Bid Office Manager at Dark Fibre Africa

Main purpose
Develop and manage the bid office and end-to-end bid process, which includes determining geographic scope (number of sites, location of sites), solution scope (number of technologies, lines of business), service scope (number of services, SLAs), and commercial complexity (contractual terms and conditions, pricing models, subcontractors) of bids received.

Key performance areas and tasks

• Manage all aspects and stages of received bids using related supporting tools, systems, and processes.
• Apply sound project management principles and techniques to the management of bids.
• Effectively manage resources to facilitate the development of appropriate deal strategies, solution and service architectures, commercial models, and delivery/service management plans.
• Establish clear and effective plans for each bid and execute with these plans.
• Ensure that the risk exposure on all bids is understood, documented, and communicated to all stakeholders and appropriately addressed or mitigated.
• Keep an auditable trail of all bid artefacts and records.
• Ensure that each bid is subject to requisite team and management reviews prior to submission, complying with corporate governance.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders at all levels of the organisation and across all functions.
• Understand the internal business model and key functions and offerings, as well as local operating, commercial, and general business environment and conditions.
• Develop knowledge of DFA's business, its products, and services by reading and reviewing previous bids and design documents and spending time with pre-sales, technical, and commercial functions
• Review and improve other customer materials and develop a consistent set of standards for other commercial functions to follow.
• Develop a set of standard templates for less complex bids

Working conditions

• Office based
• Some travel may be required
• Extended working hours may be required

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications

• Tertiary qualification/s related to commerce or business
• 5 years of work experience
• 2 years of people management experience within a bid office environment
• 2 years of experience in bid and project management and sales support
• Experience in the development and execution of bid plans and strategy
• Experience in managing customer relationships
• Experience using a CRM system
• Display a high level of customer orientation and professionalism in dealing with customers (and partners or subcontractors)
• Sound business acumen, local market awareness, and a conceptual grasp of technology, commercials, and services
• Experience in telecommunications an advantage
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to balance delivery with agreed and contracted expectations
• Demonstrate good leadership skills and have the ability to think strategically
• The ability to build a plan and deliver against the plan
• Knowledge of public procurement contracting and tendering principles
• Knowledge of the principles and procedures involved in financial management
• Proven ability to understand the dynamics of human negotiation among conflicting interest groups and how to achieve mutual agreement
• Proven ability to effectively manage and coordinate the output of a highly diverse team of professionals

Closing date:27/01/2020