Bid Manager

Location(s): UK, Europe & Africa : UK : Guildford

Job Title: Bid Manager

Location: Frimley, London and Christchurch – Hybrid

The role will be based from either our Frimley, London or Christchurch office, operating on a hybrid working arrangement. There will be a requirement to attend the office at least 1 day per week in line with business needs, which may increase depending on the bids you are running. Travel may also be required to our other sites, depending on opportunity and bid team.

What you’ll be doing

As a Bid Manager, you will lead the planning, coordination and delivery of high-quality, compliant bid responses from qualification through to submission. Working as a core member of the opportunity team, you will define and implement bid strategies within National Security & Central Government, Defence, and Space, develop and manage bid plans and schedules, coordinate cross-functional contributors, and ensure governance, assurance and review processes are followed. You will drive consistency across all proposal content, manage risks, budgets, timescales and resources, and take ownership of proposal production, editing and final submission to ensure compelling customer-focused responses.

You will facilitate and lead Shipley-based Colour Reviews, manage stakeholder engagement across account, capture and delivery teams, and ensure bid activities remain on track through effective planning, reporting and governance. The role also involves analysing customer requirements, supporting cost modelling activities, coaching colleagues in bid management best practice, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement through lessons learned, reusable collateral and process enhancements.

Key responsibilities include: bid strategy implementation, bid planning and scheduling, governance and assurance management, proposal development, stakeholder coordination, risk management, compliance, quality reviews, resource and budget management, customer response ownership, continuous improvement and team coaching.

Your skills and experiences

We are looking for candidates who have Bid experience within the Defence, Central Government, National Security field, with the ability to manage bid activities through to successful delivery. Strong understanding of bid management processes, proposal development and business-winning tools, alongside knowledge of bid best practice and governance requirements. Proven ability to analyse requirements, solve problems proactively, manage stakeholder relationships, work effectively within cross-functional teams, and identify when issues require escalation. Excellent communication, organisation and planning skills are essential. APMP qualification is desirable.

The successful candidate must also either already hold SC or be eliglible

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive

As part of this highly regarded, central Business Winning team, you will be responsible for running competed bids from across our business areas encompassing; National Security & Central Government, Defence, and Space. This exciting role brings challenges and opportunities for the successful candidate, working across our business areas, as well as the varying products and services that enable our clients to realise their mission.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

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