HEAD OF BIDS & PROPOSALS/ SENIOR BID MANAGER

HEAD OF BIDS & PROPOSALS/ SENIOR BID MANAGER

North of England

Competitive + comprehensive benefits package

Prosper Recruitment is working in partnership with a well-established and highly reputable main contractor with an excellent standing in the social housing refurbishment and retrofit industry across the North of England. Due to continued growth and expansion plans, they are recruiting for a Head of Bids & Proposals/Senior Bids Manager.

The successful candidate will possess a diverse skill set to lead the entire end-to-end bid journey and will be able to get involved in the details, including the development of compelling bid content and bid writing. You will need to be detail-oriented, with experience in managing people and processes, as well as experience writing social housing refurbishment and retrofit public sector tenders. You will have experience bidding within social housing refurbishment and retrofit; therefore, you will be able to draw on your experience to develop compelling and high-quality written submissions that reflect the solutions required to support social housing providers in achieving their purpose as organisations.

The Head of Bids & Proposals/Senior Bid Manager is a group role that will play a critical role in shaping the business development strategy and enhancing the company's competitive edge in the market across the Northwest, Northeast, Yorkshire, and East Midlands regions. The ideal candidate will be highly skilled in bid management, proposal writing, and team leadership. They will drive the pursuit of new business opportunities through effective collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accountability of the end-to-end bid process for competitive opportunities across the core business units and subsidiaries
• Responsible for the management and actual development of the quality elements, including:
• Appraising the opportunity and understanding the key requirements, including win themes and golden thread, as well as deliverable requirements.
• Launching the opportunity across the business in a collaborative way to invite debate and discussion to develop a solution.
• Working with subject matter experts to collect information based on the requirements of the bid, understand this information and then use this information to communicate with the client through the written submission.
• Writing and developing the content for the qualitative answers.
• Responsible for completing SQs as well as with supporting any post-submission interviews/presentations.
• Working closely with the Estimating team (who are responsible for the pricing of the opportunity) as well as other core team members, including Legal Counsel, operational delivery teams, social value, etc.
• Team Management:Lead, motivate, and develop the bids and proposals team to ensure high-quality outputs and continuous improvement.
• Line Management responsibilities for the Bid Manager and any freelance bid support.
• Market Analysis:Conduct market research to identify trends, competitor strategies, and potential opportunities to inform bid strategies.
• Undertaking pre-bid work for key opportunities, including client specific research and engagement.
• Client Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients to understand their requirements and enhance proposal quality.

REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience (5+ years) in bid management or a similar position, with a strong track record of successful bid submissions within social housing refurbishment and retrofit.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuasively.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities, with experience in fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in proposal management software and tools.
• Knowledge of trends and regulations is a plus.

ATTRIBUTES

• People-focussed and able to lead a team of subject matter experts within a high-pressure environment, adhering to strict deadlines.
• Adaptable and able to respond quickly, depending on the needs of the business and the release of opportunities
• Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to identifying and pursuing business opportunities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

INDAF