Global Bid Manager

Function: Business Development, Global Strategic Accounts

Title: Global Bid Manager

Immediate manager: Head of Bid Management, Global Strategic Accounts


1. Purpose of the Job :

• To develop, grow and retain Sodexo business through delivering the segment sales strategy by overseeing and leading a bid management function for global bids.
• To actively manage and direct the tender process for complex, multi-country / multi-region Global Strategic Account bids, utilizing standardized methods and tools to guide bidding teams through tasks and activities to achieve highly productive, winning client sales proposals.
• To add value and effective support to the business development function by ensuring that through the bid management team, all documentation is of a high standard, clear, appropriate to the project, and communicates the agreed win themes / value proposition.

2. Context and main issues Describe the most difficult types of problems the jobholder must face (internal or external to Sodexo) and/or the regulations, guidelines, and practices that are to be adhered to.Key member of the bid project team for multi-country / multi-regional, high priority bids:

• Act as Lead PMO and taking ownership for the end-to-end bid process, reporting back at each milestone, ensuring compliance with Sodexo's global bid process (i.e., alignment with Process 2.3)
• Support the bid project team to identify strategy, value proposition and win themes, and to develop solutions appropriate for the bid
• Identify and highlight risks, assumptions and opportunities within the bid process

Bids are complex in nature and entail managing across multiple Sodexo geographies / regions

• Analyze the bid documents to understand the needs of the client and communicates this out to the bid project team
• Conduct bid planning / preparation following Sodexos global bid process to ensure that deadlines are met
• Management spans across Sodexos operating countries, requiring navigation of all time zones and the diverse nature of the organization (culture, language, local capabilities and skills)
• Supports large, complex global opportunities that can span:
• ~100 locations worldwide.
• ~50 countries.
• Works closely with sales teams throughout the opportunity lifecycle.
• Coordinates and influences a broad network of 50+ contributors, subject matter experts, and support resources who support the bid effort but do not report directly to the role.
  Controls, drafts and consolidates the bid response, ensuring the structure complies with the client request
• Leverage and contribute to the existing GSA bid knowledge library
• Collate materials provided by various departments / subject matter experts (SMEs), ensuring a uniform tone across the overall bid submission
• Bid writing and creation / editing of final bid content are key outputs of this role
• Leverages technology tools & AI proficiently to support consistency and efficiency in the bid process and client return documents

3. Main assignments :

Project Management:

• Oversee the end-to-end bid management process for large-scale, complex, multi-country / multi-region business development opportunities
• Manage multiple ongoing bids to client timelines, directing the various bid teams activities on a daily basis.
• Establish program management for each bid, then own and run the bid and coordinate the work of the bid team. This includes developing the bid plan and organizing and chairing regular core team meetings
• Act as a single point of contact for problem solving and internal clarification questions
• Identify, track, manage, escalate and resolve risks that impact the bid teams ability to meet client timelines / requirements
• Ensure bid team follows internal governance and approval processes to ensure timely decision making needed for the bid
• Serve as the central communication coordinator for the bid team, ensuring timely dissemination of information, decisions, updates, and action items throughout the bid lifecycle.
• Maintain alignment between sales, operations, SMEs, design resources, and other bid contributors through structured communication processes.
• Facilitate weekly or more frequent bid team meetings to monitor progress, resolve issues, manage dependencies, and ensure alignment against bid milestones.
• Drive execution across multiple workstreams to maintain momentum and ensure timely completion of deliverables.

Bid Response Management:

• Prepare Opportunity Assessment / Go_No Go materials, in coordination with sales lead
• Prepare Kick Off, Core Team, and Steering Committee communications, in coordination with sales lead
• Oversee the development of the response drafts of RFI, RFP, presentation / yellow pad materials, site solutions and other client communications as part of the bid process
• Create, issue and manage response templates; establish the bid response timetable
• Populate standard answers; source, edit / re-write material from previous tenders and bid library to re-purpose relevant materials, leveraging AI tools balanced with human touch
• Guide subject matter experts in the development of their assigned responses
• Author certain responses that may not otherwise exist in Sodexo
• Prepare case studies and other reference materials (capability presentations, tour guides, etc.)
• Ensure bid responses are accurate, reflect the determined win themes / value proposition, and are delivered on time
• Coordinate bid close-out with bid management team to enrich bid library; provide constructive feedback on library content
• Provide directions on the structure, visual presentation, and overall quality of proposal submissions and executive presentations.
• Define presentation requirements and guide the development of compelling proposal materials that align with client expectations and evaluation criteria.

Value Proposition Development:

• Assist in the development of the go-to-market strategy for each bid. Work with core team (sales, operations, solution development, HR, finance, legal) to build tailored solutions that result in a win-win for client & Sodexo
• Challenge the bid team to continually rethink and refine these strategies to address client needs and evolving market dynamics

Stakeholder Management:

• Coordinate with the core team (sales, operations, solution development, HR, finance, legal, bid design/production) to agree bid details and timelines
• Liaise with SMEs to ensure their engagement and input to the solution, as part of solution workshops and bid response development
• Consult regularly with leadership and keep stakeholders up to date on bid status, changes, and potential issues and resolutions
• Manage / grow relationships with internal stakeholders across Sodexos operating countries
• Act as liaison with external client stakeholders during the bid process (incl. consultants, client procurement and senior personnel) as needed (note: business development is first point of contact with clients)
• Arrange post-bid / lessons learned discussions and support implementation of resulting actions
• Support pre-RFP engagement activities, including sharing case studies, capability materials, reference documentation, and coordinating site visits or client tours to strengthen client understanding of Sodexo's capabilities.
• Participate in opportunity-shaping activities prior to formal RFP issuance.
• Attend client discussions and meetings to gather business requirements, capture key insights, and identify emerging client needs.
• Translate client conversations and requirements into clear actions, priorities, and deliverables for the bid team.
• Ensure information obtained through client interactions is communicated effectively to all relevant stakeholders.

Other activities may include but not be limited to:

• Support GSA targeting activities, pipeline management, governance of other sales activities as needed
• Support country-specific requests that may bubble up from must win opportunities (as time and priorities permit)
• Support Head of Bid Management, GSA with governance and communication across Sodexos bid management community globally, taking an active role in bid management professional family meetings
• Support the development and refinement of the bid management framework by providing feedback and ideas and inputting / updating existing tools and processes

5. Accountabilities Give the 3 to 5 key outputs of the position vis- -vis the organization; they should focus on end results, not duties or activities.

• Excellent project management skills with strong focus on attention to detail; track record of successfully managing and delivering multiple projects on time
• Proven capacity to effectively manage complex bid document development processes (bid writing, bid design, content management, stakeholder management), ensure consistently high standards are maintained, and ensure compliance to client requirements
• High level of knowledge, skills and aptitude with bid management technologies Ariba/SAP/Client-specific bid portals; MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint are key requirements), AI (generative and agentic)
• An excellent communicator (verbal and written) with the ability to influence at senior level. Experienced at communicating across geographies, cultures, and time zones. Always professional, and ensures confidentiality of information is maintained as needed
• Continually looks to identify and implement process improvements to the GSA bid function and global bid management community in Sodexo

6. Person Specification Indicate the skills, knowledge and experience that the job holder should require to conduct the role effectively

• Of graduate caliber ideally allied to the areas of sales, marketing, or operations / business.
• 5-10 years experience within a bidding environment. Supervisory/management experience a plus.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment. Has a high level of management ability and awareness of customer focus
• Ability to understand and apply latest technology and techniques to improve bid deliverables (including but not limited to proposal automation, AI tools (generative and agentic), CRM tools, etc.)
• Ability to motivate and direct a remote team, including senior leaders, many of whom will not be based in the same geography and are not direct reports.
• Sound experience and good understanding of document development & production (content and design) for large-scale bids
• Awareness of market trends; ability to leverage market / industry research into actionable intelligence; convert findings into applied, specific information and suggestions that add value to sales strategy and client value proposition development
• Knowledge of Sodexos go-to-market strategy, position in the marketplace and the comparative strengths and weaknesses of competitors' services and/or products, and the ability to apply this understanding to new business opportunities.
• The ideal candidate will have a high level of project management experience, an understanding of Sodexo practices and structure, the ability to draw upon global resources, and be able to work independently.
• Ability to align and influence large numbers of geographically dispersed stakeholders, many without direct reporting relationships, ensuring coordinated execution toward a common bid strategy and outcome.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize complex cross-functional teams and drive engagement across multiple countries, cultures, and business functions.

7. Competencies Indicate which of the Sodexo core competencies and any professional competencies that the role requires

• Customer Focus

Resourcefulness

• Cultivates Innovation

Collaboration

• Manages Ambiguity

Communicates Effectively

• Being Resilient

Optimizes Work Processes
8. Management Approval To be completed by document owner
Version1DateJuly, 2026Approved byStephanie Quehl; DIRECTOR, GLOBAL GSA BID MANAGEMENT