Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircrafts. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. And, together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Head of Bid Management, TTS

This role is based in Crawley with hybrid working.

Are you looking for a new challenge where you can drive and empower the Bid Management Community to achieve Growth for the business, whilst promoting good practice, effective process and governance? With the added challenge of leading a team of bid managers and the opportunity to influence the Strategic Capability Plans for our Bid & Project Management function? If so, then this role might be for you!

What the role has to offer

• Great exposure, visibility and understanding of how the business works, including active participation in the UK BidCOM

• A varied array of bids across all Training & Simulation product lines, exploiting technologies such as AI, VR, MR, near-real synthetic environments and the Metaverse.

• Exceptional development opportunities and progression pathways within the business unit and across the Group.

Our Opportunity

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Bid Management to work within our Training and Simulation UK business. This business delivers training across air, land and sea and is the leading provider of land training services across Europe. We have an exciting future ahead as we pursue growth from our heritage business, as well as newer, digital offerings.

As Head of Bid Management, your role will include a dynamic blend of responsibilities, emphasising not only the successful delivery of bids but also the strategic management and nurturing of a team of bid professionals. This position plays a critical role in managing our sales and prospect pipeline and being a key interface to the Business Winning functions.

Key tasks/Responsibilities:

Undertake the activities that will ensure the proactive management of the bid portfolio, this will typically include (but is not limited to) the following:

• Being the focal point for all aspects of bid management within the business, including leadership of the bid management team

• Contributing to the personal development of individuals within a diverse team

• Maintaining the domain bid pipeline, B&P forecast and presenting a consolidated bid picture to the Domain and Operations leadership team

• Maintain the resource demand forecast and contribute to an effective Sales and operations planning (S&OP) process

• Generating comprehensive status reporting for Bids at various levels

• Driving effective bid management practices and continuous improvement activities

About You

We are looking for someone who has led and delivered winning bids of varying complexity and understand complex or regulated markets – a familiarity with Training & Simulation would be an advantage, either from a commercial, or military perspective.

You will be an inspiring and thoughtful leader, capable of creating an environment where everyone can be his or her best, every day.

• An individual with a keen analytical mind-set; bringing modern way of thinking about how we can solve problems, with a strong emphasis on data and analytics.

• Full project lifecycle experience is desirable, but notably knowledge of capture, qualification and project initiation is necessary.

• Working in a complex, multidisciplinary, matrixed multi-site organisation

• The ability to adapt personal style to achieve the desired results from interactions with team members and stakeholders.

• An inquisitive attitude; keen to learn, develop and challenge the inputs from other functions.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!