Bid Manager

Bid Manager

Bristol Full-Time 32000 - 48000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the end-to-end bidding process, ensuring high-quality submissions.
  • Company: Join Rowden, a pioneering engineering firm based in Bristol, focused on innovative data solutions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team tackling real-world challenges in Defence and National Security.
  • Qualifications: Experience in bid management and excellent project management skills are essential.
  • Other info: We welcome diverse applicants and support flexible working arrangements.

The predicted salary is between 32000 - 48000 £ per year.

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK\’s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Bid Manager

Department: Revenue Operations

Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time

Location: Bristol, UK

Reporting To: Hamish Rosser

Compensation: GBP 40,000 – GBP 60,000 / year

Description

We\’re building the next UK-headquartered engineering powerhouse.

At Rowden, we design and integrate advanced systems that sense, connect, and protect data in challenging environments where quick decisions are vital. Our solutions use intelligent automation to enhance speed and efficiency and are built to be reliable and straightforward for critical operations in remote or high-pressure settings.

Headquartered in Bristol (UK), we combine modern engineering methods with cutting-edge commercial technology to create adaptable, mission-critical systems. We focus on solving the tough challenges that others overlook, ensuring our customers can operate effectively in an ever-changing world.

To power our continued growth, we\’re looking for a Bid Manager to take ownership of our end-to-end bidding process. From pre-qualification through to contract signature, you\’ll play a pivotal role in securing the opportunities that matter, ensuring every submission reflects our strengths, differentiators, and commitment to end-users. As part of our continued growth, you\’ll get exposure to various customer groups across Defence, Emergency Response and National Security.

The role is not a traditional Bid Manager role. It requires someone who thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes environments, willing to contribute in areas beyond just bid management. You\’ll need to navigate complex procurement landscapes, drive internal collaboration, and apply relentless focus to improving how we bid, ensuring we continue to grow, learn, and deliver impact.

Key areas of responsibility

As Rowden\’s Bid Manger, your core responsibilities will be to:

  • Lead bid submissions from opportunity qualification to final submission, managing timelines, responsibilities, and outcomes.
  • Develop and refine bid strategies, aligning closely with capture teams to define compelling win themes and customer messaging.
  • Monitor and manage responses to UK government frameworks ensuring consistent and high quality submissions.
  • Own and update our bid/content library, ensuring reusable material (e.g. case studies, CVs, rate cards, social value statements) is current and easily accessible.
  • Facilitate go/no-go decisions, helping the business qualify opportunities quickly and with the right data.
  • Drive continuous improvement, analysing win/loss data, gathering lessons learned, and evolving our bid approach.
  • Keep up-to-date with industry trends and standards, incorporating new technologies into our bidding systems where needed.
  • Champion process and knowledge management, from maintaining a clear audit trail to archiving outdated materials.

Key skills, experience and behaviours

We are looking for someone who is passionate about bid or project management. You\’ll gain loads of experience in this role but before you do, you should have:

  • Proven experience managing bids from opportunity assessment to submission, ideally in public sector tenders.
  • Excellent project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple bids, balance priorities, and meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and organise stakeholders both internally and externally.
  • Strong copywriting and editing skills with a rigorous eye for detail.
  • Familiarity with UK government procurement processes and frameworks is beneficial.

About you

The ideal candidate will show a strong balance of the following behavioural competencies that we believe are key to success in the role:

  • Ownership & Accountability – Take full responsibility for the end-to-end bid process. Driving progress, anticipating challenges, and ensuring that deadlines and standards are met without needing constant oversight.
  • Structured Communication – Conveys complex information clearly and persuasively, tailoring written and verbal communication to suit both technical and non-technical audiences. Brings clarity to ambiguity.
  • Attention to Detail – Demonstrates a meticulous approach to reviewing and compiling bid documentation, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and consistency while working at pace.
  • Adaptability & Resilience – Remains calm and focused in dynamic and time-sensitive environments, able to reprioritise quickly and respond positively to changing requirements, feedback, or constraints.

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!

We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.

Finally, if you feel that you don\’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we\’d still love to hear from you!

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Bid Manager employer: Rowden

At Rowden, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that values flexibility and diversity. As a Bid Manager in our Bristol headquarters, you'll not only lead critical bidding processes but also have the opportunity to grow your skills in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with various sectors including Defence and National Security. We are committed to your professional development and well-being, offering a hybrid working model that supports work-life balance and encourages innovative thinking.
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Contact Detail:

Rowden Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Bid Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the UK government procurement processes and frameworks. Understanding these will not only help you navigate the bidding landscape but also demonstrate your expertise during interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the defence, emergency response, and national security sectors. Building connections can provide insights into industry trends and potential opportunities that may not be publicly advertised.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your project management skills by discussing specific examples of how you've successfully managed multiple bids under tight deadlines. This will highlight your ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, which is crucial for this role.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your approach to continuous improvement in bid management. Be ready to share how you've analysed win/loss data in the past and what strategies you've implemented to enhance bid submissions.

We think you need these skills to ace Bid Manager

Bid Management
Project Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Copywriting and Editing
Attention to Detail
UK Government Procurement Knowledge
Data Analysis
Strategic Thinking
Communication Skills
Time Management
Adaptability
Continuous Improvement
Process Management
Collaboration

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the Bid Manager role at Rowden. Pay attention to the key responsibilities and required skills mentioned in the job description.

Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in bid management, project management, and any familiarity with UK government procurement processes. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills and achievements in these areas.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also reflects your passion for bid management. Address how your experience aligns with Rowden's mission and values, and mention your adaptability and resilience in high-pressure environments.

Proofread and Edit: Ensure your application is free from errors by proofreading it multiple times. Pay close attention to detail, as this role requires strong copywriting and editing skills. Consider asking a friend or colleague to review your application for clarity and coherence.

How to prepare for a job interview at Rowden

✨Understand the Bidding Process

Familiarise yourself with the end-to-end bidding process, especially in public sector tenders. Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences managing bids and how you navigated complex procurement landscapes.

✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills

Highlight your ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously while maintaining high quality. Provide examples of how you've balanced priorities and met tight deadlines in past roles.

✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively

Demonstrate your strong communication skills by conveying complex information clearly. Tailor your responses to suit both technical and non-technical audiences, showcasing your ability to bring clarity to ambiguity.

✨Emphasise Attention to Detail

Prepare to discuss your meticulous approach to reviewing bid documentation. Share examples of how your attention to detail has ensured accuracy and compliance in previous submissions, even under tight deadlines.

Bid Manager
Rowden
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  • Bid Manager

    Bristol
    Full-Time
    32000 - 48000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-08-01

  • R

    Rowden

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