Bid Manager

Who you are

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in proposal management, sales enablement, or business development, preferably in the energy industry
• Strong understanding of VPPs, DERMS, and DER technologies, including EVs, batteries, heat pumps, and smart thermostats
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills with a keen attention to detail
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
• Experience with CRM and proposal management tools
• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into compelling narratives
• Highly collaborative, with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across departments
• Self-motivated and proactive, with a passion for driving innovation and achieving results
• Ability to travel intermittently
• Studies have shown that some groups of people, like women, are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we’re looking for!

What the job involves

• Kraken is seeking a dynamic and experienced Bid Manager within the Kraken Flex team to drive the expansion of our platform in North America
• This role is pivotal in supporting our business development efforts by developing compelling proposals, managing the bid process, and enabling sales through strategic initiatives and tools
• The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the energy industry, particularly in the areas of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) and Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS)
• In preparation of RFP/RFI activities, meet with the utility’s procurement team to ensure Kraken has access to the utility portal and all necessary documentation is in order
• Maintain and monitor procurement portals and websites to ensure timely responses and updates
• Work closely with the business development team to identify new market opportunities and develop strategies to capture them
• Conduct market research and analysis to stay informed about industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies
• Assist in the preparation of business cases and go-to-market strategies for new product launches and market expansions
• Act as a bridge between sales, product, and legal to craft compelling, accurate proposals that win business
• Lead the end-to-end proposal development process, including writing, editing, and coordinating with internal stakeholders to produce high-quality, compelling proposals
• Take ownership of the narrative story, including identifying win themes and strategy, collecting inputs from client accounts, technical product teams, and delivery to craft a customized solution
• Ensure the quality, accuracy, and competitiveness of the final deliverable, tailored to meet the specific needs and requirements of each client, reflecting Kraken's unique value propositions
• Develop and maintain a proposal library with standard templates, case studies, and key content to streamline the proposal creation process
• Create and deliver sales enablement materials, including presentations, product sheets, and competitive analysis to support the sales team in engaging potential clients
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure client demos reflect the full value proposition and are geared towards the unique needs of Kraken’s target market
• Continuously evaluate and improve the proposal development process to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Track and report on bid performance metrics (e.g., win rate, turnaround time, content reuse), analyse win/loss outcomes and key trends, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure the continuous management and regular updating of the proposal content library and all tender-related materials, maintaining accurate and up-to-date information about the company and its solutions, and synchronising content across internal platforms (e.g., NotebookLM, Steerlab, etc.) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders

Benefits

• Equity option scheme: Everyone who works at Kraken owns a part of the business with shares in the Octopus Energy Group. So as the company grows we all benefit
• Pension scheme: We'll pay 5%. You decide on your contribution starting from 3%
• Holidays: We don't count your holiday days. We trust everyone to work hard and take as much time off as they need
• Flexible working: We're happy for you to work in a way that's best for you. Need to pick the kids up from school or work from home? That's not a problem. It's important to us that everyone has a positive work-life balance
• Free breakfast: Our offices are always stocked with fresh fruit, breakfast, snacks, great coffee and soft drinks.

Weekly on a Friday we all get together (including virtually) for company updates and drinks

• For parents: We can arrange access to tax free childcare, as well as maternity and paternity pay
• Free eye tests: We offer eye test vouchers for all colleagues who use Visual Display Units (VDU). Long spells of VDU work can be visually demanding so we want to make sure you're OK
• Car salary sacrifice: Save money on leasing an electric vehicle through our workplace salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to work scheme: Spread the cost of buying a bike, including accessories and safety equipment, up to a value of £2.5K. And save money on the repayments through the cycle to work scheme
• Get the right tech: Have a certain tech requirement? We’ll do our best to sort it for you
• Money coach: Get support with financial planning through our partnership with Octopus Money Coach
• Yoga + Headspace: Twice a week we have 45 Minute live yoga class open to all Kraken staff.

Need some calm in your life? We have Headspace licences available

• Team events and activities: Participate in team events and cohesion activities to build stronger connections
• Health Insurance: We’ll provide comprehensive coverage with Alan and access to Alan Mind.
• Transportation: If you cycle to the office we’ll support you by up to €600/year, if you use public transport we'll reimburse 75% of your Navigo pass. If you use both, we'll support you by up to €900/year
• Green energy discount: Enjoy a 32% discount on green energy compared to the regulated tariff
• Year-end gift voucher: Receive a €100 gift voucher at the end of each year
• Gymlib subscription: Get a subscription to Gymlib for access to a wide variety of fitness options
• Meal vouchers: Enjoy €10 Ticket Restaurant cards for meal expenses
• NGO support days: Benefit from three additional RTT days (Reduction of Working Time) to support NGO work, every year