Bid Manager Jobs.
Find Bid Manager, Proposal Manager, Bid & Proposal Manager, Senior Bid Manager, Lead Bid Manager Jobs.
Find the Right Bid Manager Job.
Finding the right Bid Manager job is about more than just a job title. It’s about matching your leadership style, commercial acumen, and career goals with the right organisation, sector, and working environment. Whether you are seeking a Bid Manager role to lead mid-market tenders or aiming for Senior Bid Manager and Head of Proposals positions to drive multi-million pound global pursuits, we connect you with opportunities that align with your ambitions.
We work with premier employers across the UK’s most resilient industries, offering permanent, contract, hybrid, and remote Bid Manager jobs that reflect the modern professional landscape.
Matching Your Expertise to the Right Sector
In 2026, “specialism” is the key to salary leverage. We help you find a Bid Manager role in the industries where your background delivers the most impact:
Construction & Engineering: Leading complex ITTs, Managing PQQ/SQ stages, and navigating PPN 06/20 Social Value requirements.
Technology & SaaS: Fast-paced environments requiring knowledge of cyber-security compliance and AI-driven tender software.
Professional Services & Finance: High-stakes bidding within legal, accounting, and consultancy frameworks.
Public Sector & Healthcare: Navigating the Procurement Act 2023 and MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) evaluation principles.
Benchmarking Your Value (UK 2026 Data)
Salary benchmarks have shifted to reflect the high-stakes nature of the role. According to recent Jooble and ERI SalaryExpert data, these are the current UK averages:
| Job Title | Experience | Avg. UK Salary Range | Avg. London Salary |
| Bid Manager | 2 to 5 Years | £49,788 to £63,000 | £65,000+ |
| Senior Bid Manager | 5 to 10 Years | £68,387 to £85,000 | £95,000+ |
| Head of Bids / Proposals | 10+ Years | £85,000 to £110,000+ | £125,000+ |
Why Nurture Works?
- Strategic Access: Gain early insight into Bid Manager and Head of Proposals roles before they are advertised on public boards.
- Commercial Insight: We provide honest data on a firm’s win rates, bid volumes, and the maturity of their current bid team.
- Interview & CV Mastery: Personalised support to ensure your CV highlights your ROI and Win-Volume rather than just a list of responsibilities.
Bid Management Career Progression.
The Bid Management career path is no longer a linear journey. It has evolved into a high-status professional discipline that bridges the gap between commercial strategy and creative communication. With the UK’s Procurement Act 2023 placing a heavier emphasis on value over price, the demand for specialists who can navigate this complexity has never been higher.
Whether you are just starting out or looking to break into the executive suite, understanding the milestones of progression is essential for maximising your earning potential.
The Bid Management Career Ladder
Career progression in this field is defined by moving from production (doing the work) to strategy (directing the win).
1. The Entry Level: Bid Coordinator / Junior Writer
Focus: Support and Logistics.
Role: You are the engine room. You manage portals, maintain the bid library, and ensure compliance.
Salary Range: £30,000 to £38,000.
Progression Goal: Mastery of the bid lifecycle and achieving APMP Foundation certification.
2. The Mid-Tier: Bid Manager / Proposal Writer
Focus: Ownership and Execution.
Role: You own the document. You manage Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), lead storyboarding sessions, and manage the project timeline from ITT to submission.
Salary Range: £45,000 to £65,000.
Progression Goal: Transitioning from “managing the process” to “engineering the win themes.”
3. Senior Leadership: Senior Bid Manager / Lead Writer
Focus: Strategy and Influence.
Role: You handle “Must-Win” Tier 1 tenders. You are responsible for Capture Planning—positioning the business to win months before the RFP is even released.
Salary Range: £70,000 to £95,000.
Progression Goal: Demonstrating consistent ROI and managing a team of writers/coordinators.
4. Executive Level: Head of Bids / Bid Director
Focus: Governance and ROI.
Role: You are a commercial leader. You decide the “Bid/No-Bid” strategy for the entire company, manage the department budget, and oversee the AI implementation strategy.
Salary Range: £100,000 to £140,000+.
Progression Goal: Board-level influence and long-term framework retention.
Bid Manager Jobs FAQs.
Q: What is the current average salary for a Bid Manager in the UK?
As of early 2026, the national average for a mid-level Bid Manager is £58,958. However, the market is heavily segmented by sector and location. Specialists in Defence, Energy, and Infrastructure frequently see base salaries between £65,000 and £80,000. In London, “Senior” titles in the technology sector are currently peaking at £95,000 to £110,000, often supplemented by performance-related bonuses.
Source: Jooble Salary Statistics 2026 & Bid Solutions Salary Survey 2025/26.
Q: How is the Procurement Act 2023 impacting Bid Manager roles?
The Act has transformed the Bid Manager from a “process chaser” into a Strategic Value Lead. Under the new “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” (MEAT) evaluation rules, employers are searching for managers who can quantify social value and environmental impact. There is currently a 20% surge in demand for Bid Managers who can navigate the new Central Digital Platform.
Q: Is APMP certification mandatory to secure a high-paying role?
While not strictly mandatory for every role, the APM Salary Survey 2025/26 highlights that practitioners with APMP (Practitioner or Professional level) status earn an average of £10,000 to £12,000 more annually than their uncertified peers. It serves as the primary “filter” for recruiters hiring for roles within the £70k+ salary bracket.
Q: What is the difference between a Bid Manager and a Capture Manager?
In the 2026 workflow, the Bid Manager typically takes over once the ITT (Invitation to Tender) is live. The Capture Manager operates 6 to 12 months before the tender is released, focusing on client relationship building and “pre-selling” the solution. Capture roles are often the next logical step for Senior Bid Managers looking to move into higher-level strategy.
Q: Can I work as a Bid Manager remotely in 2026?
Yes. Approximately 65% of Bid Manager vacancies in the UK now offer “Hybrid” or “Remote-First” contracts. However, “must-win” periods often require onsite “War Room” sessions for final reviews. Interestingly, firms in the North West and Scotland are now offering London-competitive salaries to attract remote talent with specialist sector experience.
Q: How should I address “AI Literacy” on my CV?
Hiring managers in 2026 prioritise Governance over Automation. Do not just list “AI” as a skill. Instead, state how you have used AI for Compliance Shredding or Drafting Boilerplate while ensuring that sensitive client data remains secure within closed-loop systems.
How to Apply for Bid Manager Jobs and Stand Out.
In 2026, landing a top-tier Bid Manager role requires a shift in how you present yourself. Hiring managers are moving away from “process managers” and toward “commercial strategists” who can navigate the Procurement Act 2023 and lead digital transformation.
Here is how to make your application stand out from the crowd.
Create a “Bid Value Portfolio”
Generic CVs that focus on “daily duties” often fail AI-driven Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Instead, build a two-page Portfolio that treats your career as a series of successful projects.
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Win/Loss Data: Don’t be vague. Explicitly state your impact: “Managed a £200M multi-lot framework win with a 90% quality score” or “Maintained a 4:1 win-to-loss ratio across Public Sector ITTs.”
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Sector Specialisation: Group your wins by industry (e.g., “Civil Engineering,” “Defence,” or “Central Government”). This allows recruiters to see your immediate “fit” for their specific pipeline.
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The “Case Study” Approach: Briefly describe a complex bid where you took a disorganised team and turned them into a winning unit. Focus on how you managed the Bid/No-Bid qualification to protect company resources.
2. Quantify Your Commercial Impact
In your CV and Cover Letter, use the Resonate-Differentiate-Substantiate formula. This proves you understand the “science” of bidding.
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Average: “I am an experienced Bid Manager with excellent project management skills.”
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Stand-Out: “Reduced bid production costs by 25% by implementing a custom AI-driven content library, while simultaneously increasing the average bid score by 12% across five major framework renewals.”
Source: Emphasis Writing Skills: The Power of Substantiation & APM Market Trends 2025.
3. Showcase “AI Orchestration”
By 2026, being an “Expert in MS Word” is expected. To stand out, you must prove you can lead an AI-augmented bid team.
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Workflow Integration: Explain how you use tools like AutogenAI or Loopio to “shred” 500-page ITTs into compliance matrices in seconds.
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AI Governance: This is a major concern for 2026 hiring managers. Show you understand how to use Generative AI without compromising client confidentiality or GDPR. State that you use secure, “closed-loop” systems to ensure data never leaves the corporate environment.
4. Master the “High-Pressure” Interview
For Senior Bid Manager roles, interviewers look for emotional intelligence (EQ) and conflict resolution skills. Prepare stories for these specific 2026 “pressure” scenarios:
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The SME Conflict: “Tell us about a time a Subject Matter Expert (SME) refused to engage 48 hours before a deadline. How did you escalate this without damaging the relationship?”
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The “No-Bid” Stand: “Describe a time you advised the Board to ‘No-Bid’ on a major project the Sales Director wanted. How did you justify the risk, and what was the outcome?”
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The Loss Analysis: “Describe a major loss. What did the feedback say about your leadership, and how did you change the internal governance process to ensure it didn’t happen again?”
