Bid Manager in Manchester

EQUANS is recruiting for a Bid Manager to be based in Didsbury. This is a permanent, full‑time hybrid role (37.5 hours per week) with three days in the Didsbury office and two days working from home. The role comes with a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package.

General Overview

Oversee the production and management of bid responses across the North region. Manage the full cradle‑to‑grave bid process to produce high‑quality, winning bids that support the region’s business plan. The role includes managing the Bid Team and work‑winning activity.

Key Accountabilities

• Liaise with the Head of Estimating and Bids in the Bid/No‑Bid process.
• Support day‑to‑day management of the bid team and development of junior colleagues.
• Collaborate with business unit leads to develop win themes for each opportunity.
• Review written responses, provide constructive feedback in line with the win strategy and storyboard requirements.
• Monitor bid quality scores and compare with competitors to drive continuous improvement.
• Hold and manage bid launches within one week of a confirmed bid decision, ensuring key stakeholders attend.
• Create bid plans and deliverables for every confirmed tender, agreeing actions and key dates.
• Attend site visits to understand project constraints and capture client requirements.
• Plan answer sessions and targeted meetings with subject matter experts to address quality questions.
• Coordinate with the estimating team to secure pricing information, CPs and value engineering requirements.
• Liaise with the business development manager to incorporate win themes and approaches.
• Align with bid governance requirements and manage impacts on the bid.
• Ensure research and information from operational, technical, planning and sustainability teams are incorporated into the bid.
• Conduct mid‑tender reviews to keep the bid on schedule.
• Perform pre‑submission checks, ensuring all client requirements are met and the submission is compliant.
• Report bid progress to the Head of Estimating and Bids.
• Track award dates and follow up with clients on overdue awards.
• Review post‑tender clarifications and respond within required timescales.
• Prepare and review all post‑tender presentations, ensuring accuracy of timings and content.
• Lead lessons‑learned sessions and share feedback with the bid team and wider teams.
• Support tender handover meetings and document submission to Viewpoint.
• Manage external bid writers when internal resources are unavailable, ensuring high‑quality responses.

Database / Library Management

• Maintain the bid library content with the bid team.
• Oversee case studies, CVs and project datasheet information for all North projects.
• Manage the photo library by ensuring completed projects are photographed and saved.

Reporting and Meetings

• Keep bid information up to date in Salesforce.
• Attend regular business development and pipeline update meetings.
• Attend monthly P&C North bid team meetings.
• Provide bid progress updates to business unit regional directors.

Miscellaneous

• Provide bid information to other regions as required.
• Support knowledge forums and offer ad‑hoc training to wider teams.
• Monitor and report on bid KPIs, evidencing SV commitments and producing case studies.

Benefits

• Pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave + public holidays
• Life cover equivalent to 2× annual salary
• 24/7 employee assistance program
• Access to a mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Broad learning opportunities, including professional qualifications and training
• Employee referral rewards scheme
• Access to employee networks (women, BAME, LGBTQI+, working parents, youth, disability)

Key Skills

• Industry‑specific knowledge, including public sector procurement
• Proven track record in a similar role or sector
• High interpersonal skills and relationship building
• Strong communication across all levels
• Proven management skills
• Proficient IT skills

Experience

• Bid submissions and preparations
• Bid writing experience
• Bid management experience
• Experience in preparing and holding presentations and meetings
• Preferable experience of managing people

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinking
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Highly organised and time‑management skills
• Proactive attitude
• Strong writing skills and eye for detail
• Confidence and enthusiasm
• Understanding of the power of relationships
• Self‑motivation and team‑management ability

Note: Applicants must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. This role does not offer relocation support and may require a Disclosure check. EQUANS is an equal‑opportunity employer. We value diversity and inclusion and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.