Bid Manager

Bid Manager

Permanent

Harwell, Oxfordshire: £50,000 - £60,000

Hybrid Working*

Do you take pride in leading bids that are not only compliant — but commercially sharp and strategically sound? 

Are you looking for a role where your expertise genuinely shapes how a business wins new work?

At SMS Environmental, you'll have the scope to do exactly that.  As a Bid Manager, you'll lead a professional, well-respected tender function that values precision, collaboration, and smart thinking — with the autonomy to refine how we compete and the support of a wider team that wants you to succeed.

SMS Environmental is a leading provider of water hygiene, water treatment, and facilities management services across the UK. We help clients maintain safe, compliant, and efficient environments — and we're growing fast.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• The chance to lead and improve our end-to-end bid process
• A collaborative, growing business within the water hygiene and facilities management sectors
• Clear visibility of your impact — where your work directly drives company growth
• 22 days' holiday plus bank holidays, with an extra day for your birthday after two years
• Private Medical Care or a Cash Plan after two years' service
• Enhanced Sick, Maternity, and Paternity Leave
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and staff discount scheme (worth up to £240 per month)
• Recognition through our quarterly Core Values Champions Rewards
• Ongoing training, development, and clear progression opportunities
• A supportive, positive work culture in a modern Harwell office
• The flexibility to work hybrid (up to two days from home) after a six-month on-site probation*

What you'll be doing:

You'll take ownership of the full bid lifecycle, ensuring every submission is commercially viable, compliant, and compelling.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the tender process from opportunity identification to final submission
• Developing winning bid strategies and pricing frameworks aligned with business goals
• Overseeing bid writing and coordinating internal/external resources
• Ensuring accuracy, consistency, and quality across all proposals
• Collaborating with sales, operations, finance, and compliance teams to build cohesive bids
• Maintaining the tender pipeline and tracking performance metrics
• Driving continuous improvements in bid tools, templates, and processes

What you'll bring:

You'll combine strong commercial understanding with clear communication and organisation.

To succeed, you'll bring:

• Demonstrable experience managing bids or tenders
• Knowledge of water hygiene, legionella control, or facilities management (preferred)
• Solid commercial acumen and pricing experience
• Strong project management and coordination skills
• Excellent writing, editing, and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Understanding of UK procurement processes and bid lifecycle management
• Proficiency with bid management tools and Google Workspace
• You'll be confident taking the lead, influencing others, and ensuring every bid represents our strengths and ambitions clearly.

How to apply:

If you're ready to take ownership of a key commercial function and want to see your work directly influence business success, apply today with your CV and a short cover note outlining your experience and approach to managing tenders.

We'll be reviewing applications as they come in — we'd love to hear how you could make your mark at SMS Environmental.

SMS Environmental is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our local communities, and we welcome applications from all candidates.

Job Description:

Responsibilities:

• Leadership in Tender Processes: Lead any tender working groups and drive the bid process from start to finish, ensuring commercial viability and competitiveness in all submissions.
• Tender Calendar Management: Ensure the effective management and development of the tender pipeline.
• Improve Tender Resources
• Commercial Oversight: Ensure that all bids demonstrate sound commercial judgment, profitability, and alignment with company pricing strategies.
• Management of Bid Team (Bid Writer) and Any Out Sourced Bid Support: Oversee resource allocation, workload distribution, and quality assurance across all bid-related activities.

Key Objectives:

• Experience  - Sector and Role. Draw upon experience within the water hygiene/legionella control or facilities management sector to inform commercial and pricing decisions.
• End-to-End Bid Management: Oversee the entire bid process, including identifying opportunities, qualifying leads, and submitting proposals.
• Strategic Bid Development: Create and execute bid strategies that align with company goals and client requirements.
• Team Coordination: Work with Bid Team, sales, technical, compliance, and finance teams to ensure all bid aspects are thoroughly addressed.
• Opportunity Identification: Monitor public and private sector tender portals to identify new business opportunities.
• Bid Documentation: Maintain accurate and comprehensive bid documentation, including communication records and pricing information.
• Performance Monitoring: Track and evaluate bid performance metrics to identify and implement improvements.

Tasks:

• Research and Analysis: Identify and evaluate new business opportunities through research, competitor analysis, and client needs assessment.
• Bid Process Leadership: Lead and coordinate the bid management process, including bid invitation reviews, bid/no-bid analysis, and timeline establishment.
• Content Development: Create compelling bid content, including executive summaries, value propositions, pricing models, and technical responses.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work with sales, operations, and subject matter experts to gather information and develop bid strategies.
• Bid Review Coordination: Facilitate bid review meetings, ensuring stakeholder input and issue resolution.
• Pricing Strategy Development: Collaborate with finance and commercial teams to develop competitive pricing strategies, ensuring profitability while meeting client requirements.
• Commercial Evaluation: Analyse pricing data, margin implications, and value propositions to ensure each bid supports business growth objectives.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor and track bid performance metrics, analysing data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Process Improvement: Continuously refine and improve bid processes, templates, and best practices.
• Industry Knowledge: Stay updated on industry trends, market insights, and emerging best practices in bid management.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree preferrable
• Experience: You'll bring experience managing bids or tenders, ideally gained over several years in a similar role 
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial modelling, cost analysis, and pricing principles to ensure commercially viable bids.
• Project Management: Experience managing bids for complex projects or large-scale contracts.
• Procurement Knowledge: Understanding of UK procurement processes and regulations.
• Bid Lifecycle Knowledge: Strong understanding of the bid lifecycle, proposal writing, development, and contract negotiation.
• Software Proficiency: Proficient in bid management software and google workspace.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at various levels.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Presentation Skills: Ability to create visually appealing and engaging bid presentations.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple bids simultaneously.
• Organisational Skills: Exceptional organisational and time management skills.
• Pricing Strategy: Experience developing and implementing pricing frameworks for competitive tendering.
• Analytical Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to assess bid opportunities and develop winning strategies.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively.