Group Head of Bids & Proposals

Group Head of Bids & Proposals - Social Housing

North of England

Competitive + Extensive Benefits Package

Prosper Recruitment are working in partnership with a highly successful and marketing leading Main Contractor in the social housing sector who are seeking a dynamic and experienced Group Head of Bids & Proposals to join a leading main contractor renowned for their expertise in social housing refurbishment and retrofit projects across the North of England. This is a newly created role as the company embarks on an exciting period of growth and strategic development, and with a new regional division now up and running in Yorkshire this pivotal role has emerged to support our clients ambitious expansion plans.

The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive skill set to oversee the complete bid process from inception to submission. Your keen eye for detail will be essential as you take the lead in generating persuasive bid content and crafting high-quality proposals. A proven background in managing teams and processes, coupled with hands-on experience in writing tenders for social housing refurbishment and retrofit projects, is crucial for success in this role. Your ability to translate your experiences into compelling submissions will be key in addressing the needs of social housing providers and supporting their missions.

In this senior leadership position, you will play a vital role in shaping the business development strategy and strengthening our competitive position across the Northwest, Northeast, Yorkshire, and East Midlands. You will engage collaboratively with both internal teams and external partners to pursue new business opportunities effectively.

This organisation offers flexibility with regional offices located in the NW, NE, and West Yorkshire, allowing the Head of Bids to choose any or all of these locations to work from (hybrid working also considered).

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the comprehensive bid process for competitive opportunities across various business units and subsidiaries.
• Manage the quality aspects of bids by:
• Evaluating opportunities and understanding essential requirements, including key themes and deliverable criteria.
• Launching collaborative discussions within the company to develop innovative solutions.
• Collaborating with subject matter experts to gather relevant information and effectively communicate with clients through written submissions.
• Crafting and refining content for qualitative responses.
• Complete Supplier Questionnaires (SQs) and aid in any follow-up presentations or interviews post-submission.
• Liaise closely with the Estimating team for pricing guidance and engage with other key team members, including Legal Counsel and operational teams, to enhance bid quality.
• Lead, mentor, and nurture the bids and proposals team, driving high-quality output and ongoing development.
• Assume line management responsibilities for Bid Managers and freelance bid specialists while expanding the team as required.
• Conduct market research to identify trends and competitor strategies that inform bid approaches.
• Engage with clients to establish and maintain strong relationships, ensuring their needs are met within proposals.

Candidate Requirements:

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in bid management or a related role, and a successful track record of bid submissions in social housing refurbishment and retrofit would be required to be shortlisted for interview with the Director.
• Proven management experience as you will lead a team including two Senior Bid Managers, a Bid Manager, and a Bid Coordinator, with plans for further team expansion in the near future focusing on recruiting talented Bid Writers
• Strong leadership skills, capable of building a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Track record of developing and implementing effective business development strategies.
• Exceptional communication capabilities, able to present intricate information succinctly and persuasively.
• Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines effectively.
• Familiarity with proposal management software and tools.
• Awareness of industry trends and regulations is advantageous.

Desired Attributes:

• People-oriented and skilled at leading a diverse team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Flexible and able to adapt rapidly to business demands and new opportunities.
• Strategic mindset with a proactive stance on seeking business growth.
• Analytical thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.

INDAF