Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Bid Manager

A Bid Manager is a professional who plays a crucial role in the competitive world of business. They are responsible for overseeing the process of creating and submitting bids or proposals in response to requests from clients or organizations. In this blog post, we will explore the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Bid Managers.

Get market insights and compare skills for other jobs here.

Main Responsibilities of a Bid Manager

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Bid Manager:

Analyze

Analyze bid requirements and develop a comprehensive understanding of client needs.

Answer

Answer customer requests for clarification.

Assist with

Assist in conducting client workshops and presentations.
Assist line manager throughout ESA bid-process and complete specific tasks as directed.
Assist management in defining group policies and procedures.
Assist with bid pricing and submit pricing suggestions for review and approval.
Assist with bid pricing and submit pricing suggestions for review and commercial approval.
Assist with subcontractor price negotiation.
Assist with writing news and internal publication articles where related to win work.

Attend

Attend when relevant and communicate events to the rest of the ESA team.

Build

Build pricing and commercial strategy based on Bombardier's interests and client's specifications.

Capture

Capture and dissemination of feedback.

Challenge

Challenge and innovate to better deliver to the customer's requirements.

Co-develop

Co-develop a Client engagement strategy to include stakeholder mapping and engagement plan.

Collaborate with

Collaborate and provides flex across the wider bid team where required.
Collaborate closely with Account Executives to define and review the commercial aspects of the bid.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather input and insights for bid development.
Collaborate with legal and finance teams to review contractual terms and pricing strategies.
Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to create compelling bid materials.
Collaborate with other departments to create coordinated plans for business growth.
Collaborate with our Pricing Manager to build complex pricing, quotation and financial models.
Collaborate with partners to provide high quality joint RFX responses.
Collaborate with partners to provide high-quality joint RFX responses.

Collect

Collect and assemble technical, commercial and required marketing documents.

Communicate

Communicate and negotiate with suppliers to obtain the best terms.

Conduct

Conduct competitor analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses for competitive positioning.
Conduct constant competitive analysis and intelligence.
Conduct market research and analysis to identify potential bid opportunities.
Conduct negotiations and clarification sessions with the Customer.
Conduct post-bid analysis to evaluate the success and areas for improvement in bid submissions.
Conduct research to gather information about clients, competitors, and industry trends.
Conduct risk assessments and develop strategies to mitigate potential risks in bids.

Contribute to

Contribute to developing the company's expertise in relation to alternative execution modes.

Coordinate

Coordinate and manage the bill of material (BOM).
Coordinate client references for use within bids.
Coordinate preparation of submission documents.
Coordinate risks & opportunities, building of harmonized schedule.
Coordinate the submission of any clarification questions and responses to specified timescales.
Coordinate with proposal coordinators or writers to ensure cohesive and persuasive bid narratives.
Coordinate with subject matter experts to gather technical information and incorporate it into bids.
Coordinate with vendors and subcontractors to gather relevant information for bids.
Coordinate and setting the strategy for delivery of multi-disciplinary teams.

Create

Create a library of RFX responses and maintain collateral up to date.
Create and maintain bid schedules, ensuring timely submission of proposals.
Create and maintain comprehensive consultancy project documentation.
Create and validate deliverable documents.
Create both standard and bespoke responses.
Create compelling (standard) text blocks and documents for the Tender Library and Repository.
Create, implement and manage the Bid Plan to deliver bid requirements on time and on budget.
Create library of RFX responses and maintain collateral up to date.

Customize

Customize and implement Thales processes and tools according to local specificities.

Define

Define and present a customized value proposition for each bid.
Define project scope of the solution.

Deliver

Deliver the company's supply chain strategy.

Design

Design and publish compelling, consistent creative assets for digital platforms.

Determine

Determine research needs, delegates or performs as appropriate.

Develop

Develop and implement bid management best practices and standard operating procedures.
Develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, partners and subcontractors.
Develop and maintain templates, standardized content, and boilerplate language for bids.
Develop engaging online content including clickbait, forums, videos, graphics, and blogs.

Draft

Draft responses for non-technical content as required.

Drive

Drive and identify material cost reduction initiatives.
Drive development of mature discussions with partners / subcontractors.

Enforce

Enforce Thales Sales and Bid Process (Gate / IGTR / MRBOA etc.) within TTH organization.

Engage

Engage with both internal and external Stakeholders.

Ensure

Ensure all bids and tenders are innovative and ahead of the competition.
Ensure all Procurement risks are identified, reviewed and integrated in to the BID ROP.
Ensure an independent Bid Mentor review.
Ensure bid and delivery risks are mitigated appropriately.
Ensure bid is submitted in-line with Clients requirements.
Ensure Commodity sourcing strategies are integrated.
Ensure commonality, consistency and reuse across bids.
Ensure communication and understanding of deadlines, assignments and objectives.
Ensure company goals and strategies are understood and imbedded in RFP / RFI responses.
Ensure compliance to internal bid process and governance.
Ensure compliance with Atkins' procedures.
Ensure compliance with internal policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards.
Ensure effective communication is maintained across the relevant business stakeholders at all times.
Ensure industry leading quality of all submitted bids.
Ensure supply chain processes meet legal requirements and standards.
Ensure sure the key messages and winning themes are well emphasized throughout the document.
Ensure that all graphics are developed, delivered and published on time across digital platforms.
Ensure that the Bid process is followed according to the rules for each answer.
Ensure that Transport and Signaling Bid Processes are followed.
Ensure the bid document is compelling, well written, attractive and accurate.
Ensure the Bid is validated as per Signaling Bid process.
Ensure you have or are able to obtain required security clearances.

Establish

Establish and maintain excellent relations with suppliers.
Establish and maintain relationships with clients and third parties.
Establish local decision-making tools & criteria to determine which.
Establish the bid and win strategies, driving the delivery of bid to time and quality.

Evaluate

Evaluate and control tender budget.
Evaluate and report on KPIs.

Facilitate

Facilitate and support the development of strategic bids.
Facilitate communication and coordination between internal teams and external stakeholders.

Fire

Fire starts with friction.

Follow

Foster

Foster relationships with clients and stakeholders to understand their needs and preferences.

Hire

Hire resources (consultants or contractors) as / when required to provide.

Identify

Identify, analyze and register the risks and saving opportunities.
Identify and track tendering opportunities in their early stages.
Identify competitive intelligence through the RFP process.
Identify key personnel in the proposal team.
Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships or collaborations to strengthen bid submissions.
Identify resources from each function as bid team members.
Identify risks and ensure necessary precautions are implemented to manage exposure.

Initiate

Initiate and manage a capture plan / record.
Initiate Price to Win analysis (if applicable).

Interface with

Interface with Sales & Marketing.

Issue

Issue final bid document to team.

Lead

Lead and manage content reviews.
Lead in team readiness for and support delivery of negotiation / dialogue sessions.
Lead kick-off meeting to agree strategy, content, plan and roles & responsibilities.
Lead operational reviews and final reviews.
Lead technical and commercial strategy, planning, and gate review.
Lead the Blue Book Process for the stand-alone opportunities.
Lead the Win Work team's input and support to identified strategic opportunities.
Lead thorough handover to the project team.
Lead writing workshops using storyboarding and / or question templates.

Leverage

Leverage knowledge of competitive intelligence, to support future strategies.
Leverage project management skills to facilitate and coordinate the bid process.

Liaise with

Liaise with Commercial Director (if applicable) , COO or Lead Director for Commercial Sign-off.
Liaise with Lead Director for Qualitative sign-off.
Liaise with third parties / partners on any joint submissions.

Maintain

Maintain accuracy of all site content.
Maintain accurate records of each proposal for detailed reporting.
Maintain a centralized database of bid-related information for reference and analysis.
Maintain relationships with managers.

Make

Make our customers' supply chain their competitive advantage.

Manage

Manage and coordinate input from partners.
Manage and maintain essential bid documentation including.
Manage and organize the archive and re-use of answers and references.
Manage and oversee workload for our Bid Assistant.
Manage communication with both internal stakeholders and external stakeholders as required.
Manage logistics for Client presentation.
Manage logistics - printing, courier booking, portal upload, e-mail etc..
Manage meetings, workshops and bid review sessions.
Manage relationships with suppliers eg translators, lawyers, tender monitors.
Manage the Bid Governance Directive & tools and assure compliance.
Manage the bid review process, addressing feedback and making necessary revisions.
Manage the broking and programme design input with technical and industry experts and Brokers.
Manage the content development.
Manage the cross-functional, cross-Divisional proposal & governance.
Manage the interaction with bid designer (if applicable).
Manage their own time and spend the day solving bespoke customer problems face to face.

Mentor

Mentor and guide team members.

Monitor

Monitor and analyse content success.
Monitor and track bid performance metrics, such as win rate and profitability.
Monitor industry trends and stay updated on changes in regulations or requirements.

Negotiate

Negotiate and curate RFP contract terms.

Notify

Notify feedback manager of decision.

Offer

Offer ideas and creativity.

Oversee

Oversee all aspects of proposal preparation, ensuring high quality compelling bids.

Participate in

Participate in bid planning and assignments with group leader.
Participate in customer visits.
Participate in industry events and networking activities to expand professional connections.
Participate in large deal taskforce structures, defining large deal / bid strategies.
Participate in P3 Industry forums, conferences, and functions where appropriate.
Participate in Sales Hand Over activities.
Participate to definition of relevant target cost and challenge of internal functions.

Perform

Perform a post-award bid analysis and record lessons learned.
Perform risk management to minimise project risks.
Perform thorough quality review prior to each bid submission.

Prepare

Prepare and deliver presentations to clients, showcasing the value proposition of bids.
Prepare and manage budgets related to bid activities and expenses.
Prepare and review bid documents, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with guidelines.
Prepare bids and proposals.

Present

Present all relevant documentation required for Project Handover and participate in handover process.

Produce

Produce persuasive, concise sales text for outbound sales and marketing purposes.

Promote

Promote the Win Work team internally.

Proofread

Proofread all our bids for grammar, formatting, style and tone.

Provide

Provide coaching and constructive feedback.
Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members involved in the bid process.
Provide hands-on management and support including the drafting, editing and formatting.
Provide input on conceptual pricing and Marsh fees.
Provide Procurement Team with feedback regarding tender activities underway and completed.
Provide weekly summary of all relevant ESA EMITS announcements.

Publish

Publish research results in national and international conferences and scientific journals.

Resolve

Resolve issues that come up (e.g. delays in delivery, accidents).

Review

Review and assess estimates and resource requirements developed by discipline estimators.
Review and update the tender library.
Review Requests for Proposals for complete understanding of proposal submission requirements.

Set-up

Set-up and lead rehearsals.

Stay updated on

Stay updated on emerging bidding technologies and tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Submit

Submit the bid and monitor progress.

Support

Support estimating and pricing process including development of resource strategy and plan.
Support make-buy decision making.
Support, mentor, and transfer knowledge to junior and intermediate staff.
Support the completion of material bid input and risk assessment where appropriate.
Support the cross-functional, cross-divisional negative gate reviews.
Support the gate process during the Bid preparation.
Support the presentation team with pitch rehearsal.
Support Trafi's tender Go / NoGo decision process.
Support with the timely collation, production and distribution of accurate bid documentation.

Take

Take ownership for the bid process.

Track

Track and reconciles any changes in solution / scope and pricing throughout the Contracting phase.

Train

Train, mentor, and develop the bid team.

Travel

Travel as required to work with JV partners to develop and close bid submissions.

Treat

Treat them the way you want to be treated.

Undertake

Undertake initiatives to raise the team's profile.
Undertake other ad-hoc duties or projects within the Selecta Sales & Marketing teams.

Update

Update documentation related to the process, ensure it is communicated within the Business Line.

Use

Use existing information and text to draft responses in response to tender questions.

Work with

Work closely with technical subject matter experts to complete bid and tender documentation.
Work closely with the commercial managers to tailor solutions to fit the opportunity.
Work collaboratively with the other members of the Team.
Work independently with minimal inputs / general direction from higher.
Work with Client Feedback Manager to ensure feedback is obtained.
Work with sales to participate in the post-bid clarification, lessons learned.
Work with the finance function to provide guidance to the sales teams in commercial proposals.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Bid Manager:

Proposal writing and editing
Project management
Financial analysis and budgeting
Contract management
Data analysis and interpretation
Technical knowledge in relevant industry sectors
Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Proficiency in bid management software and tools
Research and competitive analysis
Presentation and public speaking skills
Legal and compliance knowledge
Pricing and cost modeling
Procurement and supply chain management
Negotiation and persuasion skills
Quality control and assurance
Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Relationship management
Strategic planning and decision-making
Vendor management and evaluation
Market research and trend analysis

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Bid Manager:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities
Attention to detail and accuracy
Time management and organizational skills
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
Adaptability and flexibility in changing priorities or requirements 7. Problem-solving and decision-making skills
Collaboration and teamwork
Leadership and management skills
Strong negotiation and persuasion abilities

Conclusion

The role of a Bid Manager is multifaceted and demanding. They are responsible for managing the end-to-end bid process, from analyzing client requirements to preparing and submitting compelling proposals. To excel in this role, Bid Managers require a combination of hard and soft skills. The most in-demand hard skills include proposal writing, project management, financial analysis, and technical knowledge, while the essential soft skills include communication, analytical thinking, time management, and adaptability.