Supply Chain and Subcontract Bids Manager

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Subcontract Bids Manager to support a leading organisation operating within the Defence and Digital domain. This role will play a key part in supporting major business-winning activity through the leadership of procurement and supply chain strategy across complex bids.

Location: Guildford (Hybrid working)

Contract: 12-month contract (Inside IR35)

Clearance: Must hold live SC Clearance used within the last 12 months (Sole British Nationals only)

The Role

We are supporting a leading defence organisation in the search for an experienced Subcontract Bids Manager to support the delivery of complex, high-value bid submissions.

This role sits within the bids and commercial function, with a strong emphasis on subcontracts, procurement and supply chain strategy rather than traditional bid writing. You will play a key role in shaping bid solutions by managing supplier engagement, subcontract strategies, commercial inputs and risk.

Working closely with bid, procurement, legal, engineering and finance teams, you will ensure that all subcontract and supply chain elements of bids are commercially robust, compliant and competitive.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop subcontracting and supply chain strategies for bids

• Manage supplier engagement, RFQs, negotiations and commercial inputs

• Support bid pricing, cost models, assumptions and risk management

• Draft, review and manage subcontract terms and commercial flow-downs

• Ensure compliance with internal governance, defence standards and procurement regulations

• Act as the key commercial interface between bids, procurement, legal and supply chain teams

• Support bid reviews, approvals and submission readiness activities

What We're Looking For

• Strong experience in commercial, procurement or subcontracts within a bid environment

• Background working on defence, aerospace, engineering or other highly regulated sector bids

• Proven capability managing supplier strategy, negotiations and commercial risk

• Comfortable supporting complex, multi-stakeholder bid environments

• Knowledge of defence contracting and supply chain frameworks (desirable)

• Active SC clearance and Sole British nationality

Why Apply?

• High-impact role supporting critical defence bid activity

• Clear ownership of commercial and supply chain elements of bids

• Hybrid working with a Guildford base

• Opportunity to work on long-term, complex and high-profile programmes