Bids & Proposals Manager – Defence (115lw) North East UK (hybrid) - £40,000–£50,000 + Excellent Benefits
We’re supporting a UK-based engineering and technology organisation delivering specialist systems into highly regulated, safety-critical environments across global defence and industrial markets. As part of continued growth, they are looking for a Bids & Proposals Manager to take ownership of complex, high-value opportunities across land and maritime defence programmes.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead end-to-end bid activity across complex defence opportunities
* Develop structured bid plans, timelines, and risk registers
* Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams to deliver compelling submissions
* Manage formal review processes (e.g. governance gates, red team reviews)
* Support early-stage capture planning and bid/no-bid decisions
* Contribute to pricing and commercial strategy alongside finance teams
* Interpret tender requirements and ensure full compliance
* Maintain bid libraries, lessons learned, and continuous improvement processes
* Support international stakeholders and customers across multiple markets
What We’re Looking For
* Proven experience in bid, proposal, or commercial delivery roles (ideally 5+ years)
* Exposure to defence, aerospace, engineering, or other regulated sectors
* Understanding of formal procurement processes (e.g. MOD, NATO-aligned, or similar)
* Strong organisational and written communication skills
* Commercial awareness and ability to interpret contractual requirements
* Comfortable working in a structured yet fast-paced environment
* It would be desirable to have experience with export controls or international contracts. Bid Qualifications (e.g. APMP) and/or a technical or engineering background
This position aligns strongly with experience gained in roles such as Operations / Plans Officers, Commercial or Procurement roles within defence, Project / Programme Management, Royal Signals / CIS / Engineering leadership roles, Staff roles involving coordination of complex outputs under deadlines. If you’re used to working within structured processes and governance, managing multiple stakeholders under pressure, delivering high-quality outputs to tight deadlines, you’ll likely transition well into this role.
You’ll be joining a collaborative, down-to-earth organisation where people are trusted to get on with the job. The culture is supportive, delivery-focused, and values integrity, teamwork, and continuous improvement - with a strong emphasis on developing internal talent.
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