Bid Manager in Hastings

Company Description

General Dynamics Mission Systems engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of more than 13,000 top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defence and scientific arenas. In the UK, we are leading the way in avionics and communication systems. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency.

Job Description

As Bid Manager you will lead the development of high‑quality, winning proposals. In this role, you’ll coordinate cross‑functional teams, manage the full bid lifecycle, and ensure our submissions are clear, compliant, and compelling. You will work closely with teams across both our Oakdale, South Wales and Hastings sites, benefiting from shared expertise, broader collaboration opportunities, and access to a diverse range of skills and perspectives.

What you’ll do:

• Lead bids from qualification through to final submission
• Develop clear win themes and customer‑focused proposal content
• Coordinate inputs from technical, commercial, financial, legal and delivery teams
• Manage timelines, governance, reviews, and stakeholder communication
• Support continuous improvement of bid tools, templates, and processes
• Contribute to other activities as needed to support the wider team and business.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience managing complex bids or proposals
• Strong writing, organisation, and project management skills
• Ability to influence and work with a wide range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of procurement processes; APMP desirable

Qualifications

This is a great opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and enjoys shaping strategic, high-impact bids. To be successful in this role you will bring:

• Experience managing bids or proposals in a technical or complex environment
• Strong written communication and document production skills
• Excellent organisational and project management abilities, including managing multiple deadlines
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams and influence without direct authority
• Understanding of commercial principles and customer procurement processes
• High attention to detail and commitment to producing high‑quality submissions
• APMP certification or equivalent experience (desirable)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Degree‑level education or equivalent experience (desirable)
• Experience in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign (desirable)
• Experience working with or familiarity with AI/ML models is preferred. Identifies opportunities to apply AI for continuous improvement and innovation.

Additional Information

Salary for this position is £46,500 to £54,500, depending on experience plus our excellent flexible benefits package. We offer hybrid working - for this role ideally we are looking for an average of 2 days per week per month on site. Due to the nature of the role some travel to our site in Hastings may be required.

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose, offering impressive benefits:

• A compressed nine-day fortnight and compressed hours - which means every other Friday off.
• A personalized career development plan, alongside regular progress reviews - supporting and valuing your progression within the Company.
• A flexible working environment where your contributions are recognized and rewarded with flexible benefits.

We believe in maintaining a diverse workplace - inclusive of beliefs, cultural background, job experiences, thoughts and ideas. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we welcome you to join our inclusive team! Our success is fuelled by our colleagues and the wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills they bring to the Company.

We are a Disability Confident Employer, as such we offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. Please email disabilityconfident@gd-ms.uk if you would like your application to be considered under the DC Scheme. All successful/appointed applicants must be able to obtain a level of UK Security clearance that is appropriate for the role and undertake suitable Right to work checks.

Every application matters to us. We want you to know that each application we receive is reviewed by a real person—not just an algorithm. Our screening questions are also carefully considered to help us understand your experience and fit for the role. We appreciate the time you take to apply.