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- Tasks: Lead the entire bidding process for large-scale contracts, from strategy to contract signing.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Mears, focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by winning multi-million-pound contracts and shaping industry strategies.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in winning complex public sector contracts and leading teams.
- Other info: Engage with clients and stakeholders while driving innovative solutions in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
As Principal Bid Lead, you will be responsible for the full end-to-end bidding lifecycle, from pre-procurement strategy and early market engagement, through tender development and dialogue stages, all the way to contract signing and mobilisation handover. Working with internal experts, senior leadership, external partners and clients, you’ll ensure our proposals are innovative, competitive, commercially aligned and reflective of customer need. You’ll set the tone, define the strategy, coordinate delivery and exercise the governance required to succeed on large-scale, multi-million-pound opportunities.
- Lead pre-tender planning, market intelligence, SWOT analysis and competitor insight to maximise win probability.
- Develop compelling bid strategies that balance client requirements, commercial drivers and operational capability.
- Be the voice of the customer throughout the bid process to ensure a sustainable and winning solution is submitted.
- Build strong internal coalitions, motivating virtual teams (commercial, operational, finance, mobilisation, legal, marketing and others) to deliver high-quality proposals to strict timelines.
- Own the quality submission and solution development, challenging thinking and driving innovation.
- Lead dialogue/negotiation sessions with clients to refine proposals and influence outcomes.
- Manage bid governance, internal sign-off and risk, working closely with legal and commercial specialists.
- Maintain proactive engagement with clients, third-party partners and sector stakeholders.
- Manage bid budgets, resourcing and return on investment.
- Oversee contract close-out and ensure a smooth handover to mobilisation.
- Analyse bid performance and lessons learned to continually raise standards.
- Contribute to broader sector strategy and Group Development priorities.
Key Criteria:
- A proven track record of winning complex >£10m per annum public sector contracts (ideally within central government or similar environments).
- Led bids from pre-procurement through to contract award and mobilisation.
- Confident, energetic and self-driven, with the ability to lead under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Exceptional influencing and communication skills, capable of engaging and presenting at senior levels.
- Excels at problem-solving, challenging assumptions and shaping innovative solutions.
- Understands commercial drivers and can align pricing, quality and operational models.
- Possesses high levels of organisation, attention to detail and analytical capability.
- Excels in collaboration — inspiring teams, partners and stakeholders to deliver.
All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21, have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.
Principal Bid Lead in Basingstoke employer: Mears
Contact Detail:
Mears Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Bid Lead in Basingstoke
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Principal Bid Lead role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent bids. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around winning complex contracts. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the one they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to articulate your bid strategies and how you’ve led successful projects in the past. Make it engaging and memorable—this is your chance to shine and show off your influencing skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Bid Lead in Basingstoke
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Bid Lead role. Highlight your experience with complex bids and how you've successfully led teams in the past. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of successful bids you’ve led, especially those over £10m. We love numbers and results, so let’s see how you’ve made an impact in previous roles!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and understand.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mears
✨Know Your Bidding Lifecycle
Familiarise yourself with the full end-to-end bidding lifecycle. Be ready to discuss your experience in pre-procurement strategy, tender development, and contract mobilisation. Highlight specific examples where you’ve successfully navigated these stages.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Bid Lead, you'll need to motivate and coordinate virtual teams. Prepare to share instances where you've led diverse groups to deliver high-quality proposals under tight deadlines. Emphasise your ability to inspire collaboration across different departments.
✨Demonstrate Client-Centric Thinking
Be the voice of the customer! Illustrate how you’ve ensured that proposals reflect client needs and how you’ve engaged with clients throughout the bid process. This will show your understanding of the importance of aligning solutions with customer expectations.
✨Prepare for Negotiation Scenarios
Expect to discuss negotiation tactics and how you’ve influenced outcomes in previous bids. Think about specific challenges you faced during negotiations and how you overcame them. This will showcase your exceptional influencing and communication skills.
