Commercial Bid Manager - Bus Sales
Hybrid – Any UK Site
We're leading the transition to zero-emission mobility.
Alexander Dennis is a global leader in the design and manufacture of double deck buses and is the UK’s largest bus manufacturer.
At Alexander Dennis, and across NFI and our family of brands, we are helping to save the planet. Through our Sustainability Pledge, which guides our daily actions and long-term planning, we are passionate about creating a better product, a better workplace, and a better world. To learn more about our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) journey check our website. Our diverse, dynamic and resourceful team members embrace challenges every day which makes us the successful international company that we are.
Are you ready to embrace the challenge? Come build the future with us and apply directly to your dream job!
POSITION SUMMARY:
In this crucial role, you will be responsible for managing the entire bid and quotation process, playing a key part in securing new business and driving the company’s growth. You’ll collaborate across multiple departments—including Engineering, Sales, and Commercial—to ensure that our bids are compliant, complete, and compelling, while meeting the highest standards of accuracy and customer focus.
As the Bid Manager, you will develop and maintain a 12-month rolling bid schedule, manage customer communications, and lead pre-bid activities to ensure all tenders are aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. Your ability to interpret customer requirements, prepare clear and competitive proposals, and analyse tender feedback will be essential in maintaining our competitive edge in the industry.
We’re looking for someone with a strong commercial acumen, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to thrive under pressure. Experience in the bus or wider transport industry is a plus, along with a thorough understanding of bid processes, industry standards, and best practices. If you have a proactive approach and a passion for delivering winning results, we’d love to hear from you!
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
- Oversee opportunities throughout all phases of the bid and contract process.
- Proactively produce tender plans to include pre-agreed and priced spec options.
- Create a rolling 12-month tender plan whilst proactively carrying our pre-bid activities.
- Execute the 3Cs model for customer tenders (i.e. Compliant, Complete and Compelling tenders) to maximise win percentage.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering, Sales and wider Commercial team to deliver on customer tenders.
- Preparing tenders for customers by correctly interpreting Customer requirements.
- Articulate the company’s USPs and key differentiators in bids.
- Ensure a uniform tone of bid across all bid documents aligned with the company’s branding.
- Ensure that bid submissions are accurate and delivered on time.
- Analyse KPI reports on the speed of completion of bids, the level of compliance and collate feedback from customers.
- Collate and catalogue all materials provided by departments for future use.
- Prepare case studies and other reference materials for future bids.
- Prepare quotation templates with payment terms and other standard terms to support the pricing team in delivering accurate and timely responses to customer enquiries.
- Manage the cataloguing of customer tenders, quotations, contract numbers and order documentations.
- Work closely with the Customer Contract team to ensure successful bids are handed over to the delivery team.
- Any other reasonable management request that ensures the harmonious and smooth running of the department.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:
- Knowledge and experience in bid planning with timely and compelling execution.
- Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with technical and commercial teams to execute a compelling bid.
- In-depth knowledge of bid processes, best practices and industry standards.
- A thorough approach to work with attention to bid compliance.
- Experience of owning and managing the end-to-end bid process.
- Ability to manage workload and work to deadlines.
- Ability to use initiative, chair meetings and create effective meeting minutes and actions.
- Possess a ‘right first time’ approach.
- Strong communication (both written and verbal).
- Strong interpersonal skills and high level of emotional intelligence, with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Commercial awareness of both the business and the marketplace.
- In depth knowledge of bus Operators and wider industry is preferred.
- Complex problem-solving ability.
- Effective decision-making ability.
- Understanding of the interaction between bid & pricing teams.
- The ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office with an excellent grasp of Excel.
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM:
- Generous salary package – we reward our people at the level they deserve.
- A 37-hour working week, with flexible working options, giving you that much needed work/life balance.
- Ongoing employee development through a variety of in-house training initiatives along with tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
- Annual leave entitlement which increases with tenure.
- Pension scheme to help you save for the future.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme which offers practical, impartial support on issues impacting your life.
- Cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership, and regular meditation sessions as your health and well-being is important to us.
OUR WHY:
We move people. The world's most precious cargo.
We are driven by our purpose: we move people. Our vision is to lead the evolution of sustainable on-road mass transportation and mobility, and our mission is to design, deliver, and support market-leading bus and motor coach solutions that are safe, accessible, efficient, and reliable.
NEXT STEPS:
If this sounds like you, and you’re interested in coming ‘aboard’, then we would love to hear from you. Please complete our online application form and attach your CV!
We care deeply about being inclusive and we encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
If you are an internal applicant, you have a responsibility to inform your current line/department manager and local human resources representative before applying for the role.
Due to the volume of vacancies and applications, we would prefer that you submit your application online. If however, you require an alternative method of applying, please give us call on +44 1324 621 672 or send an email to [email protected]
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