Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage high-stakes bids for central government contracts in defence.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on public sector and defence projects.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping bid strategies and influencing outcomes.
- Qualifications: Experience in public sector bidding and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- Other info: High visibility with senior leadership and a collaborative work environment.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Office-based 3 days per week (Warrington / Daresbury)
Contract: Permanent or Contract
Salary: £70,000–£80,000 + bonus
Reports to: Chief Sales Officer
Security Clearance: SC required
The role
We’re hiring a highly confident, commercially switched-on Bid Manager to lead a business-critical central government contract defence and help elevate our wider public-sector bid capability. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role. You’ll take full control of bids end-to-end, shaping strategy, driving momentum, challenging assumptions, and ensuring submissions are compelling, compliant, and competitive.
Initially, you’ll be deep in delivery. Over time, you’ll help professionalise and scale the bid function, improving processes, strengthening content, and setting a clear standard for how government RFx responses are run. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders, including the Chief Sales Officer, VP of Enterprise Accounts, The CEO and central government customers, so confidence, clarity, and gravitas really matter here.
What we’re looking for:
- This role suits someone with a driver mentality, confident, decisive, and comfortable taking the lead, but with an amiable, collaborative style that brings people with them.
- You’ll need to be:
- Highly confident engaging senior internal and external stakeholders
- Comfortable pushing pace, setting direction, and owning outcomes
- Calm under pressure, structured in approach, and persuasive in writing
- Commercially aware, understanding what wins, not just what complies
You’ll already have a strong background in UK public sector or defence bidding, with experience across frameworks such as CCS, BOS, G-Cloud, DOS, MOD/JSP.
Key responsibilities
- Own the full bid lifecycle; qualification, win strategy, content creation, submission, and post-bid review
- Lead complex central government and defence bids, including high-value contract defences
- Drive bid strategy and narrative, not just coordination
- Manage inputs from sales, delivery, technical, and leadership teams
- Ensure submissions are fully compliant, compelling, and on time
- Improve bid processes, templates, and content libraries over time
- Act as a confident point of contact with senior stakeholders and clients
Experience & background
- Proven delivery of complex public-sector or defence bids, ideally £1m+
- Strong working knowledge of UK procurement frameworks (CCS, G-Cloud, DOS, MOD, etc.)
- Experience operating in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
- SC clearance held
Why this role
- Salary uplift to reflect seniority and responsibility
- High visibility with senior leadership
- Genuine ownership and influence over how bids are done
- A role where confidence, judgement, and drive are valued, not micromanaged
Senior Bid Manager (SC Cleared) in Chester employer: Brilliantin Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Brilliantin Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Bid Manager (SC Cleared) in Chester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their recent bids, projects, and values. This will help you tailor your approach and show that you're genuinely interested in what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. It’s all about making connections!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about how you can demonstrate your experience with public sector bids and frameworks. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Bid Manager (SC Cleared) in Chester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Confidence: When writing your application, let your confidence shine through! Use clear and assertive language to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for leading complex bids. Remember, we want to see that you can engage with senior stakeholders effortlessly.
Tailor Your Content: Make sure to tailor your application to highlight your experience with UK public sector or defence bidding. We’re looking for specifics about frameworks like CCS and G-Cloud, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant expertise!
Be Compelling and Compliant: Your written application should be both compelling and compliant. Structure your responses clearly, ensuring they meet all requirements while also being engaging. We want to see how you can create submissions that stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brilliantin Recruitment
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the bid lifecycle and the specific frameworks mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your past experiences with public sector bids, especially those over £1m, and how you’ve successfully navigated complex submissions.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
This role requires confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated and collaborated with high-level clients or internal teams. Highlight your ability to drive momentum and set direction while maintaining a collaborative approach.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to discuss what makes a bid compelling and competitive. Think about the commercial aspects of your previous bids and how you ensured compliance while also pushing for innovative solutions. This will show that you understand not just the process, but what truly wins contracts.
✨Stay Calm and Structured Under Pressure
Given the fast-paced nature of this role, it’s crucial to convey your ability to remain calm under pressure. Share specific instances where you managed tight deadlines or complex projects, and explain how your structured approach helped you deliver successful outcomes.
