At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to manage complex programmes and bids in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a leading organisation with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional development.
- Other info: Exciting career growth in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary setting.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by driving high-stakes projects and shaping the future.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in programme management and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We're seeking an experienced Senior Programme & Bid Manager to lead and govern a portfolio of complex programmes and bids within a technically demanding environment. This high-impact leadership role is accountable for bid strategy, programme execution, governance, and performance – from opportunity capture through contract award and into in-life delivery.
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 an advantage
Senior Programme and Bid Manager in London employer: Carbon60
Contact Detail:
Carbon60 Recruiting Team
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 all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Senior Programme & Bid Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their bid strategies and programme management processes. We want you to walk in confident, ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during the interview. Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams through complex programmes and bids. We believe that demonstrating your ability to inspire and manage stakeholders will set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend reiterating your enthusiasm for the role and how you can add value to their team as a Senior Programme & Bid Manager.
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 match the Senior Programme & Bid Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant projects you've managed, especially in complex environments.
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 delivered successful bids or programmes.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics and outcomes to demonstrate how you’ve made an impact in previous roles, particularly in programme and bid management.
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 Carbon60
✨Know Your Programmes Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the programmes and bids you've managed in the past. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the outcomes. This will show your depth of experience and ability to lead complex projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Programme & Bid Manager, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare examples that highlight how you've inspired teams, fostered a high-performance culture, and managed multi-disciplinary environments. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills
Be prepared to discuss your approach to managing senior stakeholders and customers. Share specific instances where you successfully navigated complex relationships or resolved conflicts. This will illustrate your ability to maintain credibility and influence at all levels.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making under pressure. Think about potential risks or issues that could arise in programme management and how you would handle them. This will demonstrate your strategic thinking and risk management capabilities.