Job Description

Location: Bristol, United Kingdom

A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators), therefore have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that\xe2\x80\x99s why we offer you the flexibility to do what\xe2\x80\x99s important to you; whether that\xe2\x80\x99s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Primary Purpose of Role

To provide costing and estimating expertise in support of TAS UK\xe2\x80\x98s bid and opportunity portfolio.

To provide key capabilities in estimate launch, cost estimate generation, cost review, challenge, cost modelling through pro-active participation within the TAS UK Bids team and other TAS UK and Group business functions.

To develop and refine existing tools and processes and support the provision of cost information in a timely and accurate manner.

To support in the administrative aspects of the delivery of priced proposals to customers.

To ensure that all necessary governance is enforced and the correct policies and processes are adhered to, including where necessary and appropriate that escalation and upward briefing is conducted. accordingly, notably to the Bid Leads and Finance and Commercial

Principal Relationships

Bids & Bid Managers

Finance Team including Bid Finance

Lead Senior Commercial Managers

Legal & Contracts

Commercial Sales (Bid Winning) teamSales & Business development managers

Business Development Team

Procurement Function

Engineering teams as assigned to each specific bid

Key Responsibilities and tasks

Participate in all regular Bid Team meetings to review and understand the bid pipeline and assigned responsibilities;

Review the financial and price requirements of ITTs and advise the bid team on costing formats and content (WBS/Costing formats)

Hold estimating kick off reviews for each bid, ensure all costing requirements are appropriately communicated in a timely manner and estimating instructions are flowed down to the team

Collate cost estimates from all sources (internal estimators, procurement, risks, etc.), conduct initial verification checks to determine accuracy and completeness and integrate estimates into master file. Brief bid team, including providing recommendations on level of estimating uncertainty to be applied, etc.

Support the financial assessment of contingencies and allowances within the overall costs

Support the development of cost modelling capabilities that aligns the use of in house tools and customer requirements for pricing outputs

Participate in all cost review meetings

Prepare cost review formats for review and challenge

Advise Bid Manager and their team on costing matters

Support the administrative aspects of delivering a bid, including price submission activities (as required)

Experience and Skills

Proven experience in estimating, cost modelling or similar Commercial/Finance role

Strongly numerate with excellent Excel spreadsheet

Highly proficient in working with complex models and spreadsheets

Excellent communicator \xe2\x80\x93 able to quickly articulate status, any issues, etc. to bid manager

Knowledge of benchmarking, comparative estimating and near neighbour analysis techniques

Thorough understanding of costing and cost modelling principles

Knowledge of European Space Agency and UK Space Agency procurement processes is desirable but not essential

Knowledge of MOD procurement processes desirable but not essential

Experience of supporting the costing of high value and complex proposals

Engineering or manufacturing background

Education & Qualifications

Engineering or manufacturing background

Valid Driving Licence and Passport authorisation to work in the UK

Eligible to work with UK MoD Security Marked and US Export Controlled material.

Personality / Behaviors / Values

Thorough in approach, with strong attention to detail

Proactive, strong communicator and team player

Ready to adapt to the needs of a growing business

Comfortable with managing multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities

Capable of identifying issues requiring escalation to senior level for resolution timely with business needs

Willing to undertake travel on an ad-hoc basis

Willing to work extended hours occasionally with some notice

In line with Thales\' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact for mid to senior roles, or the for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!

Thales