New Business Project Manager

New Business Project Manager
Defence & Advanced Engineering Programmes

Our client is a leading engineering and technology organisation operating within the defence and security sector. Due to continued international growth, major contract awards, and an expanding portfolio of complex programmes, they are seeking a New Business Project Manager to join a growing business area focused on advanced defence systems.

This is a highly visible role positioned at the heart of business growth activity, supporting domestic and international opportunities across a portfolio of complex programmes. The successful candidate will lead and coordinate bid activities, working closely with multiple functions to develop compelling customer proposals and deliver successful business outcomes.

The position offers exposure to senior stakeholders, strategic partnerships, international collaboration, and future programme mobilisation activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate complex bid and proposal activities from initial customer enquiry through to approval and submission.
• Manage the end-to-end bid lifecycle, ensuring delivery to agreed quality, cost, and schedule targets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineering, operations, procurement, finance, commercial, customer support, and programme management.
• Develop and manage cost models, project schedules, risk assessments, assumptions, dependencies, and business cases.
• Ensure bids are competitive, compliant, auditable, and aligned with customer requirements.
• Support contract mobilisation and transition activities following successful contract award.
• Provide regular progress reporting and updates to senior leadership and governance forums.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including international partners.
• Coordinate bid reviews, approval processes, and executive-level presentations.
• Support audits, assurance activities, and governance requirements where applicable.
• Drive consistency and best practice across multiple business development and proposal teams.

Candidate Profile
We are looking for an individual who thrives in a fast-paced, complex environment and enjoys coordinating multiple stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.

Essential Experience

• Experience within project management, bid management, programme management, business development, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-functional teams in a matrix environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience managing competing priorities and challenging deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery principles.
• Ability to analyse complex information and translate it into actionable plans.
• Excellent organisational and reporting skills.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within defence, aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, or other highly regulated industries.
• Knowledge of government or public-sector procurement environments.
• Understanding of bid governance and proposal development processes.
• Project Management qualifications or a desire to obtain professional accreditation.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary and annual bonus opportunity.
• Generous pension contribution scheme.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Additional annual leave options.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies.
• Professional development and funded qualifications.
• Excellent onsite facilities and employee wellbeing support.
• Long-term career progression opportunities across project, programme, and business management functions.

Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK security clearance. Eligibility will typically require British citizenship or an alternative status permitting security clearance consideration under current UK Government regulations.

Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing and strategically important business area supporting high-profile programmes with domestic and international customers.

You will gain significant exposure to senior leadership, influence major business opportunities, and help shape the future growth of a market-leading organisation in a sector that delivers critical national capability.