Senior Bid Manager

Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Hybrid working arrangement: 3 days per week on site (based on full time hours)

Working hours: Full time or part time hours available

We are looking for a Senior Bid Manager. In this role you will be responsible for leading the delivery of high‑quality, competitive bids that secure new business and support our growth. You’ll coordinate cross‑functional teams, shape winning strategies and ensure proposals are clear, compelling and aligned to customer needs.

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 (grade dependent)

• 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

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 full bid lifecycle, ensuring structured, timely and high‑quality submissions.

• Coordinate bid teams to develop robust pre‑qualification responses and proposal deliverables.

• Work with Capture Leads to define win themes and strengthen customer value propositions.

• Oversee costing, pricing reviews and business case preparation to support competitive bids.

• Engage with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders throughout the bid process.

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Proven success delivering bids in complex, multi‑disciplinary environments.

• Strong leadership and coordination skills, with the ability to drive bid teams to successful outcomes.

• Excellent stakeholder and negotiation skills with customers and internal partners.

• Strong commercial, financial and analytical capability.

• Thorough understanding of bid processes, governance, risk management and the full bid lifecycle.

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

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!