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- Tasks: Lead manufacturing bids and shape complex programmes for the UK Ministry of Defence.
- Company: Join a long-standing partner to the UK military with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Work at a leading manufacturing site with great amenities and support.
- Why this job: Make a direct impact on major defence programmes and influence industrial strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in manufacturing bidding and strong understanding of cost models.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Our client, a long-standing partner to the UK Ministry of Defence, is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Bid Manager to play a key role in winning and shaping complex manufacturing programmes. This is a high-impact role sitting at the interface of manufacturing, commercial, and business winning, with direct influence over cost strategy, industrial assumptions, and bid success across major defence programmes.
What you'll be responsible for:
- Manufacturing Leadership in Bids
- Lead manufacturing input into bids from early opportunity through submission
- Define scope, assumptions, and industrial strategy within the Bid Directive
- Position manufacturing as a value-adding contributor to business winning
- Costing & Commercial Input
- Build and validate manufacturing cost models (direct, indirect, materials, overheads)
- Develop evidence-based 3-point estimates using Excel and historical data
- Ensure cost assumptions are robust, auditable, and aligned to policy
- Bid Development & Stakeholder Engagement
- Produce clear, compliant and competitive bid material (PowerPoint)
- Assess manufacturing risk, capacity and deliverability across programmes
- Work closely with New Business, Commercial, Engineering and Operations teams
- Provide forward visibility of upcoming bids and market intelligence
- Continuous Improvement & Strategy
- Apply lessons learned to improve future bids and cost competitiveness
- Support functional and strategic change within Manufacturing
- Raise the profile and impact of the Manufacturing Bid Team across programmes
What we're looking for:
- Proven experience in manufacturing / operations-led bidding within a complex or regulated environment
- Strong understanding of end-to-end manufacturing (procurement to delivery)
- Commercially astute, with hands-on experience building manufacturing cost models
- Confident producing and presenting bid packs to senior stakeholders
- Able to articulate costing logic clearly and support audit requirements
- Comfortable working across multiple bids to tight deadlines
- Proactive, structured, and resilient in a fast-paced bidding environment
- Backgrounds from defence, aerospace, automotive, rail, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments are particularly relevant.
Why consider this role:
- Direct impact on major UK defence programmes
- High visibility role influencing industrial strategy and cost credibility
- Work at the heart of business winning, not just delivery
- Collaborative, senior-stakeholder-facing position
What happens now?
Upon submission of your application, should it meet our selection criteria, you will be contacted via e-mail by one of our talent acquisition specialists to arrange a screening call. This telephone chat is structured to explore a series of questions aimed at matching your competencies and capabilities to the specific demands of the position. Please note, this screening is contingent upon the initial success of your application.
Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by our clients Security Team.
More about the role: For more than 70 years, our client has been in a strong partnership with the UK military. They have accomplished numerous milestones in defence engineering and have provided essential defence capabilities to meet the requirements of the armed forces across land, sea, and air. This job is at our client's site in Bolton facility, one of the North West's leading manufacturing sites for at least 25 years. The facility offers showers and bike racks and is near the motorway, with a petrol station outside. Amenities like an onsite canteen.
Manufacturing Bid Manager in Bolton employer: Guidant Global
Contact Detail:
Guidant Global Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Manufacturing Bid Manager in Bolton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the defence and manufacturing sectors, especially those who have experience with bids. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about upcoming opportunities or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of manufacturing processes and cost models. Be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled complex bids in the past and how you can add value to the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through mock presentations. Create a bid pack and present it to friends or mentors. This will help you articulate your costing logic clearly and boost your confidence for the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Manufacturing Bid Manager in Bolton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Manufacturing Bid Manager role. Highlight your experience in manufacturing and operations-led bidding, and don’t forget to mention any relevant industries like defence or aerospace.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your hands-on experience with building manufacturing cost models and producing bid packs. Use specific examples to demonstrate your commercial acumen and ability to articulate costing logic clearly.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Ensure your bid material is compliant and competitive, as this reflects your understanding of the role's requirements and the importance of clear communication.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures it gets to the right people quickly and helps us keep track of all applications efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Guidant Global
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the bid process and the specific requirements of the role. Familiarise yourself with the types of manufacturing programmes your potential employer has worked on, especially in defence. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Costing Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with building manufacturing cost models. Bring examples of past projects where you developed cost estimates and how you ensured they were robust and auditable. Highlight your proficiency in Excel and any relevant tools you've used to support your costing logic.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in previous roles. Discuss how you’ve produced clear and compliant bid materials and how you’ve navigated complex discussions to achieve a successful outcome.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Talk about how you've applied lessons learned from past bids to improve future submissions. Share specific instances where you identified areas for improvement and implemented changes that enhanced competitiveness. This shows your proactive approach and commitment to excellence in the bidding process.