Great ideas come from different minds. That’s why we bring together engineers, scientists, analysts, and creatives from every background — and give them the trust, tools, and freedom to make a difference. What connects us is the mission: solving meaningful problems and building capability that protects what matters most.
And as the challenges evolve, so do we — working on the technologies that will shape tomorrow, not just today.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Bid Manager to join our bids team on a 12-month contract, supporting the delivery of complex and high-value bids within the Defence and National Security sectors. The successful candidate will manage bids typically valued between £1m and £10m, ensuring compliance, quality, and timely submission in line with client requirements and organisational standards. This role coordinates inputs from functional areas, Business Units and Client Managers. The role will follow Roke’s Bid Assurance process taking opportunities through the Shipley lifecycle with reviews up to CEO level.
Key Responsibilities
End-to-End Bid Management: Lead and coordinate the full bid lifecycle, with involvement from opportunity qualification through to submission and handover on bids ranging from tactical follow-on business through to multi-million-pound strategic initiatives and Frameworks.
Capture Support: Work with opportunity teams on data management, developing win themes, storyboards, graphics, and compelling narratives woven into bid submissions, developing and delivering competitive proposals.
Bid and Proposal Development: Schedule, plan, and drive bid activities including: kick-off; clarification questions; bid progress reviews/daily standups; bid/proposal production; bid/proposal content collation; mandatory bid reviews (e.g. colour reviews); and, approvals documentation.
Content Development: Oversee the storyboarding; content structure and development, creation, review, and refinement of bid content, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and persuasive messaging.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal teams, subject matter experts, and external partners to gather inputs and ensure alignment with bid strategy, and drive bid teams to find winning solutions.
Compliance & Governance: Ensure all bids meet client requirements, security protocols, and internal governance standards.
Planning & Scheduling: Develop and maintain bid plans and timelines. Collaborate with Client Managers and Resource Managers to ensure resource allocations achieve deadlines.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks associated with bid delivery, including resource constraints and compliance issues.
Continuous Improvement: Contribute to best practices in bid management and support process improvements across the team.
Essential Skills & Experience
Proven experience managing bids in the Defence and/or National Security sectors.
Strong understanding of complex procurement processes and compliance requirements.
Minimum 5 years Bid Management Experience, and demonstrable knowledge of the Shipley process.
Demonstrated success in managing bids valued between £1m and £10m.
Excellent project management skills, including planning, scheduling, and resource coordination.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.
Desirable Skills
Knowledge of government frameworks.
Experience with digital collaboration tools (e.g., SharePoint, MS Teams).
Social value knowledge and bid content experience.
Practical experience of IFS will be an advantage.
Why You Should Join Us
We have a competitive salary and access to a number of additional flexible benefits, which will cover Health and Wellbeing, Savings and Protection and Life, Leisure and Entertainment.
Roke has a great community of groups with shared interests. These enable people to share ideas and be passionate about tools, technologies and techniques, which interest them.
We are committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion. Our working environment is friendly, creative and inclusive and support a diverse work-force and those with additional needs.
Security Information
Due to the nature of this position, we require you to be willing and eligible to achieve a minimum of SC clearance. To qualify, the candidate should have resided in the UK for the last 5 years for SC.
The Next Step
Click apply, submitting an up-to-date CV. We look forward to hearing from you.
Take a look around the company https://www.roke.co.uk/
