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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of winning proposals for major infrastructure projects.
- Company: Join Balfour Beatty, a leader in UK infrastructure development.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days leave, and comprehensive family policies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vital community projects and shape the future.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in bid writing for large infrastructure projects.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to positive change.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Overview
Location: Basingstoke (Hybrid Working)
Company: Balfour Beatty – Living Places
Shape the Future of Major Highways & Civils Infrastructure
At Balfour Beatty Living Places, we deliver and maintain some of the UK's most critical highways and local authority infrastructure frameworks. We are now seeking an experienced Senior Bid Writer to take a leadership role in developing compelling, high-value submissions for large, complex civils and highways opportunities valued at from £100m to £1b+.
This is not an entry-level writing role. The successful candidate will be a work-winning professional who understands bidding into Local Authorities, strategic highways frameworks, and regulated public sector procurement environments.
What you'll be doing
- Lead the development of winning value propositions for major highways and civils frameworks
- Shape and articulate compelling win themes tailored to Local Authority clients
- Lead answer planning sessions and review panels at senior level
- Ensure submissions align precisely with evaluation criteria and scoring mechanisms
- Drive "One BB" tone of voice across all responses
- Develop structured, compliant, high-scoring responses for complex £100m+ programmes
- Coach operational and technical teams on best practice bid writing
- Manage evidence, case studies, and knowledge systems
- Support submission graphics, document production and final upload
You will work closely with the Bid Director, Work Winning Director, Estimating and Commercial teams, and subject matter experts across operational civils and highways delivery.
Who we're looking for
This role requires a highly experienced candidate with demonstrable success at senior bid level.
Essential Experience:
- Significant experience writing and managing proposals in civils and highways infrastructure
- Proven track record bidding into Local Authorities
- Experience leading submissions for large, complex programmes (£100m+)
- Deep understanding of public sector procurement processes and evaluation models
- Experience running planning sessions, red reviews, and final submission sign-off
- Ability to translate operational delivery into compelling, differentiated narrative
- Strong stakeholder management across technical, commercial and operational teams
Desirable:
- APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification
- Degree in English, journalism, or professional writing background
- Advanced MS Word and document production expertise
Why This Role Matters
Our highways and civils frameworks support communities, connect regions, and maintain critical infrastructure across the UK. The work-winning team plays a direct role in securing long-term Local Authority partnerships worth hundreds of millions.
This is an opportunity to:
- Operate at a senior, strategic level
- Influence major public infrastructure awards
- Be part of a high-performing management-level work winning team
- Work in a hybrid structure supporting flexibility and collaboration
Professional and personal development
The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career. We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities.
We're proud of the Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it's sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified, our 70:20:10 approach to development means we have a learning approach that suits everyone. 70% learning on the job, 20% learning from those around you, and 10% formal training courses and learning events.
About Balfour Beatty and careers: www.balfourbeatty.com/careers.
Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.
Why join us?
As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more
About us
Balfour Beatty Living Places works in long-term partnerships with local authorities to create great places to live, work and play. We actively engage with local people to understand the needs of the communities we work in and shape the places where local economies can thrive and grow. As a leader in sustainable working, diversity, and social value, we use our expertise to bring real, positive change for our customers.
Diversity and inclusion
At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background.
To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Enterprise Recognition Scheme and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Senior Proposals Writer in Basingstoke employer: ActionFight, Inc.
Contact Detail:
ActionFight, Inc. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Proposals Writer in Basingstoke
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who have experience with local authorities or large infrastructure projects. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Balfour Beatty's recent projects and their approach to bidding. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their values and needs. We want to see that you understand their mission!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your past successes in bid writing and how you've led teams to win major contracts. Confidence is key, so rehearse your stories until they flow naturally.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Balfour Beatty Living Places.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Proposals Writer in Basingstoke
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Senior Proposals Writer role. Highlight your experience in civils and highways infrastructure, and show how your skills align with the job description. We want to see that you understand the specific needs of Local Authorities!
Showcase Your Success Stories: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your achievements! Use examples from your past proposals that demonstrate your ability to lead submissions for large programmes. We love seeing how you've made a difference in previous roles.
Keep It Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and structure your responses well. We appreciate a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right place and helps us keep track of all candidates. Plus, it’s super easy to do – just follow the prompts on our careers page!
How to prepare for a job interview at ActionFight, Inc.
✨Know Your Bid Writing Basics
Before stepping into the interview, brush up on your bid writing fundamentals. Understand the key components of a successful proposal, especially in the context of civils and highways infrastructure. Familiarise yourself with Balfour Beatty's previous submissions to get a feel for their tone and style.
✨Tailor Your Responses
Make sure to tailor your answers to reflect the specific needs of Local Authorities and the public sector procurement processes. Highlight your experience with large-scale projects and how you've successfully navigated similar challenges in the past. This shows you understand their unique environment.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Proposals Writer, you'll be expected to lead planning sessions and review panels. Be prepared to discuss your leadership experiences and how you've coached teams in the past. Use examples that demonstrate your ability to drive collaboration and achieve high-scoring responses.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Think of specific instances where you had to develop compelling win themes or manage complex submissions. Practising these scenarios will help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.