independent Security Systems Integrator with over 40 years of experience delivering security solutions across high-security, transport, public space and critical infrastructure environments throughout the UK and Ireland.

The Role

The Bid Manager will be responsible for the management and coordination of the end-to-end bid cycle, ensuring effective delivery of high-quality, compliant, compelling and strategically aligned proposals. Working closely with Head of Commercial and Bids, the role will support the pursuit of opportunities that align with an ambitious growth plan, providing structured process management and robust governance throughout each bidding activity. The Bid Manager will develop compelling content and collateral, lead stakeholder engagement across the business, coordinating Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to secure technical, operational and commercially accurate, timely, and high-value inputs and outputs that strengthen our proposition. The Bid Manager will employ disciplined bid cycle management and project planning to maintain control of timelines, responsibilities, and deliverables. Through strong organisational capability, analytical insight, and professional communication, the Bid Manager will play a critical role in developing winning proposals and supporting sustainable growth.

Bid Leadership and Lifecycle Management

Manage the full end-to-end bid cycle from opportunity qualification through to submission, presentation, negotiation support, and contract handover.
Maintain ownership of bid process, structure, compliance, quality, and delivery.
Develop and communicate clear bid plans, schedules, responsibilities, governance stages, and milestone reviews to ensure timely delivery.Content Quality, Proposal Writing, and Presentation

Develop high-quality content and collateral, using strong editing and content structuring skills to ensure clarity, coherence, and impact.
Develop compelling narratives, win themes, and value propositions to differentiate from competitors.
Oversee the visual and formatting standards of the proposal, ensuring a professional, consistent, and customer-focused presentation. SME Coordination and Content Development

Coordination of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to gather technical, operational, commercial, and value-based content.
Ensure SME inputs are accurate, timely, customer focused and aligned with the strategic solution narrative.
Translate complex SME information into clear, compelling, and evaluable proposal content.Planning, Monitoring, and Risk Management

Develop and manage detailed bid project plans, risk logs, compliance matrices, action trackers and lessons learnt logs.
Monitor progress, identify and escalate issues early, and adapt plans as necessary to meet deadlines.
Maintain strong oversight of capacity, resource allocation, and prioritisation across multiple concurrent bids.Stakeholder Engagement and Internal Coordination

Act as the central point of coordination for all stakeholders involved in the bid, ensuring seamless communication and alignment.
Engage with operational, technical, commercial, financial, legal, HR, cyber/security, and compliance teams to capture accurate and authoritative inputs.
Facilitate solution development workshops, storyboarding sessions, and win-theme creation activities.Bid Programme Management

Coordinate members of the wider bid team, including solution architects, designers, reviewers, and contributors.
Organise and lead bid kick-off sessions, progress meetings, and final review sessions.
Support team members with guidance, clarity of responsibilities, and removal of blockers.
Support the wider Commercial and Bids team’s activities, cover absence and annual leave where required.Customer Engagement and External Interface

Manage clarifications, customer communications, and support the sales team during presentations, solution demonstrations, or evaluation phases.
Ensure all external communications reflect accuracy, professionalism, and compliance.Process Governance and Compliance

Follow structured bid management processes, ensuring transparency, traceability, and consistency across all bid activities.
Ensure all proposals comply with customer instructions, regulatory requirements, and internal quality standards.
Manage risk assessments, clarification processes, commercial checks, and formal governance approvals.
Coordinate with the technical, commercial and finance teams to support pricing development, cost modelling, risk identification, and value assessment.
Ensure pricing aligns with customer requirements, competitive positioning, and the commercial strategyKnowledge Management and Continuous Improvement

Capture lessons learned from each bid and feed them into a continuous improvement cycle.
Maintain and grow the bid library content.
Contribute to capability development, best-practice methodologies, and enhancement of the bid function.Governance, Reporting, and Assurance

Provide regular reporting to Head of Commercial and Bids on bid status, risks, resource requirements, conversions, success rates and outcomes.
Support audit and assurance activities related to bidding, compliance, and commercial governance.
Maintain confidentiality, integrity, and security of all sensitive bid documentation and data.Skills & Personal Qualities

The successful Bid Manager will possess excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple bids simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and high-quality outputs. They will demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of producing clear, compelling, and persuasive proposals which resonate with customers and stakeholders alike. Analytical thinking, and problem-solving are essential to evaluate opportunities, mitigate risks, and ensure strategic alignment with business objectives. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of the electronic and physical security integration industry (desirable). 

The role requires a collaborative and proactive approach, with the ability to engage, influence, and motivate cross-functional teams, including SMEs, sales leads, and senior stakeholders. Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines are crucial, alongside a commitment to continuous improvement, learning, and professional development.

Qualifications & Experience

Educated to degree level or suitable experience.
Knowledge of the electronic and physical security integration industry (desirable).
Proven bid management with a minimum of 5 years’ experience.
Sales / commercial training or experience (desirable).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
Familiarity with bid management tools.
Familiarity with CRM systems.
APMP or similar accreditation / membership (beneficial).Eligibility

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Forward Assist Recruitment is operating as an employment agency. Forward Assist Recruitment is an Equal Opportunities employer; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds