Bid Writer

This job is with Compass Group UK & Ireland, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

Responsible to: Senior Bid Team Manager

Location: Mobile Working

Department: Creative Lab - Bid Team

Role Overview

The Bid Writer will sit within the Creative Lab, a high performing specialist unit, focused on the creation and production of sales documents focused on our public services and essential environments business - from healthcare and government to retail and living spaces. The team work nationally, managing high value bids, proposals and presentations across multiple sectors.

The role of the Bid Writer would be to support and produce creative, strategic, solution based proposals and tenders. You will be involved in the project management of the entire bid lifecycle. This will include researching, authoring, editing and challenging content, supporting the development of win strategies and persuasive delivery structures, whilst creating bid guidelines and managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

The Bid Writer will report into the Senior Bid Team Manager, working in conjunction with Sales or Retention Lead. A flexible approach would be required to accommodate the peaks and troughs of the bid lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that bid responses are written in a style and format to ensure professionally written and structured responses to questions which maximise ease of reading and award of marks by the evaluator.
• Articulate clarity of win themes and client WITY (What's Important To You) within written responses.
• Include quantifiable evidence within responses to support our proposed solution.
• Ensure the bid is fully compliant with all stated requirements.
• Maintain consistency in tone of voice, messaging and language across multiple answers.
• Deploy best practice writing techniques.
• Proofread and edit responses appropriately.
• Work with, and challenge SMEs where required, to ensure that their responses are appropriate, compliant and correct.
• Own designated questions, review, edit and enhance all answers ensuring that there is an introduction and summary for each section where relevant.
• Author executive summaries.
• Provide style guides and writer instructions to all members of the bid team.
• Develop new content for the knowledge library.
• Mentor and support the wider team as required.
• Attend all bid progress meetings.
• Liaise and direct third parties involved in writing sections of the bid response documents, where relevant.
• Author answers requiring standard Compass boilerplate.
• Identify bottlenecks or resource constraints and escalate for resolution.

Person Specification

• Ambitious, people oriented, inquisitive, passionate, organised with the ability to build relationships quickly and effectively at all levels of the business.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplined team, and lead SMEs and operators to support the successful delivery of the bid programme.
• Uses the right influencing techniques to gain the necessary commitment and support from others, both internally and externally.
• Listens to others, values their contributions, receptive to new ideas, and acts in an ethical and socially responsible manner.

Essential Attributes

• Expert writing skills and attention to detail.
• 3 years+ writing/editing experience.
• Able to work as part of a team and independently using their own initiative.
• Proven track record in working on and winning complex, high value bids.
• Proven track record of persuasive bid writing to create compelling sales documents.
• Able to build relationships internally and externally, comfortable working at Director level with the necessary skills to guide a diverse team successfully through the bid process.
• Creative, strategic thinking and ability to look at different ways of doing things.
• Willingness to develop, drive and implement new solutions.
• Appropriate experience in tender management methodology.
• Ability to manage complex, multi-service scenarios and to think clearly under pressure.
• Willingness to travel when required.

Highly Desirable Attributes

• Experience of working on high value bids £1m+.
• Experience of working on healthcare or public services bids.
• Professional bid management training i.e. Shipley/Bid Perfect methodology.
• High value public sector bid experience.
• Soft FM, Hard FM, professional services or construction bid writing experience.
• English/journalism degree, or A Level English to Grade A.
• Advanced Word and Microsoft systems skills.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme.
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits.
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more.
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more.
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster.
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands.
• Unwind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes.
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families.