At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support proposal development for high-stakes bids, shaping messaging and strategy.
- Company: Join BDO, a dynamic accountancy and business advisory firm focused on entrepreneurial growth.
- Benefits: Access to top-notch training, career development, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for networking and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving proposals that shape the future of businesses.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing bids, strong writing skills, and ability to coach stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We’re BDO, an accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions entrepreneurial organisations need to navigate today’s changing world. We work with the companies that are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high growth businesses that fuel the economy - and directly advise the owners and management teams that lead them.
Our Sales & Marketing team is building a function that reflects who we are: open, trusted and focused on shaping what matters. You’ll join a team big enough to offer big priorities and commercial challenges, yet personal enough to ensure you’re supported and empowered from day one. Here, we think beyond. You’ll bring ideas, challenge thinking and help shape how we deliver campaigns, insights and engagement across the business. Working closely with internal clients, you’ll deepen your understanding of our sectors and see how connected teams drive our 2028 growth ambitions.
From strategic storytelling to capability‑building and smarter ways of working, you’ll grow your skills while working with people who care about doing the right thing. In this team, development is central to how we work. You’ll have access to best‑in‑class training, clear capability frameworks and hands‑on learning that give you the confidence and skills to grow quickly. We make it personal with supportive teams where you belong, are trusted, and take transformative work on early. You’ll collaborate across service lines and leadership levels, building relationships grounded in openness and accountability.
You’ll bring your best - taking ownership, delivering quality and building trust across the firm. In return, you’ll get clarity, fair feedback and the development you need to succeed. You won’t just complete tasks - you’ll help shape how the team evolves and how we support the business.
The Pursuit and Proposal Manager supports the firm’s priority pursuits with a blend of coaching and hands-on proposal support. The role works on significant bids where disciplined governance, strong win themes and high-quality written submissions are required, partnering closely with pursuit leads to shape messaging and differentiation and to deliver a distinctive proposal and pitch approach.
This role supports and contributes to coaching (often alongside a Grade 20 lead coach on the largest bids), while also taking a more active role in proposal development—working closely with designers, content owners and production support to strengthen the look, feel, structure and persuasiveness of the submission. The role is an expert in the “win it” stage and supports knowledge transfer to managers and senior managers involved in pursuits.
Key responsibilities:
- Support development of win themes and differentiated messaging; ensure they are applied consistently across proposal and pitch materials.
- Identify evidence gaps and coordinate inputs from SMEs and asset sources to strengthen proof points.
- Contribute to competitor/buyer understanding and implications for how the team should position the response.
- Drive the proposal management process on assigned pursuits: workplan, contributors, deadlines, review cycles and actions.
- Shape the structure, narrative flow and clarity of the submission; edit and improve content for quality and buyer relevance.
- Work closely with Design/document production to ensure a professional, distinctive and consistent output.
- Support pitch preparation and rehearsal sessions: provide feedback on story, structure, roles and QandA.
- Coach managers/SMs on effective bid behaviours and standards, escalating where issues risk quality or readiness.
- Coordinate with Content/Markets Activation/Marketing teams where messaging alignment or campaign context is relevant.
You’ll be someone with:
- Strong experience managing bids and proposals in a professional services or complex B2B environment.
- Ability to coach and influence stakeholders while also managing delivery and document quality.
- Strong writing/editing judgement and ability to shape persuasive narratives.
- Confident coordinating multiple contributors and deadlines; strong risk awareness.
- Comfortable supporting pitch preparation and rehearsals.
At BDO, we’ll help you achieve your personal goals and career ambitions, and we have programmes, resources, and frameworks that provide clarity and structure around career development. Mutual support and respect is one of BDO’s core values and we’re proud of our distinctive, people-centred culture. From informal success conversations to formal mentoring and coaching, we’ll support you at every stage in your career, whatever your personal and professional needs.
Our agile working framework helps us stay connected, bringing teams together where and when it counts so they can share ideas and help one another. At BDO, you’ll always have access to the people and resources you need to do your best work. We know that collaboration is the key to creating value for the companies we work with and satisfying experiences for our colleagues, so we’ve invested in state-of-the-art collaboration spaces in our offices. BDO’s people represent a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we’ll encourage you to build your network, work alongside others, and share your skills and experiences. With a range of multidisciplinary events and dedicated resources, you’ll never stop learning at BDO.
At BDO, we help entrepreneurial businesses to succeed, fuelling the UK economy. Our success is powered by our people, which is why we’re always finding new ways to invest in you. Across the UK thousands of unique minds continue to come together to help companies we work with to achieve their ambitions. We’ve got a clear purpose, and we’re confident in our future, because we’re adapting and evolving to build on our strengths, ensuring we continue to find the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise. We shape the future together with openness and clarity, because we believe in empowering people to think creatively about how we can do things better.
Strategic Proposals & Pursuits Manager in City of Westminster employer: BDO LLP
At BDO, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and people-centred culture that fosters personal and professional growth. Our commitment to employee development is reflected in our best-in-class training programmes and collaborative work environment, where you can thrive while contributing to the success of ambitious businesses across the UK. With state-of-the-art collaboration spaces and a focus on mutual respect, you'll find a workplace that values your ideas and empowers you to shape the future of our firm.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Proposals & Pursuits Manager in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at BDO. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling skills. Think about how your experiences align with BDO's values and the role. We want to hear how you can bring ideas and trust to the table!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your proposal management skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss how you've shaped narratives and driven processes in past roles. We love candidates who can demonstrate their impact!
✨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 our team at BDO.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Proposals & Pursuits Manager in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Strategic Proposals & Pursuits Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing bids and proposals, and don’t forget to showcase your strong writing skills!
Showcase Your Coaching Skills:Since this role involves coaching others, share examples of how you've influenced stakeholders or supported team members in previous roles. We want to see your ability to guide and inspire!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Structure your thoughts well and ensure your narrative flows smoothly. Remember, we’re looking for persuasive storytelling that resonates with our mission.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at BDO LLP
✨Know Your Win Themes
Before the interview, make sure you understand the key win themes and differentiated messaging that BDO values. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to developing these themes in proposals and pitches, showcasing your ability to shape persuasive narratives.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
Since the role involves coaching managers and senior managers, prepare examples of how you've successfully influenced stakeholders in the past. Highlight your experience in managing bids and proposals, and be ready to discuss how you can elevate the team's performance through effective coaching.
✨Demonstrate Strong Writing and Editing Judgement
Bring samples of your previous work that demonstrate your writing and editing skills. Be prepared to discuss how you approach shaping content for quality and buyer relevance, as this is crucial for the role. Show them you can enhance the clarity and narrative flow of submissions.
✨Be Ready for Collaborative Scenarios
Collaboration is key at BDO, so think of examples where you've successfully coordinated multiple contributors and deadlines. Discuss how you manage the proposal process and ensure everyone is aligned, as well as how you handle any risks that may arise during the project.