Head of Commercial and Bids

About Us

Ocular is an Independent Security Systems Integrator, with expertise built over four decades delivering security solutions for high-security, public space, transport, and infrastructure projects throughout the UK and Ireland. Committed to building long-lasting customer relationships, we do so by delivering an exceptional service - every step of the way. 

Ocular has built strong partnerships with leading technology providers to enable us to keep at the forefront of technological advances and deliver innovative and reliable solutions that are tailored to every customer’s needs.

Job Description

We are looking to appoint a senior leader into the Sales and Bids function at Ocular, supporting the delivery of high-risk, high-value projects on a hybrid basis from our Nottingham HQ.

This is a strategically important appointment for the business and will play a key role in shaping and strengthening our future bid and commercial capability as we continue to grow within critical national infrastructure markets.

The Head of Bids and Commercial will lead the end-to-end delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary tenders and proposals, ensuring Ocular secures profitable and sustainable growth within the security integration sector.

Working closely with Sales, Operations, Technical, Finance and Legal teams, the role will own the tender and proposal strategy, governance and submission process, ensuring all proposals are compliant, compelling and commercially robust.

In addition, this role will provide leadership, structure and ongoing development to the wider bids function, building and supporting a high-performing team beneath them to create greater consistency, collaboration and long-term capability across the business.

This is a highly visible and influential position requiring strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, alongside the ability to operate effectively under pressure and deliver to challenging deadlines.

Key Goals & Objectives

• Develop clear win strategies and lead the end-to-end management of tender and proposal programmes for major projects and service solutions, from opportunity qualification through to contract award, operational handover and delivery support.
• Translate business strategy and sales objectives into high-quality, customer-focused tender responses that clearly differentiate Ocular within the market and support sustainable growth across critical national infrastructure sectors.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of the bid management process, implementing best-practice governance, tools, templates and cross-functional collaboration to create a more integrated and efficient end-to-end approach across Sales, Commercial and Operations.
• Build, lead and support a high-performing bids and commercial team, providing structure, mentoring and clear direction to ensure consistency, accountability and long-term capability within the function.
• Drive best-practice tender and proposal management standards across the business, ensuring all submissions are compliant, commercially robust and aligned with industry standards and Ocular governance.

Key Responsibilities

Tender & Proposal Leadership and Governance

• Lead the team to own the end-to-end tender and proposal lifecycle for allocated opportunities, from initial expression of interest and qualification through to contract negotiation, operational handover and ongoing delivery alignment.
• Drive a robust Bid / No bid governance process, assessing strategic fit, probability of win, operational capability, commercial risk and investment requirements to support informed decision-making.
• Develop and manage structured tender delivery plans, including milestones, responsibilities, governance reviews, resource coordination and submission requirements, ensuring a controlled and efficient bid process throughout.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of an integrated bid management framework that connects Sales, Commercial, Technical and Operational teams to deliver a seamless end-to-end process from pursuit to project delivery.
• Utilise and drive the effective use of AI-driven automated tools where appropriate

Win Strategy & Solution Development

• Partner with Vertical Leads and Account Managers to define winning tender strategies, customer-focused value propositions and clear win themes aligned to client drivers and Ocular’s core strengths.
• Challenge, shape and refine technical and commercial solutions with Design, Engineering and Operations teams to ensure proposals are deliverable, commercially competitive, operationally aligned and profitable.

Content Development & Submission Management

• Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary tender team, including Tender Writers, Technical Designers, Operations, Commercial, Legal and Marketing, ensuring accountability and alignment throughout the bid lifecycle.
• Build, mentor and support the wider bids and commercial team, creating a high-performing function with clear structure, development and ownership across all tender activities.
• Oversee the production of high-quality, compelling tender submissions, ensuring responses are tailored, compliant, customer-focused and easy for evaluators to assess.

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

• Act as the central leadership point for all internal tender stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, effective decision-making and proactive management of risks, actions and dependencies.
• Support and lead customer engagement activities throughout the tender process, including clarification management, presentations, workshops, demonstrations and site visits.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate, real-time tender and pipeline reporting, including opportunity status, value, margin, resource requirements and outcomes across all relevant systems and trackers.
• Analyse bid performance, win/loss trends, pricing strategy, market positioning and sector performance, implementing continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen conversion rates, quality and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

Essential

• Significant experience in tender and proposal leadership within security integration, FM, construction, infrastructure or other complex technical services environments.
• Demonstrable track record of successfully leading, managing and securing complex, high-value tenders, strategic bids and multi-year framework opportunities.
• Strong understanding of structured bid management methodologies, governance and tender best practice, with experience developing and improving end-to-end bid processes across multiple business functions.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing, cross-functional bid teams, with the ability to provide clear direction, mentoring and support to both direct reports and wider virtual stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the business and build effective relationships with customers, partners and senior leadership teams.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and commercial solutions into clear, compelling customer-focused proposals.
• Highly commercially aware, with strong numeracy and analytical capability, including an understanding of pricing models, commercial risk, margin management and contract considerations.

Desirable

• Educated to degree or HND level in a relevant discipline (e.g. Business, Engineering, Construction Management).
• Formal tender and proposal management qualification (e.g. APMP Practitioner / Professional) or equivalent.
• Knowledge of UK security and critical national infrastructure regulations, standards and procurement routes.
• Experience within fire and security systems (CCTV, access control, intruder, integrated solutions).

What We Offer

We offer a range of benefits that help make Ocular a great place to work. Please note that benefits may vary depending on region and role.

• Remote & Hybrid Working Supported

• Flexible Working, Around Core Hours

• Health & Wellbeing Programme

• Life Assurance (4 x Annual Salary)

• 5% Matched Pension Scheme

• Carry Over Holidays (Up To 5)

• Reward & Recognition Programme

• Long Service Rewards

Learning & Development

Our focus is on providing a framework for development, which goes beyond just attending training courses and obtaining qualifications.

Instead, it includes coaching and mentoring support, helping you to reach your full potential, and providing recognition for a job well done.

Values

Our values underpin everything we do and are centred around how we care about each other, our customers, and the people we protect.

• We Are Human - We look at business in terms of people: our colleagues, our customers, and above all the people we keep safe

• We Are Enterprising - We are creative and innovative; we are solution-led and relentless in our quest to find the right outcome

• We Are Customer-Driven - We are committed to our customers; our customers’ needs guide everything we do

• We Are Honourable - We do what we say we will do, and we do the right thing

Eligibility for Employment in the UK

In accordance with current legislative requirements within the UK, any successful applicant must produce verification of their eligibility to live and work in the UK. Such verification should be taken in advance of the employment start date and the applicant will be unable to start in their role until this has been received by Ocular.

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

Synectics plc and its subsidiaries are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and in our employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development, and promotion. Such policies are in place to ensure that both job applicants and employees of Synectics receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.