Senior Sales & Bid Manager

Senior Sales & Bid Manager Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. The Exploration Company is seeking a Senior Sales & Bid Manager to lead capture and proposal activities for in-orbit services (inspection, servicing, debris mitigation, in-orbit operations, and technology demonstrations) across European institutional and defense customers. You will own complex multi-partner pursuits, shape customer requirements, drive bid strategy and storytelling, and lead negotiations through contract signature. This role suits a hands-on leader who can combine customer engagement, technical credibility, and disciplined proposal execution to win. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Capture leadership - Own the capture strategy for in-orbit services opportunities: qualification, stakeholder mapping, competitive positioning, and win plan with review gates. - Shape requirements and solution concept with Engineering and Programs; translate customer priorities into a compelling, compliant offer. - Lead partner and consortium engagement early (roles, workshare logic, industrial positioning, and risk alignment). Bid management & writing - Lead the end-to-end writing of bids: proposal architecture, storyline, executive summary, value proposition, and integration of technical volumes into a coherent narrative. - Own the full proposal plan: schedule, resources, compliance matrix, risk register, internal approvals, and submission readiness. - Ensure high standards of quality: clear evidence-based claims, consistent messaging, and sharp differentiation. Commercial and customers - Build and maintain senior-level customer relationships (1:1 meetings, account plans, networking, and strategic touchpoints). - Drive pricing and commercial structuring with Finance and Engineering: consortium pricing model, milestones, assumptions, margins, and internal validations. - Lead technical and commercial negotiations, prepare negotiation packages, and secure clean handover to Project Management after signature. Leadership, governance, and improvement - Coach and review the work of Sales/Bid team members (review cycles, section ownership, action tracking, quality bar). - Contribute to the Sales-to-Government Process Handbook; capture lessons learned, strengthen templates, and improve bid governance. - Anticipate and manage bid risks (compliance, export control/security, schedule, partner performance) and escalate early when needed. PROFILE - Demonstrated success winning complex proposals with European institutional and/or defense customers (ESA and/or national agencies). - Strong understanding of space systems and in-orbit services (operations, payloads, GNC/propulsion, mission concept, constraints and risks). - Proven ability to lead multi-partner consortia and manage complex compliance and tender requirements. - Strong customer management skills: business intelligence, stakeholder engagement, influence, and negotiation maturity. - Languages: English required; plus one of French, German, Italian, or Spanish required. - Eligible to work in the EU or EFTA and able to meet relevant clearances. WHAT WE OFFER - Close mentorship, meaningful responsibilities from day one, and a clear route to full bid ownership Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is: - We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind - We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them - We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge? We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please subm ... (truncated, view full listing at source)