Head of Bid Management Navigation

Location: Gorgonzola, Italy

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Gorgonzola hosts Navigations Air Systems (NAS) domain. The activity of NAS domain: avionics, navigation and radar systems for civil air traffic and technologies supporting the activities of civilian and military pilots, ATC controllers and technicians of several airlines, air traffic control agencies and Air Force around the world. Italy is the Group’s Competence center for the design, production and delivery of Navigation Aids products and Competence Centre for the delivery of non-Radar Surveillance Products.

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. Our Ground Navigation portfolio offers a complete range of products which includes the latest generation of ILS, DME, VOR and TACAN systems.

With more than 7,000 Navigation aids and landing systems installed worldwide in 172 countries, we are leading the Navaids market.

We are currently looking for a **Head of Bid Management** to join the Thales Land and Air Systems, in its Navaids Center of Competence in **Gorgonzola (near Milan).**

The **Head of Bid Management** plays a key role by making sure the Bids are properly framed to go through the Thales approval process and ultimately the associated offers are delivered on time and on cost, maximizing the winning and capture rate.

This is one of the most exciting roles in a Business Unit, that delivers offers to customers all over the world.
**Main Tasks**:

- Manage the portfolio of Airspace Mobility Solutions (AMS-NAS) customer offers reporting to the Bids & Projects Director.
- Deploy win teams that link customer needs to defined benefits of the Thales offering.
- Manage priorities among bids and ensure availability of skilled resources.
- Approve the internal executive summaries.
- Ensure on time and on conformity delivery of proposals.
- Define and improve bid practices and related tools to optimize the bid process.
Main interfaces are Marketing and sales, Product Line Architect, Product Design Authority, Program Management, Industry, Senior management, Contract Management.
**Detailed tasks description and responsibilities**:

- Lead and engage the bid team, providing bid management direction.
- Ensure that cost estimates are effectively evaluated to ensure competitive and winning pricing.
- Align the bids offering to the strategic direction to maximise the business opportunities.
- Manage and ensure reviews and governance, leading to high-quality proposals.
- Support to Bid Managers to improve their skills.
- Maintain the bid library with detailed relevant content, maximizing standardization of NAS Products/solution configurations.
- Ensure customer satisfaction and maintain Thales processes.
**Experience**:

- Bachelor’s degree in field with 12+ years’ experience or Master’s degree in field with 8+ years’ experience, or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge of Ground Navigation/Surveillance and/or Air Traffic Management or knowledge in Aeronautics and/or Aviation.
- Good knowledge of business administration and contract management.
- Fluent in English.
- Speak fluently additional languages such as, Italian, Spanish, French.
- Proficient user of Microsoft Excel as well as typical office tools such as MS Office.
- An interest in the sector, combined with a willingness to keep up to date with industry trends, regulations and legislation.
**Social competencies**:

- Ability to drive the right bid solutions across complex multi-faced organisational and stakeholder boundaries.
- Interpersonal and verbal communication skills with written presentation and reporting writing skills.
- Independence and creativity in solving problem.
- Team leadership skills, lateral leadership.
- Commercial thinking.
- Orientation to results
- Strength in dealing with international teams and different cultures.
- Willingness to travel worldwide.
- Based in Milan Area (Italy).
- Reporting to Bids & Project Director.