Bid Project Manager
£67.47 Inside IR35
12 months
On site - Kent
As a Bid Project Manager, you will lead and deliver complex bids and proposals across a range of product lines, operating primarily in the early stages of the project lifecycle. You will run bids as structured, high-impact projects — from opportunity shaping and campaign activity through to contract award and handover into execution.
This is a highly visible role where your work directly contributes to major business wins. You will operate at pace, lead multi-disciplinary teams across a matrix organisation, and apply strong project management discipline to ensure bids are delivered on time, to quality, and in line with commercial and customer objectives.
This role is ideal for an experienced Project Manager who thrives in early-lifecycle environments.
Leading bids as structured projects
* Define, plan, lead and deliver bid and proposal activities as complex projects, from campaign launch and opportunity shaping through to submission, negotiation and contract award.
* Own the bid plan, schedule, budget, risks and dependencies, applying robust project management discipline to deliver against agreed success criteria.
* Develop and communicate clear bid strategies aligned with capture plans and customer needs.
Governance, controls and performance
* Apply effective monitoring, controls and governance to ensure bids are delivered on time, to quality and in line with commercial and financial objectives.
* Proactively manage risks and opportunities, working with teams to define and implement mitigation and promotion actions.
* Ensure quality, compliance and assurance throughout the bid lifecycle, including reviews and approvals.
Stakeholder, team and customer leadership
* Lead, motivate and influence multi-disciplinary teams across engineering, project management, commercial, finance, procurement and supply chain.
* Build and maintain strong internal and external relationships, including customers, partners and suppliers.
* Provide clear, concise performance reporting and regularly present progress, risks and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Handover, learning and continuous improvement
* Ensure a smooth and effective handover to Project Execution teams following contract award.
* Capture and apply learning from experience to improve future bids and early-lifecycle activity.
* Contribute to continuous improvement of bid and project management practices.
Other
* Some travel may be required within the UK and overseas on an ad-hoc basis.
Knowledge:
* Proven experience leading complex bids, proposals or early-lifecycle projects from capture through to contract award, ideally within an engineering, aerospace, defence or similarly regulated environment.
* Strong project management capability, with experience applying planning, scheduling, risk management, governance and controls.
* Experience operating across multiple phases of the lifecycle, particularly campaigns, new business proposals and early solution development.
* Strong commercial and financial awareness, with the ability to balance cost, schedule, risk and value.
* Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to customers and executive stakeholders.
* Resilience and confidence operating in high-pressure, time-critical environments.