At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to deliver high-performance programmes and bids.
- Company: Dynamic organisation with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional development.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and challenging environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in complex projects while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in programme and bid management, ideally in defence or engineering.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Location: UK (with occasional UK & overseas travel)
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading and inspiring a team of Programme Managers and Bid Managers, creating a high‑performance, accountable delivery culture
- Owning the overall health of the programme and bid portfolio, ensuring alignment with business strategy and customer priorities
- Providing senior leadership and governance across complex, multi‑stakeholder programmes and bids
- Establishing and maintaining robust programme management processes, proportionate to business size and risk
- Overseeing bid strategy, governance, resourcing, approvals, and handover into delivery
- Ensuring strong control of schedule, cost, risk, change, and benefits
- Balancing resources and priorities across live programmes and concurrent bids
- Identifying, managing, and escalating risks, issues, and opportunities
- Preparing and presenting monthly programme status reports to senior leadership
- Supporting commercial activities including cost estimates, budgets, and revenue forecasting
- Driving lessons learned, continuous improvement, and capability development
- Acting as a senior interface with customers, suppliers, and partners
- Leading performance management, succession planning, and talent development
What We’re Looking For
- Proven leadership experience in programme and bid management within complex, multi‑disciplinary environments
- Strong track record of delivering major bids and programmes end‑to‑end
- Deep understanding of matrix organisations and cross‑functional leadership
- Excellent commercial, contractual, governance, and risk management capability
- Confident stakeholder management at senior customer and executive level
- Able to remain credible, decisive, and calm under pressure
- Customer‑focused, commercially aware, collaborative, and influential
Experience & Qualifications
- Strong background in project / programme management, ideally in a defence or regulated engineering environment
- Experience running bids and programmes from conception to delivery
- Exposure to international customers or export contracts
- Ability to manage budgets, forecasts, and financial performance
- Professional qualifications such as APM, MSP, PMP, PRINCE2 (or equivalent)
- Degree or HND in Project Management or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
- APM accreditation is an advantage
Senior Programme and Bid Manager in London employer: Carbon
As a Senior Programme and Bid Manager with us, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. We offer exceptional employee growth opportunities through continuous professional development and a commitment to excellence, all while being part of a supportive team that values your contributions. Located in the UK, with the chance for occasional travel, you will engage with diverse stakeholders and lead impactful projects that align with our strategic goals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Programme and Bid Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and recent developments. We recommend practising common interview questions and tailoring your responses to highlight your leadership experience and bid management skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When you get the chance to discuss your experience, focus on specific examples where you led successful programmes or bids. We love seeing quantifiable results, so don’t shy away from sharing numbers that demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals who can lead and inspire teams, just like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Programme and Bid Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Programme & Bid Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant project management qualifications to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams and managed complex bids in the past.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics and outcomes to demonstrate how you’ve successfully delivered major programmes and bids. We love numbers!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carbon
✨Know Your Programmes Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the programmes and bids you've managed. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams, managed risks, and delivered results. This will show your depth of experience and confidence in handling complex projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Programme and Bid Manager, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare to share how you inspire and motivate your team, especially in high-pressure situations. Use anecdotes that highlight your ability to create a high-performance culture and manage diverse stakeholders effectively.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with budgets, forecasts, and financial performance. Highlight any specific instances where your commercial awareness led to successful bid outcomes or improved programme health. This will illustrate your capability to align with business strategy and customer priorities.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making under pressure. Think of examples where you've had to balance resources across multiple bids or manage unexpected challenges. This will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and calmness in complex situations.
