Bid Solutions Lead

Shape the Future of Sustainable Transport with First Bus. The UK's bus industry is evolving, and First Bus is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. As franchising and contract-based services become more prominent, we’re embracing the opportunity to shape the future of sustainable transport in partnership with local authorities and key stakeholders.

As a Bid Solutions Lead, you will play a key role in shaping our technical and operational proposals, ensuring that our solutions meet and exceed client expectations.

Why Join First Bus? Our Growth team plays a pivotal role in securing stability and future success. This is an opportunity to be part of a team that is shaping the next generation of public transport.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Leads the development of compliant, compelling and high-quality bids for franchise and larger business-to-business (B2B) opportunities, fully meeting the client’s requirements and supporting the Head of Bid Solutions and wider bid team in delivering winning bids.
• Provide line management to a team of specialists in customer benefits, people, IT, operations and safety & environment.
• Provide a single point of contact for the delivery of the entire solution, agreeing deliverables with other subject matter experts and holding them to account for delivery of these, with the support of the Head of Bid Solutions.
• Maintain awareness of bid pipeline and plan ahead to ensure resource availability for solution design for forthcoming opportunities.
• Create a bid plan for the development of an integrated customer benefits, people, IT, operations and safety & environment solution; ensuring adherence to the bid governance process as set out in the Business Development gateway process.

What We’re Looking For:

Essentials:

• Develop and articulate compelling bid solutions from outline through to final submission, ensuring high-quality scoring through clear benefit-led narratives and supporting evidence.
• Lead and motivate cross-functional Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), often outside of direct line management, to deliver inputs aligned to tight bid timelines.
• Demonstrate a strong track record in successfully leading and securing complex public sector bids, with a deep understanding of associated requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation, using emotional intelligence and commercial awareness to influence stakeholders and drive collaborative outcomes.
• Analyse complex data sets to assess risk and support informed, strategic, and commercially sound decision-making throughout the bid lifecycle.

Desirables:

• Demonstrable programme/project manager experience.
• Evidence of delivering winning bid solutions, resulting in high quality scores as the winning factor.

Rewards & Benefits:

• Competitive Salary + Bonus.
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays.
• Flexible working.
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares.
• Working at First you will receive a Free bus pass for you and your family after 6 months service as well as discounted train travel.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advice. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support.

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all. Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.