Bid and Customer On-boarding Manager

Join to apply for the Bid and Customer On-boarding Manager role at Smiths News plc. This range is provided by Smiths News plc. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more. £58,000 to £63,000 per annum plus £5,688 per annum car allowance, bonus and benefits.

Our reputation as the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler speaks for itself. Every day, we serve more than 22,400 customers from 33 distribution centres across the country. Behind every nightly miracle is a team of dedicated people carrying out more roles than you realise – we’re the unseen force that delivers.

The Bid & Onboarding Manager plays a pivotal role in supporting Smiths News’ Growth and Supply Chain Development activity. The role is responsible for coordinating RFP and ITT responses, drafting client proposals, and managing onboarding processes from contract award through to full BAU handover. It bridges Business Development, Operations, Finance, IT, and Legal teams to ensure fair governance, open communication, and trusted mobilisation of new clients. The position champions collaboration, continuous improvement, and creative thinking to deliver timely, compliant, and high‑quality outcomes that reflect Smiths News’ values.

• Bid Management & Proposals
  • Lead coordination of public and private sector RFPs, ITTs, and client proposals across the final mile vertical.
  • Ensure submissions are balanced, compliant, and transparent, representing Smiths News with integrity and fairness.
  • Apply creative and analytical thinking to develop compelling, high‑scoring proposals that clearly articulate our value proposition.
  • Maintain a central repository of bid content, case studies, policies, and pricing templates.
  • Collaborate openly across teams to gather accurate input and promote a shared sense of ownership in every submission.
• Client Onboarding & Implementation
  • Act as the primary coordinator during onboarding and mobilisation phases for new clients.
  • Track progress against agreed milestones, ensuring operational readiness, commercial accuracy, and smooth transition to BAU.
  • Communicate clearly and empathetically with all stakeholders, building long‑term, trusted relationships.
  • Encourage collaboration between departments, fostering a psychologically safe environment where feedback is welcomed.
  • Facilitate post‑implementation reviews to identify lessons learned and share improvements across the business.
• Process & Governance
  • Maintain documentation, visibility, and reporting for all bid and onboarding activity.
  • Ensure internal approvals and sign‑offs (commercial, financial, legal, and risk) are followed consistently and transparently.
  • Actively seek feedback from colleagues and clients to refine processes and increase efficiency.
  • Drive innovation by introducing smarter, more effective ways to structure proposals and deliver onboarding projects.

What we can offer you:

• £5,688 per annum car allowance
• Company bonus
• Company funded Health Cash Plan – providing cash back for everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy
• 24/7 E‑Learning modules, Training and Development opportunities
• Sharesave Scheme, Cycle to work schemes, Health cash plan
• Private medical insurance

About you:

• Experience
  • Proven experience in bid management, tender coordination, or project management within logistics, supply chain, or related B2B sectors.
  • Exposure to public sector frameworks and an understanding of compliance and scoring mechanisms.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft persuasive proposals.
  • Strong commercial awareness with an understanding of pricing structures, margin tracking, and cost‑to‑serve models.
  • Comfortable working cross‑functionally with senior stakeholders across Finance, Legal, IT, and Operations.
  • Highly organised, structured, and proactive — capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Skills
  • Detail‑oriented and quality‑driven, with pride in accuracy and presentation.
  • Calm under pressure with a focus on delivery and problem‑solving.
  • Collaborative team player, building trust across departments.
  • Professional and resilient in managing competing demands and deadlines.
  • Adaptable, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Attributes
  • Collaboration and Stakeholder Relationships
  • Partners closely with Business Development to align bid activity with strategic growth objectives.
  • Works alongside Finance, Legal, and IT to ensure governance and commercial integrity.
  • Supports Operations in mobilising new business efficiently and compliantly.
  • Provides visibility of pipeline and onboarding progress to senior leadership teams.

Additional Information:

This is a national role, requiring flexibility to work across the Smiths News estate and occasional travel to customer locations. The role requires flexibility in working hours to accommodate bid deadlines, client requirements, and time‑sensitive submissions. You’ll regularly engage with clients, operations, finance, and the Strategy & Final Mile Vertical team to ensure seamless service delivery and continuous improvement.

Please note: you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position. A career with us is a career filled with people, pride, and passion. We rely on each other to get the job done, and we deliver what we say we will. Let’s see if we can rely on you, too. Apply now.

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Management and Other

Industries: Wholesale