Hays
Bid Manager
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Your new company
You will be joining a market-leading transport solutions provider based in Derby delivering railway replacement and managed transport services across the UK. Its specialist road transport division provides planned and emergency rail replacement services across the UK, working in partnership with Train Operating Companies during engineering works, rail possessions and service disruption. The business is also looking to expand into adjacent markets, including aviation disruption, workforce transport and other managed ground transport services delivered across bus, coach and taxi networks.
You will become part of a small, ambitious and collaborative commercial team where you will have clear ownership of solution design, bid writing and submission management while contributing to the wider growth of the business.
This is a full-time permanent position based out of their Derby office with hybrid and flexible working.
Contracted hours: 37.5 hours per week
Your new role
As Bid Manager, you will take qualified opportunities through solution development, bid preparation and proposal submission, remaining involved through contract award and mobilisation handover.
Working closely with commercial, operational and support teams, your responsibilities will include:
- Translating customer briefs, ITT specifications and scope documents into detailed, costed and operationally deliverable transport solutions
- Developing competitive commercial models and pricing proposals with support from the finance team
- Producing clear, persuasive and evidence-led bid content that responds directly to evaluation criteria and client priorities
- Managing bid plans, submission deadlines, review stages and contributions from Operations, Finance, Legal and HR
- Coordinating multiple bids at different stages while maintaining accuracy, quality and compliance
- Supporting bid and no-bid assessments by considering strategic fit, contract value, competitive position and probability of success
- Managing tender portals, clarification questions, document downloads and formal response uploads
- Maintaining accurate CRM records, pipeline information and reusable bid content
- Representing the business during clarification meetings, site visits and presentations
- Building productive relationships with procurement teams, contract managers, operators and supply-chain partners
- Managing the handover of successful bids into mobilisation, ensuring commercial and operational commitments are clearly documented
- Conducting post-submission reviews and using feedback from wins and losses to improve future submissions
- Supporting and developing a junior member of the commercial bids team.
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What you'll need to succeed
To be successful in this role, you'll have proven experience as a Bid Manager with a track record of delivering successful tenders from qualification through to award. You will possess exceptional bid writing skills and be confident creating high-quality, persuasive submissions that directly address client requirements and evaluation criteria.
You'll also demonstrate:
- Strong experience managing the full bid lifecycle within formal procurement and tendering environments
- The ability to develop commercially sound and deliverable solutions from complex operational specifications
- Experience creating pricing models and assessing risk, margin and commercial viability
- Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent bids and deadlines
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams
- Experience mentoring or managing junior bid professionals
- High levels of IT literacy, including CRM systems, Microsoft Office and eTendering platforms.
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What you'll get in return
In return, you will receive:
- Starting salary up to £55,000 per annum
- 25 days' annual leave (option to buy additional days) plus bank holidays
- Hybrid working (2 days' remote per week) and flexible working arrangements
- Pension scheme (3% employer contribution)
- Multiple family-friendly benefits and retail discounts
- Clear pathways for professional development and career progression
- Supportive and collaborative work environment
- Opportunity to advance your career with a leading transport solutions provider and more.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Please note: applicants must hold existing UK work authorisation; visa sponsorship cannot be provided for this position.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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