Bid/Contracts Manager

Our client is a leading infrastructure and civil engineering organisation delivering major projects across transportation, utilities, energy, and public infrastructure. They are seeking an experienced Tender Bid Manager to lead the preparation and submission of high-value, complex tender opportunities.

This is a strategic role responsible for managing the full tender lifecycle, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and developing winning bid strategies that align with business objectives and client requirements.

The Role

The Tender Bid Manager will take ownership of infrastructure and civil engineering tenders from initial receipt through to final submission and post-tender negotiations. Working closely with engineering, estimating, commercial, planning, and operational teams, you will ensure all submissions are compliant, compelling, and commercially robust.

Key Responsibilities

Tender Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage assigned tenders from receipt to submission.
• Develop tender strategies, delivery approaches, methodologies, and project value propositions.
• Review tender documentation, clarifications, addenda, and employer requirements.
• Shape bid solutions that align with client objectives and company capabilities.

Bid Management & Coordination

• Act as the central point of coordination for all tender-related activities and communications.
• Manage tender programmes, deliverables, deadlines, and stakeholder inputs.
• Maintain tender query registers and ensure timely responses to client clarifications.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality submissions.

Technical & Commercial Development

• Develop and oversee technical submission content, including methodologies, logistics plans, sequencing strategies, resourcing plans, and innovation proposals.
• Work closely with estimating and commercial teams to ensure alignment between technical and cost submissions.
• Collaborate with planners to develop realistic and compliant project programmes.
• Coordinate input from external consultants, designers, supply chain partners, and joint venture stakeholders where required.

Governance & Quality Assurance

• Lead tender review processes, red-team reviews, and internal approval procedures.
• Ensure all submissions meet governance, compliance, and quality standards.
• Manage tender documentation, evidence records, approval trackers, and submission schedules.
• Identify and escalate risks, issues, or programme delays to senior leadership.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships across operational, engineering, commercial, legal, procurement, and leadership teams.
• Act as a key client-facing contact throughout the tender process.
• Support post-tender clarifications, interviews, presentations, and negotiations.

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• Proven experience managing complex infrastructure or civil engineering tenders.
• Strong understanding of civil engineering projects, infrastructure delivery, and construction methodologies.
• Demonstrated success coordinating multidisciplinary bid teams and managing multiple concurrent tenders.
• Excellent bid writing, technical writing, and document management skills.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership capabilities.
• Experience working within fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Additional qualifications in project management, construction management, or bid management would be advantageous.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews.
• Employer pension contribution.
• 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Travel expenses.
• Enhanced parental leave benefits.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Opportunity to work on major infrastructure projects that shape communities and economies.