Senior Bids Executive

We are looking for a talented Bids Executive or Bid Writer to step up to Senior Executive level at this full-service national commercial law firm. The firm is a UK-Top 100 commercial law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal services from offices in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds and London. They advise businesses across construction, energy & resource management, higher education and financial services, complementing the firm's market leadership within housing, local government and health and social care. They currently have circa 600 staff, including 90 Partners, and their award-winning teams provide construction, commercial, corporate, property, regulatory, employment and litigation (commercial and clinical negligence) legal advice and is one of 'The Times Best Law Firms 2023'.

The Team has had 10 years of growth and the Bids team supports the ambitious growth plans of the firm. In particular, over the last 5 years, they have successfully managed a steady increase in the number of tenders with a particular focus on winning new work across central and local government, NHS and Housing providers. You will be part of a vibrant Business Development & Marketing Department working with colleagues across business development, marketing, events and the Bids Team, plus working closely with some exceptional Partners who are leaders in their field.

The Role involves providing day-to-day project management and supporting/leads on agreed tenders by working closely with nominated Partner lead(s). The Bids Executive role will work closely with the Senior Bid Manager. On joining the team, you would undertake a variety of work including:

• Assisting in the delivery of compelling, high impact and high-quality bids
• Supporting the Senior Bid Manager to implement successfully a coherent and efficient tender process and practice throughout the firm
• Ensuring that information about tender wins and losses are communicated and that feedback and recommendations for action are captured and acted upon
• Producing work that is of high quality and in keeping with regular communication and work with BD&M team colleagues
• Providing efficient and effective bids project management and support

The successful candidate will provide support for a variety of functions some of which will include:

• Supporting the Senior Bids Manager in all aspects of their role
• Daily tracking of opportunities and circulating - direct, adverts or national, regional, local hubs
• Information management of procurement hubs
• Management of new tender opportunities from initial notification through to submission
• Creating InDesign images for tenders responses and presentations
• Ensuring tenders go through the BIDs checklist
• Updating tender portal - adding tender documents, compliance documents, methodologies
• Ensuring CVs are up to date and recorded on the internal databank
• Developing and continually refreshing libraries of information e.g. credential database, quality policies, experience sheets etc.
• Assisting Bids Manager in completing any feedback such as tender debriefs or weekly analysis

The BD&M department is based in Bristol, however, they are open to applicants based in their other office locations of Birmingham or Leeds.

Essential skill set requirements:

• Previous bids or legal service tenders experience essential, ideally in a legal or professional services environment
• Excellent IT skills are a must including internet, intranet, portals, submission of bids online, communication, spreadsheets, databases
• Excellent organisation skills
• High attention to detail
• Ability to remain calm and work effectively under pressure and tight deadlines
• Degree in a challenging academic subject or relevant professional work experience
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to build working relationships at all levels of seniority
• Strong business acumen to provide opinions and challenge others

Preferred skill set requirements:

• Proactive
• Constructive
• Team player
• Understanding the need for information to be up to date, relevant and consistent
• A motivated, self-driven, results orientated individual
• Problem solver
• Experience in InDesign preferred but not essential - training can be provided

Work-life Balance:

They offer a substantial benefits package to all employees, which includes 25 days holiday (plus the option to buy up to an additional 5 days), a generous pension scheme and private medical insurance through Vitality (including 'phone a GP service', discounted gym membership and 'Vitality' Partner discounts). All staff are entitled to a biennial private health assessment through Nuffield Health and are included in the group life assurance scheme. They also have an Employee Assistance Programme (free telephone support and counselling service) and a cycle scheme (Save Tax & NI on a bike for cycling to work). Where possible, they want to offer all staff flexibility to work their week in a way that suits them - operating a hybrid working model based on the needs of their clients, teams and that of the individual. The core business hours are 9am - 5:15pm Monday to Friday, however, they are open to individuals working more flexibly around those times and would welcome a conversation with you if you have any questions.