At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead competitive bids and develop winning strategies for innovative projects.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a leader in electronic warfare solutions with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and potential permanent roles after the contract.
- Why this job: Make an impact by driving successful proposals and collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in bid management with strong leadership and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 59000 - 70000 £ per year.
Salary: £59,000 - £70,000
The Electronic Warfare Bids and Proposal team is responsible for the delivery of competitive proposals, including leading a proposal generation process and developing customer win themes and value propositions. You will be responsible for the formulation of bid strategies, building and leading bid teams to develop winning solutions for our customers.
This role is a 12-month fixed term contract covering maternity leave. While a permanent position is not guaranteed, there may be permanent opportunities across the newly established Leonardo Electronics UK Bids and Proposals team following the 12-month fixed term contract.
As a Senior Bid Manager, you will coordinate inputs from functional areas across multiple sectors and work with Sector VPs, the EW Head of Bids and Proposals, Capture Leads, Integrated Project Team Leads, Engineering, and Capability Managers to define the bid strategy and implement win themes. You have accountability for the overall quality of bid submissions and will guide the capture team through the internal governance and approval gates ensuring that relevant business winning information is presented to the EW leadership team. This will require excellent planning and stakeholder management skills.
This role is based at our Luton site with potential for occasional UK travel to other Leonardo sites. We operate a custom working hybrid model and offer flexible working to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. We expect you to work from our Luton office two to three times per week on average, but this can vary depending on business needs and your schedule.
What you’ll bring as a Senior Bid Manager:
- Leadership of both competitive and non-competitive bids through to a successful conclusion, ranging from tactical follow-on business through to multi-million-pound strategic initiatives.
- Work as part of capture teams to help develop win themes, storyboards, graphics, and compelling narratives that can be woven into bid submissions to deliver competitive Customer proposals.
- Coordinate and manage bids with a range of complexities throughout the capture and bid phases of the lifecycle.
- Analyse and break down customer requirements (PQQs, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, ITTs etc.) into packages of work for the capture team.
- Work in collaboration with customers and partners, applying best practice, to formulate bid strategies, and drive bid teams to find winning solutions.
- Support the capture team during the contract negotiation phase, managing and implementing changes required to our bid submission to secure contract award.
- Schedule, plan, and drive bid activities including Win Strategy, Bid Kick-off, Answer Planning, WBS development, Bid Progress Reviews, Proposal production, Proposal content collation, Proposal reviews (e.g. colour reviews) and Tender Approvals.
- Plan, lead, and challenge cost build-up and pricing activities from business functions.
- Lead bid teams to identify and analyse risks and opportunities, developing mitigation/realisation plans for action post-contract award.
- Forecast functional resource and budget requirements on bids you lead, proactively managing approved bid budgets.
- Manage and contribute to the writing of compelling proposals, drawing on the skills and experience of capture team members and subject matter experts.
What we need from you:
- At least 3 years’ experience managing complex bids and proposals.
- Proven track record in winning business (preferably experience of leading bids with values of £20m+) through competitive processes, with strong commercial, project, and risk management skills.
- Experience managing multi-functional teams (preferably in a Bid Management or Business Winning discipline).
- Meets the entry requirements for the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Practitioner certification (holding APMP Practitioner Certification is desirable).
- Ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams that may be geographically dispersed.
- Ability to assess requirements and communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
- Excels in bids and proposals related coaching, mentoring, team management, and team building skills.
- Interpersonal skills to develop close business relationships with internal and external stakeholders, senior management, and government/military customers.
- The ability to communicate effectively at all levels within the wider business and with external consortia.
- Excellent planning, organisation, and time management skills (to achieve bid milestones).
- Have a working understanding of best practice bid processes and tools (e.g. for bid planning, Black Hat, Red Team, Price to Win, etc.).
- Experience in writing proposals and proposal content (desirable).
Security Clearance
This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).
Why join us
At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.
- Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
- Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity.
- Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
- Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
- Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
- Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
Primary Location: GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300
Contract Type: Fixed term
Hybrid Working: Hybrid
Senior Bid Manager (12 Month FTC - Maternity Cover) in Luton employer: Leonardo
Leonardo in Southampton is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among engineers. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in cutting-edge technology while working on impactful defence and commercial projects. The Agile framework and emphasis on cross-platform development create a stimulating environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Bid Manager (12 Month FTC - Maternity Cover) in Luton
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Leonardo. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Leonardo.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Leonardo.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Bid Manager (12 Month FTC - Maternity Cover) in Luton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Leonardo and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Leonardo will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Leonardo.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Leonardo.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Leonardo. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
