Senior Bid Manager

Senior Bid Manager

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is looking for an exceptional Senior Bid Manager to lead a best-in-class bid management function that will play a pivotal role in our commercial success and long-term growth.

This is an excellent opportunity to shape the capability that influences how strategic opportunities are identified, qualified, governed and won.  The Senior Bid Manager will work closely with Business Development Directors, Strategic Account Managers, Delivery Leaders, and Executive stakeholders to improve bid performance, strengthen commercial discipline and increase organisational win rates.

If you are a commercially minded leader with a proven track record of leading and complex bids, and coaching and building high-performing bid teams, we'd like to hear from you.

The Opportunity

As Senior Bid Manager, you’ll create and implement a scalable operating model that enhances the quality, consistency and effectiveness of pursuit activities across MTC.

You’ll champion bid excellence as a core organisational capability, ensuring opportunities are rigorously assessed, strategically prioritised and supported by compelling customer-focused propositions.

This highly visible role offers significant influence over MTC's commercial performance and growth strategy.

Key Responsibilities include

• Develop and lead MTC's enterprise-wide Bid Management function.
• Establish robust governance frameworks, resource allocation processes and pursuit management disciplines.
• Embed best-practice bid methodologies, standards and processes across all sectors and delivery units.
• Create a culture where bid excellence becomes a key competitive advantage.

• Support the development of winning strategies for major opportunities.
• Ensure opportunities are effectively qualified, prioritised and positioned for success.
• Facilitate collaboration between commercial, technical and operational teams.
• Drive improvements in bid quality, consistency and competitiveness throughout the bid lifecycle.
• Strengthen Governance and Decision Making

• Support leaders in focusing resources on the highest-value opportunities.

• Build organisational capability in bid management, capture planning and proposal development.
• Develop frameworks, coaching programmes and training initiatives that improve bidding effectiveness.
• Establish performance metrics including win rates, conversion rates and bid efficiency.
• Promote continuous improvement through lessons learned and knowledge sharing.

• Strengthen competitiveness through improved planning, positioning and customer understanding.
• Support the achievement of ambitious growth objectives through enhanced commercial discipline and bid effectiveness.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Bid Manager who combines commercial acumen with operational excellence. You’ll have substantial experience of leading complex bids, pursuits or capture activities and a demonstrated ability to improve win rates and commercial outcomes.

You’ll be confident working with senior stakeholders, challenging constructively when required and navigating complex, matrix-led organisations. Most importantly, you are passionate about developing people, building capability and helping organisations succeed.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant leadership experience in bid management, capture management, proposal management or commercial operations.
• Proven success leading complex, high-value and strategically significant pursuits.
• Experience implementing governance frameworks and standardised bid methodologies.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior leadership level.
• Demonstrable track record of improving bid effectiveness, conversion performance and commercial outcomes.
• Experience operating within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Desirable Experience & Qualifications

• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, technology, innovation, defence or research-led organisations.
• Knowledge of public-sector procurement and collaborative funding environments.
• APMP Practitioner certification or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Understanding of innovation funding models and government contracting.
• MBA or equivalent leadership qualification.

Recruitment Process

Following submission of your application, our Talent Acquisition team will review your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be invited to participate in a two-stage interview process.

Please be aware that many roles working for MTC will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.

All candidates must meet Right to Work in the UK criteria and achieve the required security and clearance requirements to undertake this role which will be shared with you upon application.