Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

The Regional Proposal Manager is responsible to project manage the proposal preparation process for bids as assigned in accordance with the GKN bid procedure and governance, starting at the Gate 0 (bid-no bid decision) through to Bid submission to the Customer. The Proposal Manager is accountable and responsible to deliver high quality, competitive proposals to the business, which are fully compliant with all applicable requirements, on time and meet the expectations of the customer as well as the GKN Aerospace governance. They will maintain a bid dossier and is responsible to ensure accurate configuration control and record keeping in order to ensure a smooth transition to program execution following contract award. The Regional Proposal Manager reports to the Proposal Management Lead for the Defense Business Line.

Job Responsibilities

• Full responsibility for managing proposals as assigned in support of each bid leader through managing dedicated teams of multi-functional specialists - at one or more sites/locations - to compile competitive integrated proposals.

• Ensure that proposal development is executed efficiently using standard tools, processes, and professional resource management.

• Maintain accurate recordkeeping and configuration control of all documents and decisions made during the proposal process up to and including contract award (incl. contract sign-off).

• Ensure that after contract award, the bid dossier and associate deliverables are unambiguous, transparent and up-to-date for smooth transfer to the Program Team accountable for delivery of a newly won work package.

• Assist in protecting the commercial interests of the company by reviewing the proposal (including linkage to terms and conditions) to identify where there may be commercial risks and in identifying ways to mitigate any such risks.

• Responsible for writing, coordinating, and collating bid documentation to form a professional, coherent and compelling proposal submission to Customers.

• Support Bid leader and Commercial Management Team during capture planning and negotiation phases.

• Provide guidance for negotiation parameters based on the assumptions and conditions that are part of the proposal baseline.

• Ensure teams include the required specialism and knowledge needed for a compliant and competitive bid. Provides feedback on performance and development of the proposal teams to the line and matrix manager where applicable.

• Address commercial performance issues in a timely and appropriate fashion. Where necessary, initiate corrective action.

• Working with the Proposal Management Lead, to promote and implement continuous improvement initiatives with respect to commercial processes for proposal management and the delivery of world class proposal documents.

• Ensure that the Commercial Support Team has any relevant contract or agreement documents in order to maintain and ensure the Aerospace Commercial contract database contains all relevant contract and agreement documentation.

• Work with the Commercial Support Team to manage and maintain the Confidentiality/NDA database.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Technical, Contracts, or related field

• Experience with Aerospace and/or Defense government contracting

• Experience understanding complex customer requirements and translating them into a winning proposal response.

• 5+ years’ experience in Program Management, Proposals, Costing, Pricing, Manufacturing Engineering, or similar role.

• Ability to develop and maintain positive and working relations with current and prospective customers.

  Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience generating or reviewing financial cost models in a manufacturing environment or aerospace industry.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the business from Market Sector Business Line President down.

• Sense of Urgency for reaching goals and key deliverables.

• Analytical, Problem Solving, and Team Working skills.

  We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

  A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

  Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

  We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

  We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology. ​

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