Bid and Project Manager

Description

This role is based at our Cyber Centre of Excellence in Maidenhead, with hybrid working options available.

Ultra Cyber Ltd is seeking an experienced Project Manager with experience in both leading end-to-end delivery of engineering projects, and the development and governance of bids.

This pivotal role straddles being accountable for driving successful outcomes across the full project lifecycle and leading the planning, coordination, development, and submission of high-quality bids and proposals in response to customer requirements.

You will provide strong leadership and governance, guiding projects and bids through defined stage gates while ensuring schedule, cost and quality objectives are met. Working closely with technical, commercial, sales and wider business stakeholders, you will bring structure, pace, and assurance to the delivery of highly complex engineering projects.

The ideal candidate will have experience within Defence, with a proven track record of managing large-scale and technically demanding engineering projects in highly regulated structured delivery environments; and delivering NRE and production bid submissions that are compliant, compelling and meet the needs of the customer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of complex, multidisciplinary engineering projects across the full project lifecycle, from concept development through delivery and close-out.

• Manage the complete bid lifecycle from opportunity identification through submission and contract award.

• Review tender documents, Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Invitations to Tender (ITTs), and Requests for Information (RFIs).

• Develop bid plans, schedules, and submission strategies.

• Coordinate bid kick-off meetings, progress reviews and proceed through the required governance processes.

• Provide strong project leadership and direction, establishing clear governance structures and successfully managing projects through defined lifecycle and assurance gates.

• Develop, maintain, and control detailed project plans, schedules, and budgets, ensuring delivery in line with agreed scope, cost, and timescale commitments.

• Direct and coordinate cross-functional teams, including engineering, quality assurance, procurement, and external partners, to achieve project objectives.

• Partner closely with the Engineering Project Lead to ensure rigorous adherence to systems engineering processes, technical governance, and design assurance.

• Proactively manage project risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies, implementing effective mitigation strategies and ensuring timely escalation where required.

• Provide clear, concise, and accurate project reporting, communicating status, risks, opportunities, and recommendations to stakeholders and senior leadership.

• Ensure full compliance with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, security standards, and quality frameworks throughout the project lifecycle.

Required Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• Proven experience in project management within an engineering or technology environment.

• An awareness and understanding of engineering principles and lifecycle models.

• Experience with structured project management methodologies such as Waterfall, Scrum and Agile.

• Excellent stakeholder management, both internal and external, with superb communication skills.

• Experience in managing customer relationships, ideally within the Defence Sector.

• Strong leadership and team coordination capabilities.

• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira).

Desirable Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• Formal certification in project management (e.g., APM PMQ, PRINCE2, AgilePM).

• Experience with defence, aerospace, or highly regulated industries.

• Experience delivering projects involving software, firmware and hardware integration.

• Experience managing physical production and/or product through life support.

Security Clearance:

• Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain DV security clearance.

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Notice

Due to the nature of the programs we deliver for our customers, candidates may need to obtain the relevant security clearance or handle export-controlled material as defined by the role's requirements. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance for the role. Due to the nature of our work, you must be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. For more information, please visit the UKSV website.

Our Benefits

Every employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:

• Participation in an Annual Bonus Scheme

• Private Medical Cover

• 25 days’ holiday (plus Bank Holidays) with the option to buy an extra 5 days

• Pension Contribution

• 4 x Life Assurance Cover

• Flexible working hours with opportunity for a 1pm finish on a Friday

• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, will writing and more

• Security Clearance Allowance – where relevant and subject to you holding the required security clearance

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement