Contracts / Bid Manager

Overview

As the Contracts / Bid Manager at Xtend UK, you will take full responsibility for all submitted bids and signed contracts, particularly focusing on larger MOD opportunities, framework calls, and Army HQ tenders. Success in this role is critical to winning key contracts by transforming technical capabilities into compelling, winning narratives under tight deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the entire bid lifecycle for MOD tenders, framework calls, and prime sub-contract opportunities, from initial qualification through to submission.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive bid library including standard responses, past performance records, case studies, compliance evidence, CVs, and policies to accelerate future bid preparations.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary war rooms, aligning business development, technical, compliance, finance, and global engineering teams to deliver consistent, timely, and brand-compliant submissions.
• Lead contract review and provide negotiation support, overseeing red-line management alongside legal teams and external counsel.
• Maintain a live contracts register capturing obligations, milestones, deliverables, change requests, and renewal information.
• Implement disciplined bid/no-bid decisions to optimize opportunity selection.
• Enhance win rates through structured post-bid analysis, leveraging lessons from losses and templating successes.

Qualifications & Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in bid, capture, or contracts management within UK defence or regulated business-to-government sectors, demonstrated by proven successful wins.
• Proven track record with MOD or prime-led tenders including familiarity with DEFCON clauses and Single Source regulations.
• Exceptional written communication skills, able to craft persuasive narratives under tight deadlines.
• Strong program management skills capable of leading cross-functional teams to meet hard submission deadlines in pressured environments.
• Fluency in English and legal right to work in the UK.
• Preferred: APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification, experience in UAV/ISR/defence electronics sectors, or a military/MOD background.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Join a fast-growing defence-tech company with a dynamic pace and ongoing development of operational structure.
• Expect to contribute beyond formal job descriptions, collaborating closely with team members to achieve mission success.
• Emphasize a mission-first mindset, prioritizing operator-focused capability over processes and hierarchies.
• Operate effectively under evolving requirements and shifting deadlines while ensuring bid submissions are on target.
• Engage deeply with bid leadership, shaping win themes, driving both technical and commercial narratives, and owning results.
• Your work will have measurable impact on company revenue by directly influencing contract acquisition.
• Embrace high ownership, agility, and a proactive approach to execution speed and problem-solving.