Senior Bid & Commercial Manager
North Yorkshire A globally recognised engineering and technology organisation operating within defence and safety-critical markets is seeking a
Senior Bid & Commercial Manager
to join its Defence Business Unit. The Role
You will take ownership of the full bid lifecycle for high-value defence opportunities, leading cross-functional teams to deliver compliant, compelling and commercially robust submissions. Alongside bid leadership, you will play a key role in contract negotiation, commercial risk management and post-award compliance. Key Responsibilities
Bid Leadership
Lead complex, high-value defence bids (e.g. UK MoD, NATO, defence primes)
Develop winning strategies and coordinate cross-functional bid teams
Manage bid governance processes (Bid/No-Bid, solution reviews, pricing reviews, Red Team)
Ensure compliant, high-quality submissions delivered on time
Maintain and develop reusable bid content and continuous improvement processes
Commercial & Contract Management
Support and lead contract negotiations (terms & conditions, pricing, SLAs)
Manage commercial risk and contractual obligations across the project lifecycle
Ensure compliance with defence procurement regulations (e.g. DEFCONs, ITAR, DSPCR, SSRO)
Flow down contractual requirements to suppliers and subcontractors
Lead contract review and ensure post-award compliance
About You
We are seeking an experienced bid and commercial leader with a strong track record in defence or complex engineering environments. Essential
5+ years' experience in bid management, commercial or contract negotiation roles within defence, aerospace or similar regulated industries
Proven delivery of end-to-end bids for projects valued £1M+
Strong understanding of defence procurement regulations (e.g. DEFCONs, ITAR, DSPCR, SSRO)
Experience negotiating and managing contracts in regulated environments
Excellent project management skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent bids
Strong commercial awareness including risk, liability, pricing and SLAs
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Ability to obtain Security Clearance
Desirable
Degree in Business, Law, Engineering, Procurement, Project Management or related field
Legal/commercial contract qualification or background
APMP Practitioner or Professional certification
Experience with NATO or international defence tenders
Familiarity with CRM or tender tracking tools (e.g. Salesforce)