Bids & Proposals Manager vacancy in North East UK (115lw)

Bids & Proposals Manager vacancy in North East UK (115lw)

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.

This role would particularly suit ex‑military professionals who have transitioned into (or are looking to move into) commercial, project, or bid‑focused roles – especially those with experience in structured planning, stakeholder coordination, and working within formal procurement frameworks.

You’ll act as the Bid Lead (“Bid Captain”) on strategic opportunities – owning the process from early‑stage qualification through to submission and handover. Working across engineering, commercial, and operational teams, you’ll ensure submissions are high‑quality, compliant, and commercially robust, while helping shape win strategies in competitive defence environments.

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

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.

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

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.

Please send a copy of your CV with a note outlining why this would be the ideal opportunity for you, by email to liz@ex-mil.co.uk

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