Bid Manager

Job Description

Location London or Milton Keynes (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)

Reporting to Head of Bids and Proposals

Band 3.1

Salary £51,000 to £58,000 (depending on location and proven ability)

Working hours Full-time (9 day fortnight companywide)

Contract type/duration Three month fixed term contract

Closing date 26th August 2024

About Connected Places Catapult

We are living in a rapidly changing world where technology will drive radical changes in transport over the next 10 years. We need your creativity, enthusiasm, and passion for making a difference to help us accelerate the development of future transport.

Connected Places Catapult is the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and places, removing the barriers to new technology and helping to connect people and places. We need your skills and experience to join our innovative team helping to deliver the connected mobility that will enable the low carbon economy we envision.

About the role

The Bid team’s primary focus is to manage the submission of bids and proposals, aligned with the organisation’s strategic priorities, to maximise Connected Places Catapult’s (the Catapult) chances of winning work. All of the projects undertaken are expected to deliver impact to the UK economy through the creation of jobs and/or increased revenues to UK PLC.

As well as core-funded, non-income-generating programmes of work, the Catapult works across two categories of income-generating opportunity:

• Commercial

• Collaborative Research & Development (CR&D)

The Bid team is made up of Senior Bid Managers, Bid Managers and Bid Coordinators and supports the wider Catapult through owning all aspects of the bid process as manager of large and complex bids in any income category. They work closely with internal stakeholders to define plans for successful bids, and with Catapult delivery teams to develop compelling propositions.

Key Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of the bid process, working closely with internal stakeholders to define plans for successful bids, identifying strategic approach, win themes and customer requirements

• Ensure the smooth management of the entire bid process to ensure clear integration with other internal processes and systems

• Proactively managing the bid process with documented meetings, decisions and strategies, ensuring all key stakeholders are clear on, and committed to, our proposed solution and accurately articulated in our bid/proposal

• Lead external and internal resources to ensure that high quality, commercially viable and compliant bids are developed, authorised and submitted on time to the highest standard

• Working with Business Development, Ecosystem Directors, Strategists and Programme Directors to develop relationships with key external organisations such as potential clients, funding bodies, and partners for collaboration and consortia

• Help develop and roll out bid development best practice – setting out processes, responsibilities for contributors, and creating and using bid creation tools and templates

• Direct external and internal partners on the production of technical, commercial, financial and operational content for submissions

• Create, review and re-draft bid content (as appropriate) to ensure consistent alignment, language, format and approach are taken when multiple parties have supplied the content

• Liaise internally with the bidding team to create accurate and cost-effective resource plans

• Ensure all internal approval and review processes are met during the bid development lifecycle

• Ensure all opportunities and any stakeholder engagements are fully documented and managed within the CRM system

• Undertaking any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations

• Working across internal and external partners to deliver successful bid submissions and engaging multiple stakeholders to shape and agree a bid/proposal

Requirements

Required skills and experience

Essential:

• Demonstrations of applied knowledge in either Commercial or CR&D bids

• Leading, delivering and winning large bids and proposals involving multidisciplinary solutions, with commercial clients and/or funding bodies such as Innovate UK

• Proven track record of leading on bid strategy and value propositioning ensuring client centric and benefit led proposals

• Strong bid writing skills and the ability to turn technical content into a client centric, benefit led and compelling proposal

• Awareness of best practice in bidding for either Commercial or CR&D opportunities

• Ability to manage several complex and detailed bids at different stages and competing deadlines, simultaneously and under pressure

• Experience of using CRM tools to record and maintain customer engagement activities/revenue opportunities

• Confidence in challenging and dealing with senior stakeholders

• Ability to take initiative and confidence in working on their own

• Strong organisational skills and great attention to detail

• High work ethic and team spirit

• A genuine interest in sustainability and desire to making an impact

Desirable:

• APMP or equivalent certification

Applicants will be prioritised on their compete applications encompassing your CV and application form answers.

Benefits

• 9 day fortnight for everyone, we have a full company shutdown every other Friday.
• 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
• Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.
• Two paid days of volunteering leave per year (pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
• Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
• Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
• Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
• Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.

Employment here is based solely upon individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. We also make all reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under laws protecting the rights of the disabled.