Head of Bid Finance - OME

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Hybrid working arrangement: 3 days per week on site

This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and lead Bid Finance capability within a complex and high-growth business environment. As Head of Bid Finance, you will play a critical role in ensuring the integrity of estimating, costing, and pricing across major and strategic bids. You will lead a high-performing team while working closely with senior stakeholders to influence business outcomes, drive profitability, and enable successful programme delivery from bid through to execution.

What this role has to offer

• A strategic leadership role with direct impact on business growth, profitability, and governance

• The opportunity to lead and develop a specialist Bid Finance team and capability

• Exposure to complex, high-value bids and major business opportunities

• Close collaboration with senior stakeholders across finance, commercial, engineering, and operations

• The ability to shape and improve estimating processes, tools, and best practice across the business

Core Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00

• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)

• 24 hours volunteering paid for

• Private healthcare

• Pension scheme

• Life cover

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers

• Gym membership discounts

• You can read about some of our other benefits here: UK benefits | Thales Group

Optronics & Missile Electronics (OME)

We help forces to find the right information at the right time to make the right decision. For over 130 years we’ve proudly led the development of Optronics for military, scientific and commercial use. We cover three sectors: Air, Land and Sea.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Bid Finance team, ensuring high-quality delivery and effective utilisation of capability

• Oversee the development, review, and presentation of estimating, costing, and pricing for complex bids and projects

• Provide financial leadership and assurance across the bid lifecycle, including risk, cost, and pricing decisions

• Drive the development and continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and methodologies

• Partner with senior stakeholders to influence bid outcomes and support the transition from bid to project delivery

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Extensive experience in bid finance, cost engineering, or financial modelling within complex project environments

• Strong leadership capability, with experience managing and developing high-performing teams

• Deep understanding of estimating, costing, pricing, and financial governance across the bid lifecycle

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels in a matrix organisation

• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to analyse risk and drive profitable outcomes

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

#LI-DNI

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!