At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex bids from start to finish, ensuring successful submissions and contract awards.
- Company: Join BAE Systems, a leader in defence and electronics with a diverse and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, health benefits, and flexible lifestyle perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading bids and project management within engineering or regulated sectors.
- Other info: Opportunities for travel and career growth in a supportive team.
The predicted salary is between 62000 - 86800 £ per year.
Location: Rochester; Kent
Salary: Circa £62,000 depending on experience
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading complex bids as structured projects, from opportunity shaping and campaign launch through to submission, negotiation and contract award
- Owning the end-to-end bid plan, including schedule, budget, risks and dependencies, applying effective project management discipline throughout
- Developing and delivering bid strategies aligned to capture plans, customer requirements and commercial objectives
- Applying appropriate governance, controls and assurance to ensure bids are delivered on time, to quality and in compliance with internal and customer requirements
- Proactively managing risks and opportunities, working with multi-disciplinary teams to define and implement mitigation and optimisation actions
- Leading and influencing cross-functional teams, including engineering, commercial, finance, procurement and supply chain
- Building productive relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, partners and suppliers, supported by clear reporting to senior leaders
- Ensuring a smooth handover to Project Execution teams, capturing lessons learned to support continuous improvement in bid and early-lifecycle activity
- Some travel may be required within the UK and overseas on an ad-hoc basis
Your skills and experiences:
Essential:
- Experience leading complex bids, proposals or early-lifecycle projects from capture through to contract award, within engineering, aerospace, defence or similarly regulated environments
- Application of project management activities within bid environments, including planning, scheduling, risk management, governance and controls
- Experience across early lifecycle phases, including campaigns, new business proposals and early solution development
- Experience working with commercial and financial inputs during bids, including cost, schedule and risk considerations
Desirable:
- APMQ or equivalent project management qualification
Benefits:
As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.
The Electronics Systems Team:
This exciting opportunity is within the Electronic Systems business areas at BAE Systems, Rochester, Kent. Here at Electronic Systems, we produce commercial and defence electronics for flight and engine control, maritime controls, electronic warfare, surveillance, communications, geospatial intelligence, and power and energy management. Our programmes vary in size and complexity with values ranging from £100k’s to £10m’s with teams of up to 250 people.
Why BAE Systems?
This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 17th February 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Bid Project Manager in Chatham employer: BAE Systems
Contact Detail:
BAE Systems Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Bid Project Manager in Chatham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and recent bids. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Bid Project Manager. Highlight your project management skills and how you've successfully led complex bids in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at BAE Systems.
We think you need these skills to ace Bid Project Manager in Chatham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with complex bids and project management. We want to see how your skills align with the job description, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects you've led!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage risks and deliver successful bids. Use numbers and examples to illustrate your impact – we love a good success story!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly see why you’re a great fit for the Bid Project Manager role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at BAE Systems
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the bid process and the specific projects you've worked on. Be ready to discuss your role in leading complex bids, including how you shaped opportunities and managed risks. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the process but have hands-on experience.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Highlight your project management expertise by discussing specific examples where you applied planning, scheduling, and governance in bid environments. Use metrics to demonstrate your success, such as how you delivered bids on time and within budget, which is crucial for this role.
✨Build Relationships with Stakeholders
Prepare to talk about how you’ve built productive relationships with cross-functional teams and stakeholders. Share examples of how you’ve influenced others and collaborated effectively, as this is key to leading multi-disciplinary teams in the bid process.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in managing risks and opportunities. Think of past experiences where you had to implement mitigation strategies or optimise actions, and be prepared to discuss these in detail.