Bids & Proposals Manager (16 Months Contract - Maternity Leave Replacement)

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead Proposal Capture Teams for Defense and Security (D&S) CAE Canada, providing leadership and guidance to deliver competitive proposals on time and within budget.
• Establish and communicate proposal schedules with clear milestones, deliverables, and assigned responsibilities to support on-time delivery.
• Review customer Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to identify proposal themes, requirements, and CAE differentiators that support the probability of win.
• Define bid strategies that address customer requirements in a cost-effective manner while leveraging CAE core technologies and off-the-shelf products.
• Collaborate with Business Development/Sales and Pricing teams to help define Price to Win (PTW) strategies.
• Collaborate with Engineering to establish Design to Cost (DTC) targets for each module, system, or service and communicate targets across the organization.
• Prepare and deliver proposal and business presentations to senior management.
• Promote commonality, consistency, and reuse across bids.
• Prepare Basis of Estimate (BoE) documentation and comparable analyses to validate estimated costs.
• Identify and quantify program risks and recommend appropriate mitigation plans.
• Collaborate with Program Management to develop and challenge program schedules.
• Negotiate and validate workshare allocations among global CAE sites for joint intercompany proposals.
• Interface directly and indirectly with customers to review, present, and negotiate proposal content.
• Conduct peer reviews of estimated costs and proposal deliverables.
• Define medium- to long-term strategies for future bids, including outsourcing, offshoring, and partnership opportunities.
• Evaluate tools and process improvements to increase proposal accuracy and efficiency.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience, combined with previous experience or exposure to one or more of the following: military aircraft, naval vessels, tactical systems, synthetic environments, or modelling and simulation.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of relevant experience in a high-technology industry.
• Previous experience in government proposal writing.
• Previous experience using Salesforce.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and business acumen.
• Results-oriented approach with the ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and demonstrate customer focus, sound decision-making, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Canadian Security Clearance and Controlled Goods clearance.
• Eligibility to work in Canada as a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or holder of a valid Canadian work permit.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual proficiency in French and English.

Benefits We’ve designed flexible policies to promote well-being and growth, based on role-specific eligibility and requirements:

• Flexible Group Benefits
• Pension plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs
• Supportive team and collaborative corporate culture

At CAE, our mission is clear: to help make the world a safer place. For nearly 80 years, we’ve driven innovation in simulation, training, and mission readiness to support critical operations worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, we empower our customers to operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Join a purpose-driven organization where bold ideas are encouraged, collaboration drives progress, and your growth fuels our shared success.

CAE is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants, regardless of race, nationality, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, veteran status, age, or other characteristics protected by law. We encourage applicants who may not meet every qualification to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available—contact your recruiter or email [email protected] if needed.

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As part of our process, we may use AI‑supported tools to help review applications, with human decision‑making at every step. CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.