Bid Manager

JOB TITLE:                    Bid Manager

REPORTS TO:               Commercial Manager

LOCATION:                  UK (with occasional travel to client offices and project sites)

OUR BUSINESS

 Plowman Craven is a leading provider of geospatial, digital construction and measurement services, supporting clients across the infrastructure and built environment sectors. We deliver high-precision data and digital solutions that inform decision-making across the full asset lifecycle, combining advanced technology with deep technical expertise. Our focus on innovation, quality and collaboration underpins our reputation for delivery excellence and sustainable growth.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Bid Manager is responsible for leading the bid, tendering and sales process for geospatial survey and digital information services across infrastructure and built asset projects. The role ensures that bids are commercially aligned, technically robust and competitively positioned, while supporting profitable and sustainable business growth.

The role acts as a key interface between clients, commercial teams and operational delivery, translating client requirements into compelling, compliant and deliverable proposals. The Bid Manager also leads and develops a team of estimators, ensuring consistent, accurate and well-governed pricing outputs aligned with divisional strategy and market conditions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Bid Leadership and Strategy

-Lead the end-to-end bid process for infrastructure and built environment projects, ensuring compliant, high-quality and competitive submissions

-Develop bid strategies aligned with market conditions, client priorities and divisional commercial objectives

-Own bid governance processes, ensuring adherence to internal approvals, risk reviews and quality standards

-Shape win themes, value propositions and differentiators that reflect technical capability, digital innovation and delivery excellence

Commercial and Pricing Management

-Develop pricing strategies aligned with margin targets, sector benchmarks and commercial strategy

-Ensure estimating outputs are accurate, consistent and based on validated methodologies and resource models

-Review and approve cost models, assumptions and commercial qualifications prior to submission

-Identify, assess and manage commercial risks and opportunities within bids

Client Engagement and Relationship Management

-Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and contractors across construction and infrastructure sectors

-Act as a trusted commercial partner, understanding client drivers and shaping proposals to meet technical and operational requirements

-Support account growth through proactive engagement, pipeline development and market intelligence

-Represent the business at client meetings, industry events and networking forums

Estimating Team Leadership

-Lead, mentor and develop a team of estimators, embedding consistency, capability growth and high performance

-Establish and maintain best practice in estimating processes, tools and documentation

-Provide coaching on commercial awareness, pricing discipline and risk assessment

-Ensure the estimating team maintains up-to-date knowledge of survey technologies, digital workflows and delivery methodologies

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

-Work closely with project managers, survey managers and digital leads to ensure bids reflect technical feasibility and operational capacity

-Coordinate with delivery teams to validate methodologies, programme assumptions and resource requirements

-Engage with divisional leadership to align bids with strategic priorities, capacity planning and growth objectives

-Ensure digital innovation, including BIM integration, automated workflows and advanced survey technologies, is appropriately represented within proposals

Sales Performance and Reporting

-Contribute to achieving sales targets and divisional revenue growth

-Maintain visibility of pipeline health, bid conversion rates and market trends through regular reporting

-Provide accurate forecasting of bid outcomes, workload and resource requirements

-Support the development of sales plans, sector strategies and key account approaches

-Brand, Market Positioning and External Representation

-Represent Plowman Craven externally, promoting capability, innovation and delivery excellence

-Contribute to marketing materials, case studies and thought leadership content that support business development

-Monitor market activity, competitor offerings and emerging client needs to strengthen competitive positioning

PERSON SPECIFICATION

-Experience in bid management, estimating or commercial roles within geospatial surveying, digital construction, engineering or infrastructure sectors

-Proven track record of leading successful bids in construction or infrastructure markets

-Strong understanding of survey methodologies, including topographic surveys, laser scanning, mobile mapping and monitoring

-Good knowledge of digital information workflows, including BIM and CAD

-Experience managing or mentoring estimators or commercial staff

-Familiarity with UK procurement processes, frameworks and tendering requirements

-Commercially astute, with experience in pricing strategy, margin management and risk assessment

-Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, compelling and client-focused proposals

-Confident client-facing communicator, able to build trust and influence decision-making

-Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines simultaneously

-Collaborative mindset, working effectively across technical, operational and commercial teams

-Strong leadership skills, with the ability to develop and motivate others

-Proactive and strategic approach, with a focus on continuous improvement

-Full UK driving licence

-Willingness to travel for client meetings, site visits and industry events

Plowman Craven is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.