Senior Bids & Proposal Manager

Company Description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state‑of‑the‑art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

The Proposal Manager will act as the central point of control for major proposal submissions, ensuring that deliverables are compliant, compelling, and submitted on time. This position is highly collaborative, interfacing with Key Account Capture Managers, Sales, Technology, Program Management, Finance, Contracts, and external teaming partners. This role requires deep understanding of government acquisition life cycles, IDIQ contracts, task orders, and large detection and identification technology programs.

• Analyze RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, BAFOs, and amendments to identify requirements, compliance issues, and risks.
• Develop proposal management plans, including schedules, compliance matrices, annotated outlines, and responsibility assignments.
• Work with Capture Managers to translate win strategies into discriminators, themes, and messaging frameworks, including the development of appropriate Basis of Estimate (BOE).
• Work with Sales Operations Manager and Finance department to develop and implement financial models to prepare the fundamentals of each proposal.
• Establish and enforce color review schedules to maximize quality and alignment with customer evaluation criteria.

• Lead daily proposal stand‑up meetings during live bids, ensuring team accountability and progress tracking.
• Coordinate inputs from SMEs, Technology, Contracts, Finance, Product Management, and Subcontractors.
• Act as the liaison to teaming partners: distribute sections, collect input, and integrate partner materials into final proposal volumes.
• Manage proposal version control, ensuring traceability and auditability across drafts.
• Establish coordination and accounting with government solicitation and proposal submission tools & systems.

• Draft and edit critical proposal sections, including:
• Executive Summaries (tailored for government evaluators).
• Management Plans (program execution, logistics, subcontracting, risk).
• Past Performance/Experience narratives.
• Staffing/Key Personnel qualifications.
• Compliance Narratives addressing FAR/DFARS and DHS regulations.
• Support Finance and Pricing teams in developing clear cost/price narratives, ensuring alignment between technical and commercial volumes.
• Incorporate compelling visuals, graphics, and data to emphasize discriminators and value propositions in corporation with the Sales Operations Manager.

• Ensure strict compliance with FAR, DFARS, DHS procurement rules, TSA technical directives, SSI requirements, and CBP acquisition policies.
• Conduct compliance reviews at each milestone to guarantee all mandatory sections, certifications, and forms are addressed.
• Partner with Contracts and Legal to review terms & conditions, address exceptions, and minimize contractual risk.

• Maintain a centralized content library of reusable proposal material, graphics, and templates.
• Implement best practices in proposal automation, editing, and desktop publishing.
• Conduct after‑action reviews (lessons learned) following each submission and track win/loss analysis for continuous improvement.

• On‑Time Submissions: 100% compliance with…