---
title: "Ilham, bid manager for the System Business Unit"
url: "https://www.systra.com/en/careers/our-professions/ilham-askarn-bid-manager-for-the-system-business-unit/"
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date_published: 2021-06-25
date_modified: 2026-02-19
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# Ilham, bid manager for the System Business Unit

![Ilham, bid manager for the System Business Unit](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/systra-brand-image-flip.jpg)

![img_ilham_askarn](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/img_ilham_askarn.png)

**Ilham**
Bid Manager for the System BUFRANCE

### What is your job?

I’ve been the bid manager for the Systems Business Unit (BU) in France for two
years. I was previously a signalling engineer, still within the Systems BU,
working on projects in France (NExTEO, OCTYS, etc.) and internationally, all
over the world (Jeddah, Casablanca, etc.).

### What do you do at SYSTRA?

During my seven years at SYSTRA, I’ve had the opportunity to carry out a variety
of tasks. For the first three years, I worked on subjects related to metro and
tramway signalling systems. These were projects in foreign markets (Jeddah
metro, Casablanca tramway) but also in France (OCTYS L6, FASTO…). My main
assignment was to define the signalling system that would meet the client’s
operating, safety, and maintenance requirements. I then carried out an
assignment for the NExTEO project of the RER B and RER D, a large-scale project
which aims to improve the quality of service of the lines considered to be the
most critical in the Paris region.

For the past two years, I’ve been a bid manager in the Systems BU’s bid
department. I supervise all the BU’s productions and carry out some of them. Our
aim is to put forward winning bids which will enable SYSTRA to continue to
consolidate its status as a world leader in transport systems.

### What are the 3 important qualities or skills in your job?

**Communication skills**: a winning bid is one in which the various parties
involved work together to highlight SYSTRA’s expertise, offer the best price and
demonstrate to the client our added value in the context of their project. It is
therefore important that communication within the team is based on a sound and
constructive exchange. In my opinion, this is one of the fundamental roles of a
bid manager.

** Ability to work under pressure**: an offer is characterised by tight
deadlines that must be met. It is therefore important to manage the pressure
linked to these deadlines and to be able to produce the bid on time.

**Good capitalisation but also a good understanding of the client’s need**: the
key to effective work on a bid, as on a project, is good capitalisation. It is
necessary to start from a solid base. However, it is also essential to
understand the context and the needs of the client. The offer must reflect the
specific context of the client and what SYSTRA can offer.

### Why SYSTRA?

Since joining SYSTRA in 2014, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of
assignments. This has enabled me to acquire skills in several areas of the
transport systems field and to develop an adaptability that will allow me to be
more relaxed for the remainder of my career.

Furthermore, doing work that has meaning and a direct and lasting impact on
society, such as public transport, is also very motivating and stimulating, and
this is what SYSTRA offers its employees.

Finally, the international aspect of SYSTRA makes us open-minded, not only in
our professional exchanges, but also in our relations with others. 

[See all the interviews](https://www.systra.com/en/carrieres/our-professions/)