Bid Manager in Portsmouth

As Arrive, we guide customers and communities towards brighter futures and more livable cities; it isn’t a challenge that just anyone could take on. Luckily, we have something to help us make it happen. Our people and our values. We Arrive Curious, Focused and Together. Just as our entire brand is inspired by the North Star, the shining light leading travellers to their destinations since time began, our values guide us. They help us be at our best. For our customers. For the cities and communities we serve. For ourselves. As a global team, we are transforming urban mobility. Let’s grow better together.

Role Summary

A new opportunity has arisen for an experienced Bid Manager within the Arrive Transport Business Unit. Focusing on developing and overseeing the preparation of bid responses across the UK+ Region, which includes the UK, Ireland, the Nordics, the Middle East, South Africa and Australia. The successful candidate will lead tendering activities for bids assigned to them and will be able to demonstrate a history of success in winning strategically important bids, working well under pressure and to tight deadlines, taking full responsibility for the preparation of bids, ensuring that bids are assessed and responded to on time and to the highest standards. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of the business, working in an exciting, challenging and competitive market where we offer different technological solutions for fare collection in the public transport sector.

Responsibilities

• Functional Leadership & Project Management
• Orchestrate the Bid Lifecycle: Coordinate the end-to-end response process, from the initial "Go/No-Go" decision through to the post-award contract handover.
• Technical & Financial Synthesis: Lead the detailed construction of financial offers and technical compliance matrices, ensuring that both capital delivery and operational support phases are accurately represented.
• P&L Integrity: Diligently collect and analyse cost elements, including devices, developments, test and implementation, to build a robust and accurate P&L for every bid.
• Precision in Documentation: Take ownership of drafting, reviewing, and refining bid content to ensure every submission meets the highest standards of quality and technical accuracy.
• Operational Integration & Expertise
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Act as the central point of contact between Sales, Product, and R&D teams to translate customer specifications into feasible, high-performing solutions.
• Governance & Risk Management: Navigate internal "gateway" reviews by collaborating with supply chain, commercial, and delivery teams to ensure every bid is "right first time" and risks are mitigated.
• Knowledge Transfer: Facilitate the comprehensive briefing of project implementation teams to ensure the solution designed during the bid phase is delivered seamlessly.
• Resource Optimisation: Maintain and evolve the bid library and portal monitoring systems to streamline future responses and identify global opportunities efficiently.
• Relationship & Process Management
• Stakeholder Facilitation: Build and maintain the internal networks necessary to gather the technical and financial inputs required for complex tenders.
• Sales Support: Provide reliable, high-quality support for "Business As Usual" quotations, ensuring consistent standards across all client-facing documentation.
• Performance Tracking: Maintain rigorous records of bid activity and provide clear, data-driven updates to the sales team and wider business.

Experience

Deep sector expertise in smart ticketing or mobility systems is highly valued. As is experience in payment systems, mobility apps, journey planning and real-time passenger information. A track record of high-impact success in Bid Management, with 5+ years of experience navigating complex, high-stakes proposals. Skilled navigator of formal B2B and B2G tendering environments, with the ability to translate complex requirements into winning strategies.

Core Skills

• Articulate communicator with a talent for drafting persuasive tender briefs and technical narratives.
• Empathetic approach capable of unifying and motivating multidisciplinary teams to achieve shared goals.

Qualification Level

HND/Degree Level, likely to be in an engineering discipline. A professional person who thrives in a collaborative setting and can influence at all levels. Organised with a structured approach to bid response activities. Excellent relationship skills, both internally and externally.

Behavioural factors

Composed under pressure, maintaining a focus on quality and strategic priorities during tight deadlines. Resilient and persistent. Excellent organisation and communication skills.

Location and travel

We support a flexible hybrid model based out of our Poole, Dorset or London office (typically 3 days per week). The position may require limited and occasional travel, occasionally overseas.