We are looking for an experienced Tender Manager to lead the end-to-end delivery of competitive tender opportunities across Pump Rental Solutions.
You will be responsible for managing the tender process from initial opportunity assessment through to submission, award and post-award handover, ensuring all submissions are compliant, commercially aligned, high quality and delivered within agreed timescales.
Working closely with the Head of Bids and stakeholders across Business Development, Sales, Commercial, Operational and Quality teams, you will drive accountability, coordinate resources and ensure tenders are effectively planned, managed and delivered.
Main Responsibilities:
- Administer tender, procurement, reporting and commercial compliance systems, maintaining tender resources, document control, access arrangements, action trackers and submission records.
- Manage tender activity from initial assessment through to submission and award, including PME, PIN, EOI, RFI, PQQ and ITT stages, commercial evaluation and bid/no-bid coordination.
- Develop bid plans, coordinate stakeholders and allocate activities, managing reviews, risks, dependencies and deadlines; work with the Head of Bids on governance and resource planning and maintain close relationships with business development and sales teams across Pump Rental Solutions.
- Coordinate commercial submissions, assess and communicate contractual obligations, manage tender clarifications and derogations, and liaise with commercial teams to coordinate negotiations on formal customer agreements.
- Coordinate final reviews and approvals to ensure submissions meet tender instructions, mandatory requirements, scoring criteria and deadlines.
- Drive continual improvement during and after submission by identifying, recording and communicating gaps in quality, data and evidence, and liaising with the quality department to manage process gaps in line with the Integrated Management System.
- Prepare monthly executive-level reporting for the Head of Bids, covering anticipated contract awards, wins, losses and key status changes.
- Identify and evaluate post-award framework requirements covering operational delivery, standards, SLA and KPI reporting.
- Compile and communicate Contract Quality Plans (CQPs), coordinate the handover of agreed customer compliance requirements to responsible stakeholders, record ownership and monitor completion of actions.
- Maintain current knowledge of company policies, procedures, quality systems, products, services and innovation, developing an understanding of operations through engagement across the business.
Qualifications, Experience and Personal Attributes:
Essential:
- Degree educated or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Proven experience managing the full tender or bid lifecycle, from opportunity assessment through to submission and award.
- Experience developing bid plans, coordinating resources and managing stakeholders, dependencies and deadlines.
- Strong understanding of tender requirements, procurement processes and submission compliance.
- Excellent Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Excel and Word, with experience using electronic tender portals and document management systems.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams, establish accountability and challenge constructively to maintain deadlines.
- Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and changing requirements.
- A proactive, collaborative and accountable approach, with strong attention to detail
Beneficial:
- APMP certification and/or a recognised project management qualification.
- Experience managing tenders in a technical or engineering-led environment, ideally utilities, infrastructure or equipment hire, with an understanding of regulated markets and formal procurement processes, ideally in water or wider utilities.