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- Tasks: Lead and inspire a high-performing team in delivering complex programmes and bids.
- Company: Join a leading defence/manufacturing organisation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Engage with senior stakeholders and drive continuous improvement across projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a senior leadership role within a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in programme and bid management, with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: Enfield, North London
Working Pattern: Monday–Friday, core office hours
Salary: Up to £70,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Hybrid: 2 days at home per week after initial settling in period
Outsource UK are recruiting a Senior Programme & Bid Manager to join a leading defence/manufacturing-led organisation operating within complex, regulated environments. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the successful delivery of a portfolio of major programmes and bids, based from the Enfield site.
The Role
- Provide strategic leadership across programmes and bids, ensuring robust governance, effective resourcing, and successful delivery from opportunity capture through contract award and into in‑life programme execution.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team of Programme Managers, Project Managers, and Bid Managers, while acting as a key interface with senior stakeholders and customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, inspire, and manage a team of Programme Managers and Bid Managers, driving a high-performance delivery culture.
- Own the overall health of the programme and bid portfolio, ensuring alignment to business strategy and customer priorities.
- Provide senior oversight of complex programmes and concurrent bids.
- Establish and maintain robust programme governance, controls, and reporting (schedule, cost, risk, change, benefits).
- Own and implement the bid operating model across the business.
- Oversee bid strategy, governance, resourcing, and approval processes.
- Ensure effective handover from bid phase into mobilisation and in-life delivery.
- Identify, manage, and mitigate programme and bid risks, issues, and opportunities.
- Prepare and present monthly programme status reports to senior leadership.
- Support financial forecasting, budgeting, and revenue planning.
- Drive continuous improvement and lessons learned across programmes and bids.
- Provide project management support to internal development projects where required.
- Engage with customers and subcontractors to refine requirements and deliver successful outcomes.
Skills & Experience Required
- Proven senior leadership experience in programme and bid management.
- Demonstrable track record of delivering complex programmes and major bids end to end.
- Experience working within matrix organisations and multi‑disciplinary teams.
- Strong commercial, contractual, and risk management capability.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, including senior customer and executive engagement.
- Confident decision-maker with the ability to lead under pressure.
- Experience within defence or similarly regulated engineering environments (highly desirable).
- Experience with international customers and export contracts.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
If you’re an experienced Programme & Bid leader looking for your next strategic role, apply today or contact Outsource UK for a confidential discussion.
Senior Programme and Bid Manager in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Outsource UK
Contact Detail:
Outsource UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Programme and Bid Manager in Stoke-on-Trent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the defence and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their projects, values, and challenges. We want you to walk in there with confidence, ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! When discussing your past experiences, highlight how you’ve led teams and managed complex programmes. We’re looking for evidence of your ability to inspire and drive high performance.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Programme and Bid Manager in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Programme & Bid Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant projects you've managed. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
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 capabilities.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills: In your application, emphasise your experience with stakeholder engagement. We value strong communication skills, so let us know how you've successfully interacted with senior customers and executives in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved!
How to prepare for a job interview at Outsource UK
✨Know Your Programmes Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the programmes and bids that the company is currently managing. Familiarise yourself with their strategic goals and any recent successes or challenges. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Programme & Bid Manager, your leadership skills are crucial. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure situations. Be ready to discuss your approach to inspiring and managing a team, as well as how you handle conflicts and drive performance.
✨Master Stakeholder Engagement
Given the importance of stakeholder management in this role, think about your past experiences engaging with senior customers and executives. Prepare to share specific instances where you successfully navigated complex relationships and how you ensured alignment with business strategies.
✨Be Ready for Financial Discussions
With strong financial acumen being a key requirement, brush up on your budgeting, forecasting, and cost control knowledge. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed financial aspects of previous programmes and how you can contribute to the company's financial planning and revenue goals.