Bid Specialist

Position: Bid Management Specialist

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)

Work Location: Mysore

Job Summary:

The Bid Management Specialist is responsible for managing the complete bid lifecycle, from receipt of customer RFQs through proposal submission and project award, within an Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) environment. The role serves as a key interface between Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Finance, and customers to develop competitive, technically compliant, and commercially viable proposals that maximize business win opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

RFQ and Opportunity Management

• Receive and review customer RFQs, RFPs, and business opportunities from the Sales team.
• Analyze customer requirements including product specifications, manufacturing requirements, quality expectations, delivery schedules, and commercial terms.
• Coordinate with customers and internal stakeholders to clarify technical and commercial requirements.
• Lead bid kick-off meetings and establish proposal timelines.

Proposal and Costing Management

• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams (CFTs) including Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Program Management to develop comprehensive quotations and proposals.
• Coordinate BOM review, material costing, manufacturing process costing, tooling costs, NRE (Non-Recurring Engineering) costs, and logistics costs.
• Ensure accurate pricing models aligned with customer requirements and company profitability targets.
• Review and resolve pricing discrepancies and commercial issues prior to proposal submission.

Technical and Commercial Evaluation

• Conduct feasibility assessments related to manufacturing capability, capacity, quality requirements, and supply chain risks.
• Perform competitive analysis, benchmarking, and pricing assessments to support winning bid strategies.
• Evaluate customer requirements against internal capabilities and recommend optimal solutions.
• Support management in commercial negotiations and pricing strategy discussions.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Act as the central coordinator between Sales, Engineering, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Business Units.
• Facilitate timely collection of inputs required for proposal development.
• Ensure all stakeholders meet proposal milestones and deadlines.
• Drive collaboration throughout the RFQ-to-award process.

Bid Tracking and Reporting

• Monitor and track all RFQ activities, proposal status, and key deliverables.
• Maintain bid documentation, costing records, assumptions, and customer communications.
• Provide regular status reports, risk assessments, and escalation updates to management.
• Support transition of awarded projects to Program Management and NPI teams.

Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain quotation templates, costing tools, and bid management processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve proposal turnaround time, accuracy, and win rates.
• Support implementation of best practices for bid management and commercial operations.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with specialisation in Mechanical/Electronics preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Bid Management, Proposal Management, Program Management, or Commercial Operations within an EMS, electronics manufacturing, industrial, or engineering environment.
• Hands-on experience in RFQ management, quotation preparation, and customer proposal development.
• Experience managing product lifecycle activities from design, NPI, prototyping, and manufacturing through production ramp-up.
• Experience interacting with customers, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal stakeholders.
• Understanding of PCB Assembly (PCBA), Box Build, System Integration, and Electronics Manufacturing processes is highly preferred.

Skills

• Strong understanding of EMS business models, manufacturing costing, and supply chain processes.
• Knowledge of BOM costing, material sourcing, NRE estimation, and manufacturing cost structures.
• Understanding of project and program management methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Knowledge of MS Project, ERP, PLM, or CRM systems is an advantage.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Competencies

• Customer-focused mindset with strong commercial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple RFQs and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to meeting deadlines.
• Effective cross-functional leadership and coordination skills.
• Ability to identify risks and proactively develop mitigation plans.
• Results-oriented approach with a focus on business growth and profitability.
• Adaptability and willingness to take ownership of additional responsibilities.