Bid Manager (Electronics Manufacturing)
Location: Rogerstone, Newport
Contract Type: Full-time Permanent
Hours: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours per week
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Bid Manager to lead and develop a high-performing bid and quotation function within a fast-growing, advanced electronics manufacturing environment.
This is a pivotal role where you will take ownership of the full bid lifecycle—from initial customer enquiry through to quotation, risk assessment, and successful handover into New Product Introduction (NPI).
You will play a key role in shaping commercial outcomes, improving processes, and driving data-led decision making, while working closely with engineering, supply chain, operations, and customer-facing teams.
What You’ll Be Doing
Bid & Quotation Leadership
- Lead and coordinate the bid and quotation function, including documentation control
- Deliver accurate, timely, and commercially robust quotations
- Manage workload planning and prioritisation aligned to business strategy
- Review and approve all bids prior to submission
- Act as a key point of contact for customer technical and commercial queries
Costing & Commercial Ownership
- Develop detailed cost models including labour, materials, tooling, NRE, CAPEX, and subcontract services
- Validate BOM structures and manufacturing assumptions with internal teams
- Analyse variance between quoted and actual costs to drive continuous improvement
- Support strategic pricing and commercial decision-making
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Lead RFQ kick-off meetings and drive cross-functional collaboration
- Coordinate activities across engineering, supply chain, operations, and quality
- Support sales teams in opportunity qualification and customer engagement
- Manage customer expectations throughout the bid process
Data, Systems & Reporting
- Analyse large BOM and pricing datasets to ensure costing accuracy
- Develop and maintain dashboards for quotation performance, win rates, and margin analysis
- Create and enhance Excel-based estimating tools (including advanced formulae and macros)
- Extract and interpret data from ERP and CRM systems
- Work with IT to improve automation and system integration
NPI & Operational Handover
- Ensure a structured and controlled transition from bid stage into NPI
- Document manufacturing assumptions and ensure operational readiness
- Provide clear and complete handover documentation to project teams
Risk & Process Improvement
- Identify technical, manufacturing, and supply chain risks within RFQs
- Support bid/no-bid decisions and escalate high-risk opportunities
- Drive improvements in quote accuracy, turnaround time, and efficiency
- Develop and maintain quotation processes, tools, and governance standards
People Leadership
- Lead, develop, and manage a small team (2–3 people)
- Conduct performance reviews, training plans, and coaching
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
What Success Looks Like
- High-quality, accurate quotations delivered on time
- Improved win rates and margin performance
- Reduced cost variance between quote and production
- Efficient, data-driven quotation processes
- Strong collaboration across technical and commercial teams
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- 5+ years’ experience in electronics or contract manufacturing
- Proven background in bid management, estimating, or cost engineering
- Strong leadership and team management capability
- Excellent communication skills across technical and commercial stakeholders
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, complex formulae, data analysis)
- Strong analytical and numerical ability
- Experience working with BOMs, pricing data, and structured datasets
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to meet tight deadlines
- Commercially aware and customer-focused
Desirable
- Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or similar
- Experience with Power BI or other BI/reporting tools
- Knowledge of Excel macros / VBA or automation tools
- Basic database or SQL knowledge
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g. SAP, Epicor, IFS)
- Experience using CRM systems
- Understanding of assembly and box-build manufacturing
- Background in aerospace, defence, medical, or industrial sectors
- Lean / Continuous Improvement experience