Senior Bid Manager

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

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: 2 days per week on site (based on full time hours)

Thales Research and Technology UK is seeking an experienced Senior Bid Manager to lead and deliver high‑quality, strategically aligned bids that support our innovation and technology objectives. The role requires strong organisational skills, commercial acumen, and the ability to work collaboratively across multi‑disciplinary teams to produce well‑structured, compliant, and compelling proposals.

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

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

Key responsibilities:

• Provide structure, clarity, and governance across all bid management activities.

• Lead the planning, development, review, and submission of high‑quality bid proposals and deliverables.

• Work with Capture Leaders and technical teams to develop win themes aligned to customer requirements and organisational strengths.

• Oversee cost estimation, pricing strategy, and budgeting to ensure compliance and competitiveness.

• Support creation of initial project baselines, business cases, customer presentations, and negotiations.

• Identify and implement improvements to bid management processes and capability

About you:

• Proven track record managing multiple fast‑paced, successful bids, including research, technology, consortium or teamed environments.

• Demonstrated ability to construct commercially and technically sound proposals that address market needs.

• Strong organisational ability with excellent stakeholder management and team collaboration skills.

• Comprehensive understanding of the bid lifecycle and bid management processes, with the ability to tailor approaches as needed.

• Experience working across functions including commercial and finance.

• Working knowledge of industry‑standard methodologies (e.g., Shipley Capture Bench).

• Proactive approach to risk identification, mitigation and initial baseline development.

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.

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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!