Bid Manager

Templecombe, Somerset
Thales
Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Job title: Bid Manager

Location: – Templecombe, Somerset, or Cheadle, Greater Manchester (hybrid working arrangement 3 days per week in the office vs. home)

Are you a Bid Manager looking for an exciting challenge and the opportunity to lead some major bids that are critical to the long term strategy of a company? Then look no further

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Bid Manager to join our Under Water Systems (UWS) UK team, either in Templecombe, Somerset, or in Cheadle, Greater Manchester.

What the role has to offer:

• UWS is growing at a rapid pace. Due to the success of programmes within UWS and with a portfolio of world leading products both in conventional systems and in new technologies (maritime autonomy), this has lead to an extensive prospect list, consisting of a significant number of strategic bids.
• This role is an opportunity to lead some major bids that are critical to the long term strategy of UWS and Thales. You will be working as part of an established team in one of the most exciting areas of the business, working on cutting edge technology.

• Working with a highly regarded team who will support your learning and development
• Hybrid working (3 days in the office / 2 days from home)

Core Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare (grade dependent)
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Key responsibilities:

The purpose of this role is to ensure the successful delivery of Bids within the UWS domain. The role is to ensure that the Initial Project baseline for Project execution (post contract award) is robust, with an appropriate level of confidence that customer and business expectations will be met. This will be achieved through the leadership of a multi-disciplinary Bid team to own and deliver high quality business winning proposals. Key responsibilities include (but aren’t limited to):

• Creating and controlling the Bid schedule and resource plan; leading and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams to achieve key milestones
• Establishing and controlling the requirements baseline (technical and non-technical), including compliance traceability, allocation to Work Packages and the end to end estimating process
• Ensuring the creation of robust Initial Project Baselines for delivery post-contract award
• Supporting the management of customer, supplier and partner relationships
• Tailoring and application of Bid Governance as appropriate, including Bid Stage Gates, Bid Reviews and Project Characterisation
• Coordination of proposal development, including the use of colour/peer reviews as appropriate
• Ensuring appropriate focus on CASH management and achieving a positive net cash profile associated with the Initial Project baseline
• Leading and coordinating PQQ responses, including reviews, governance and final sign-off
• Creating initial Project plans (E.g. Project Charter, PMP, ROMP) for the execution of the contract as required for the proposal

About you:

The role requires strong leadership, professional Bid and Project management expertise, excellent stakeholder management, commercial awareness and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risk. We are looking for someone with:

• A proven track record of delivering successful Bids on framework contracts
• Experience managing a small portfolio of bids where the ability to juggle multiple demands to tight deadlines is crucial
• Experience managing internal stakeholders and customer/supplier/partner relationships
• The ability to construct compelling proposals and/or solutions that meet customer needs

In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!