At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage complex bids in the defence sector, ensuring high-quality proposals.
- Company: Amber Labs is a dynamic tech consultancy focused on collaboration and rapid learning.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, competitive salary, private medical insurance, and 25 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Join a culture of experimentation and collaboration, with opportunities for personal growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in defence sector bids, strong communication skills, and SC clearance required.
- Other info: This is a 12-month FTC role; sponsorship not available.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
At Amber Labs, we are a cutting-edge UK and European technology consultancy that prioritises empowering autonomy, promoting experimentation, and facilitating rapid learning to provide exceptional value to our clients. Our company culture is centred around collaboration, where all colleagues, regardless of their role, work together to minimise risk and shorten delivery times. Our team consists of highly-skilled cross-functional consultants, analysts, and support staff.
We are seeking an experienced Bid Manager with a strong track record in the defense sector to lead and manage complex bids for a large IT consultancy. You will be responsible for developing and executing bid strategies, ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality proposals that align with customer requirements and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
- End-to-End Bid Management: Lead and manage the bid process from qualification to submission, ensuring compliance with governance frameworks.
- Defence-Focused Proposal Development: Work closely with technical, commercial, and legal teams to develop compelling, customer-focused proposals tailored to defense sector requirements.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal teams, partners, and key stakeholders to define winning strategies, value propositions, and pricing structures.
- Risk & Compliance Management: Ensure all bids meet MOD, defense, and security standards, addressing any risks proactively.
- Customer Insight & Competitive Analysis: Conduct market and competitor analysis to position bids effectively and maximise win rates.
- Governance & Approvals: Oversee bid reviews, approvals, and compliance with internal governance processes, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
- Presentation & Negotiation: Support bid presentations, negotiations, and post-bid customer engagements.
Minimum Requirements:
- Defense Sector Expertise: Strong experience managing bids for defence clients (MOD, Defence Primes, NATO, etc.).
- Bid Management: Proven ability to manage high-value, complex IT bids in large consultancies or government suppliers.
- SC Clearance: Must hold Security Clearance (SC).
- Strong Commercial Acumen: Experience with frameworks, contracting models (e.g., G-Cloud, DOS, Defence Contracts), and pricing strategies.
- Excellent Communication & Leadership: Ability to influence senior stakeholders, partners, and technical teams.
- Proposal Writing & Compliance: Strong experience writing and managing bids in line with defense procurement requirements.
- Experience with public sector frameworks (e.g., CCS, JSP 604, DSPCR).
- Understanding of ITIL, Agile, or Digital Transformation within defense.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure.
- Join a rapidly expanding start-up where personal growth is a part of our DNA.
- Benefit from a flexible work environment focused on deliverable outcomes.
- Receive private medical insurance through Aviva.
- Enjoy the benefits of a company pension plan through Nest.
- 25 days of annual leave plus UK bank holidays.
- Access Perkbox, a global employee rewards platform offering discounts, perks, and wellness resources.
- Participate in a generous employee referral program.
- A highly collaborative and collegial environment with opportunities for career advancement.
- Be encouraged to take bold steps and embrace a mindset of experimentation.
- Choose your preferred device, PC or Mac.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Here at Amber Labs, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace for all. Our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion includes valuing the unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of all employees and creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued. We prohibit all forms of harassment, bullying, discrimination, and victimisation and promote a culture of dignity and respect for all. We educate all new hires on our Diversity and Inclusion policies and ensure they are aware of their rights and responsibilities to create a safe and inclusive workplace.
This role at Amber Labs is a 12 Month FTC position, and all employees are required to hold current active SC clearance. Please be advised that, at this time, we are unable to consider candidates who require sponsorship or hold a visa of any type.
What Happens Next?
Our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to advise you on the next steps. We have a two-stage interview process for most of our consultants. In certain cases, we may include a third and final stage, which is a conversation with the company Partners. This will only be considered if deemed necessary.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Information Technology
Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting
Bid Manager employer: Amber Labs
Contact Detail:
Amber Labs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Bid Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of the defence sector. Understanding the nuances of MOD, Defence Primes, and NATO will help you tailor your approach and demonstrate your expertise during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the defence and IT consultancy sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the latest trends and challenges in bid management.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising your presentation and negotiation skills. Since the role involves stakeholder engagement, being able to effectively communicate your ideas and strategies will be crucial in showcasing your fit for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Amber Labs' recent projects and initiatives. Being knowledgeable about the company's work will not only impress your interviewers but also allow you to align your responses with their values and objectives.
We think you need these skills to ace Bid Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in managing bids specifically within the defence sector. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your alignment with the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the defence industry and your bid management expertise. Mention specific examples of successful bids you've led and how they align with Amber Labs' values.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise your strong commercial acumen, communication skills, and experience with compliance in bid management. These are crucial for the role and should be clearly articulated.
Showcase Stakeholder Engagement: Provide examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in previous roles. This could include collaboration with technical teams or negotiation experiences that led to successful bid outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Amber Labs
✨Understand the Defence Sector
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the defence sector, including key players like MOD and NATO. Familiarise yourself with current trends and challenges in the industry, as this knowledge will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Bid Management Experience
Prepare to discuss specific examples of high-value bids you've managed in the past. Highlight your role in developing bid strategies, collaborating with teams, and ensuring compliance with governance frameworks. This will showcase your ability to handle the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
✨Emphasise Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Be ready to talk about how you've successfully engaged with various stakeholders in previous roles. Share examples of how you influenced senior stakeholders and collaborated with technical and commercial teams to develop winning proposals, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Prepare for Presentation and Negotiation Scenarios
Since the role involves supporting bid presentations and negotiations, practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Think of potential questions or objections that might arise during these discussions and prepare your responses to demonstrate your negotiation skills.