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- 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 potential 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.
Location: UK (with occasional UK & overseas travel)
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 employer: Carbon60
Contact Detail:
Carbon60 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Programme and Bid Manager
✨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 important it is to make those personal connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects. We recommend practising common interview questions and tailoring your responses to highlight your leadership experience in programme and bid management. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We suggest mentioning something specific from your conversation to show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of exciting roles waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications this way!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Programme and Bid Manager
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 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 your achievements in programme and bid management that demonstrate your capability and passion.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to know how you lead and inspire teams. In your application, mention your approach to creating a high-performance culture and how you've successfully managed multi-stakeholder programmes in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get you into the process smoothly!
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.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Senior Programme and Bid Manager, showcasing your leadership style is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've inspired teams, managed conflicts, and driven performance. Highlight your approach to creating a high-performance culture and how you’ve developed talent within your teams.
✨Master Stakeholder Management
You’ll need to engage with senior stakeholders, so practice articulating your stakeholder management strategies. Discuss how you've navigated complex relationships and ensured alignment with business strategies. Being able to demonstrate your influence and collaboration skills will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities under pressure. Think of examples where you had to manage risks, changes, or tight deadlines. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.