Bid Manager in Manchester

EQUANS are recruiting for a Bid Manager to be based in Didsbury. This is a permanent full-time hybrid role working 37.5 hours per week, with 3 days in the Didsbury office and 2 days at home. On offer is a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package.

General Overview

To oversee the production and management of bid responses in the North region, managing the full cradle to grave bid process to ensure the production of high‑quality, winning bids to support the region’s business plan. The role includes the management of other Bid Team colleagues and work winning activity.

Key Accountabilities

• Liaise with and assist the Head of Estimating and Bids in the Bid / No Bid process.
• Support the Head of Estimating and Bids with the day to day management of the bid team including supporting development of junior bid team colleagues.
• Work with the Head of Estimating and Bids and Business Unit leads, to develop win themes for each opportunity.
• Review written responses and provide constructive feedback to authors in line with the Win Strategy and Storyboard requirements as part of the formal reviews process.
• Ongoing review of bid quality scores, and compare with competitors to continuously drive quality improvements.
• Hold and manage Bid Launch, within one week of every confirmed Bid decision, ensuring all key internal stakeholders attend.
• Produce a Bid Plan & Deliverables for every confirmed Tender.
• Use the Bid Plan at the Bid Launch to agree actions to support the bid, including agreeing and managing key dates in line with the bid programme.
• Attend site visits, as required, to gain a full understanding of the project, its constraints and any key client requirements.
• Hold a post site visit meeting with all site attendees to ensure all aspects have been captured for inclusion in the bid submission.
• Hold answer planning sessions and targeted meetings with Subject Matter Experts / key contributors to ensure all quality questions are addressed in a comprehensive manner.
• Liaise with the Estimating Team to ensure all pricing information, CPs and Value Engineering requirements are completed.
• Liaison with the Business Development Manager to ascertain client win themes and approaches are included within bids.
• Liaise with the Head of Estimating and Bids to understand any bid governance requirements and the impact on the bid.
• Produce quality responses, ensuring all research and information from operational, technical, planning and sustainability teams are incorporated into the Bid.
• As required, hold and manage a Mid‑Tender Review through the tender period to ensure timescales for quality responses are being met.
• Undertake pre‑submission checks on all bids, with the support of Senior Bid Managers, to ensure all client requirements are met and the submission is compliant.
• Report the progress of bids to the Head of Estimating and Bids.
• Monitor the award dates and follow up with Clients when overdue.
• Review all Post Tender Clarifications to ensure they are actioned and responded to in the required timescales.
• Undertake Post Tender Reviews as and when necessary.
• Prepare all Post Tender Presentations, liaising with the relevant attendees to ensure all content is covered.
• Undertake presentation reviews to ensure timings are accurate and presenters have the necessary scripts.
• Implement lessons learned sessions, undertake reviews of all feedback received on bids and ensure areas of improvement are shared with the Bid Team and wider teams.
• Support the Head of Estimating and Bids to hold and manage all tender handover meetings.
• Provide an agenda and summary of the tender, for discussion at the Tender Handover.
• Issue handover notes to all attendees and ensure tender documentation is uploaded to Viewpoint.
• Manage external Bid Writers, where required, to undertake the production of quality responses when Bid resources are not available.
• Ensure relevant information is provided and an invite to the Bid Launch is sent.
• Review all quality responses to ensure they fit the aim and purpose of the region.

Database/Library Management

• Contribute to the Bid Library and its content alongside the rest of the Bid Team to ensure it is up to date and relevant.
• Oversee the creation and completion of Case Studies and CVs to ensure consistency and quality.
• Oversee the creation and completion of a Project Datasheet Information for all North projects, ensuring sites are visited and delivery teams are engaged to source quality information to be used in bids.
• Oversee the Photo Library to ensure all completed projects are photographed and saved within the Photo Library.

Reporting and Meetings

• Liaise with the Bid Coordinator to ensure information is up‑to‑date in relation to all Live and Submitted opportunities on Salesforce.
• Attend regular Business Development / Pipeline update meetings.
• Attend Monthly P&C North Bid Team meetings.
• Liaise regularly with the Business units Regional Directors to provide updates on bid progress and to understand Business and Work Winning priorities.

Miscellaneous

• Support and provide bid information to other regions as and when required.
• Support and attend Knowledge Forums as required.
• Provide ad‑hoc training and support to wider teams as and when required.
• Monitoring and reporting against bid KPI’s to deliver consistent and exemplar standards for all project submissions including evidencing our SV commitments and producing Case Studies as necessary and related to Bid.

This list is not exhaustive, and management of additional tasks may be required on an ad hoc basis.

Benefits

• Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalised support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including Women in EQUANS, RISE (BAME), LGBTQI+, Working Parents, YPN (Young Persons Network) and our Disability Network

Who are we looking for?

Key Skills

• Industry specific knowledge, including knowledge of public sector procurement
• Proven track record in the sector or similar role
• High level of interpersonal skills
• Good at developing relationships
• Able to communicate at all levels
• Proven management skills
• Proficient IT skills

Experience

• Bid Submissions and Bid Preparations
• Bid writing experience
• Experience within Bid Management
• Experience with preparing and holding presentations and meetings
• Preferable experience of managing people

Key Attributes

• Able to demonstrate the ability to think strategically
• Have the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Must be organised and able to manage their time effectively
• Be proactive
• Strong writing skills
• Eye for detail
• Be confident and enthusiastic
• Understand the power of relationships
• Self‑motivated with the ability to manage a team

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements. We are committed to delivering a culture where everyone’s voice is heard and supported. We value diversity and inclusion, and we encourage people who are part of our growing employee networks to apply.