Commercial Bid Manager

Who we are

VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.

What we do

We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.

Location - Hybrid working covering - Central and Southern England

Salary - Attractive salary commensurate with experience 

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Bid Manager to provide senior commercial leadership across bidding and new business activity. Reporting to the Strategy & Growth Director, this role will ensure that bids and new opportunities are commercially robust, financially sound, and deliver profitable, sustainable outcomes with an appropriate risk profile.

Acting as the commercial authority on complex and high-value bids, you will lead commercial strategy, financial modelling, and risk assessment throughout the bid lifecycle. Working closely with bid, finance, legal, and operational teams, you will provide clear commercial assurance and support effective decision-making at senior levels.

About You

You are a commercially astute leader with a strong track record of supporting and winning profitable public sector business. You bring deep experience of competitive tendering, public procurement mechanisms, and commercial governance, and are confident translating complex financial and contractual information into clear, practical advice.

Credible and resilient, you are comfortable influencing senior stakeholders and constructively challenging assumptions where required. With strong interpersonal and communication skills, you build trust quickly and operate with integrity, professionalism, and sound judgement.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership

• Act as commercial lead for selected complex and large bids, providing direction and assurance throughout the bid process.
• Develop competitive commercial propositions that deliver sustainable value for both customers and the business.
• Analyse customer contracts and bid documentation to ensure clarity on pricing, payment mechanisms, and performance obligations.

Financial Modelling, Risk & Governance

• Ensure financial modelling is robust, policy-compliant, and supported by comprehensive cost capture and risk identification.
• Provide clear, accurate commercial and financial information to support governance and approval decisions.
• Identify, document, and manage commercial risks to ensure proportionate and acceptable risk exposure.

Strategy, Policy & Capability

• Support the Strategy & Growth Director in shaping new opportunities, propositions, and routes to market.
• Contribute to the development and consistent application of commercial policies, processes, and best practice.
• Coach and educate commercial colleagues and the wider business on commercial awareness, governance, and financial best practice.

Person Specification

Experience

• Senior commercial experience supporting competitive tendering for public sector contracts.
• Proven track record of contributing to the winning of profitable, sustainable public sector business.
• Experience operating within structured commercial governance and approval environments.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong commercial acumen with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex commercial and financial concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Proven ability to influence and advise senior leaders constructively.
• Resilient, self-motivated, and comfortable working with autonomy and accountability.
• Inclusive, collaborative, and values-led leadership style.

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement mechanisms and routes to market.
• Sound understanding of commercial governance and financial assurance.
• High personal integrity and commitment to ethical and professional standards.

Additional Information

• Flexibility to travel as required.
• Security Clearance at SC level may be required.

VIVO Defence Services

The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.

At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.

We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.