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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Design IT solutions for compelling tender bids in the bus industry.
- Company: Join First Bus, a leader in transforming the UK local bus market.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options and a collaborative team environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team making a real impact in public transport.
- Qualifications: Proven IT experience with strong analytical and presentation skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work on innovative projects and develop industry-leading practices.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As reform of the UK local bus market gathers momentum, large scale franchise and B2B contracts are likely to form an increasing proportion of the First Bus business. To maximise our win rate for such contracts, our bid team will need to produce creative, efficient and compelling tender bids. Working as part of this team, this role will focus on designing IT solutions that provide confidence to potential clients that we clearly understand and can meet and exceed their requirements. These solutions will need to demonstrate that we have correctly understood the division of responsibility for system provision, can achieve smooth integration of client systems with First Bus systems where appropriate, and demonstrate industry-leading practices around data protection and cyber security.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
- Devise solutions that meet and exceed client requirements, including in areas such as (but not limited to) IT architecture, system integration, data protection and cybersecurity.
- Identify associated resource requirements, calculate opex and capex requirements and ensure clear and timely communication to Finance colleagues for costing purposes.
- Identify and engage with identified specialists and ‘system champions' for relevant existing First Bus systems to ensure their effective and timely contribution to solution design.
- Clearly and concisely summarise proposed solutions, both verbally and in writing, to enable preparation of written technical submissions.
- Provide critical analysis of draft bid submissions to ensure they effectively describe our solutions, finding an appropriate balance between technical language and ‘plain English', to ensure we maximise technical quality scores.
- For identified potential future opportunities, analyse and process available data to build a picture of likely client expectations (e.g. SWOT analysis, current processes and structures, identified historic issues etc).
- Model and test potential solutions that can drive performance at specified thresholds, and identify the varying associated resource implications.
- Keep abreast of evolving industry-wide best practice in system design, data management and cybersecurity, providing reports and recommendations internally to ensure the wider bid team is fully aware of risks and opportunities.
- Form a strong relationship with colleagues in mainstream First Bus IT team, ensuring the regular exchange of performance data and case studies to enrich bid submissions and support the acquisition and maintenance of relevant accreditations.
Skills / Experience
Essentials
- Experienced IT professional with proven experience in complex multi-agency implementation.
- Broad subject matter expertise, along with a recognition of when to call on subject specialists.
- Ability to quickly develop a good understanding of systems currently in use across First Bus, with understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
- Excellent understanding of data processing risks, opportunities and best practice.
- Excellent understanding of cybersecurity risks, opportunities and best practice.
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across departmental boundaries.
- Ability to stay calm and focussed under pressure, especially approaching deadlines.
- Presentational skills to concisely summarise and articulate complex solutions.
Desirables
- Ability to quickly and accurately digest large, complex tender documents.
- Structured, methodical approach to ensure compliance with detailed technical requirements.
- Analytical skills to be able to process and blend data from multiple sources, determine trends and identify key findings.
- Ability to work in an open, positive and harmonious manner as part of a small team.
IT Bid Solutions Specialist employer: First Bus
Contact Detail:
First Bus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Bid Solutions Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in IT solutions, particularly in the context of public transport. Understanding how technology can enhance service delivery will help you demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the IT and public transport sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the challenges they face, which can inform your approach to solution design.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your presentation skills. Being able to clearly articulate complex IT solutions in a way that resonates with non-technical stakeholders is crucial for this role, so practice summarising technical concepts in plain English.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on data protection and cybersecurity best practices. This knowledge will not only enhance your credibility but also show that you are proactive about addressing potential risks in your proposed solutions.
We think you need these skills to ace IT Bid Solutions Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the IT Bid Solutions Specialist position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the key accountabilities outlined in the job description.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in IT solutions, particularly in complex multi-agency implementations. Provide specific examples of past projects where you successfully designed IT solutions that met client needs, focusing on data protection and cybersecurity.
Use Clear Language: When summarising your proposed solutions or experiences, use clear and concise language. Avoid overly technical jargon unless necessary, and aim for a balance that demonstrates your expertise while remaining accessible to a broader audience.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Demonstrate your analytical skills by discussing how you've processed and blended data from multiple sources in previous roles. Include examples of how you've identified trends and made recommendations based on your findings, especially in relation to system design and performance.
How to prepare for a job interview at First Bus
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of the IT Bid Solutions Specialist role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and accountabilities outlined in the job description, especially around IT architecture, system integration, and cybersecurity.
✨Prepare Examples of Past Work
Be ready to discuss specific examples from your previous experience that demonstrate your ability to devise IT solutions and work collaboratively across teams. Highlight instances where you successfully managed complex projects or improved processes.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Since the role requires critical analysis of bid submissions and data processing, prepare to discuss how you've approached similar tasks in the past. Be ready to explain your thought process and how you identify trends and key findings from data.
✨Communicate Clearly and Concisely
During the interview, practice summarising complex ideas in simple terms. This will demonstrate your ability to balance technical language with plain English, which is crucial for maximising technical quality scores in bid submissions.
