Bid Manager

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Job Description

About KX

Our mission is to accelerate data and AI-driven innovation with high performance analytics solutions, enabling our customers to transform into AI-first enterprises. KX is trusted by the world's top investment banks & hedge funds, aerospace and defence, life and health sciences, semiconductor, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing companies.

Time series and vector data analytics and management are at the heart of our products, independently benchmarked as the fastest on the market. They help our customers process data at unmatched speed and scale and empower LOB leaders, developers, data scientists, and data engineers to build high-performance data-driven applications and turbocharge their favourite analytics tools in the cloud, on premise, or at the edge.

KX technology enables the discovery of richer, actionable insights for faster, better-informed decision making which drives competitive advantage and transformative growth for our customers. KX operates across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

About the Role

The Bid Manager / Capture Manager is responsible for leading the development and execution of strategies to secure new business opportunities within the UK defence industry. The role requires a combination of project management, stakeholder engagement, and business development skills to manage complex bid processes and ensure the submission of high-quality, compliant proposals. The candidate will collaborate with internal teams, government entities, and defence clients to identify opportunities, manage bids, and secure contracts in line with company objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Bid Management:

• Lead and manage end-to-end bid processes for defence contracts, ensuring timely and compliant submissions.
• Develop detailed bid strategies, schedules, and resources, coordinating internal teams (technical, commercial, legal, etc.).
• Manage risk assessments, pricing strategies, and compliance checks to ensure high-quality bid responses.
• Drive bid reviews (Gate Reviews), ensuring solutions are aligned with customer needs and company capabilities.
• Oversee production of bid materials, including written responses, executive summaries, and presentations.

Capture Management:

• Identify and assess business development opportunities within the Global defence and security market.
• Engage with potential customers, government agencies, and defence organisations to understand needs and build relationships.
• Develop capture plans to win specific opportunities, including stakeholder mapping, competitor analysis, and win themes.
• Lead capture teams to shape bids in response to client requirements, including technical solutions and value propositions.
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and competitor activities to adjust capture strategies.

Stakeholder Management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the business and external stakeholders, including Ministry of Defence (MoD), defence contractors, and other government bodies.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders such as engineering, finance, legal, and operations teams to ensure alignment on bid strategy.
• Foster strong client relationships, positioning the company as a trusted defence partner.

Contract Negotiation and Handover:

• Support contract negotiations and ensure terms are aligned with bid commitments.
• Facilitate smooth transition and handover of successful bids to the project delivery teams.
• Compliance and Governance:
• Ensure that all bids comply with UK Defence procurement rules, security requirements, and export control regulations.
• Maintain rigorous governance processes, adhering to the company's internal policies and legal frameworks.

Continuous Improvement:

• Review and assess performance on past bids to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement.
• Implement best practices in bid management, including tools and processes to enhance future bid success rates.

Requirements:

Essential:

• Proven experience in bid/capture management within the defence sector, ideally with exposure to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and large defence contractors.
• Strong understanding of UK defence procurement processes and regulatory environment.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage complex bids involving cross-functional teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in pricing strategies, risk management, and contract negotiation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Experience in managing multi-million-pound bids, including technical and operational elements.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of defence-related standards (e.g., DEF STAN, ISO standards).
• Understanding of cybersecurity, export control, and defence security accreditation.
• Relevant project management certification (e.g., PRINCE2, APMP).

Skills:

This role is key to driving business growth and securing long-term contracts in a highly competitive and regulated environment. Successful candidates will be proactive, results-driven, and capable of navigating the complexities of the UK defence industry.

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Analytical thinking with excellent problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to influence and negotiate at all levels.

Location: Belfast Hybrid (with travel as required)