At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the end-to-end tendering and bid function, driving quality and consistency across submissions.
- Company: Join Sunbelt Rentals, the UK's largest equipment rental provider with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a flexible rewards package, generous holiday allowance, and a great pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal development and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a senior role that drives sustainable revenue growth and margin performance.
- Qualifications: Experience in bids, tenders, and senior management with strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
We are currently recruiting for a Head of Tender and Bids to lead and own the end-to-end tendering and bid function across Sunbelt Rentals UK, operating as a senior member of the Commercial leadership team. This is a central, business-critical role responsible for driving consistency, governance, and commercial quality across all bids and tenders, from high-volume submissions through to complex, strategic opportunities. The role combines strategic oversight with operational excellence, ensuring Sunbelt delivers high-quality, differentiated, and commercially disciplined submissions that drive sustainable revenue growth, margin performance, and return on capital. The position is Warrington-based, with an expectation of regular travel to engage with customers, support key bids, and work closely with sector and operational teams across the UK. Overnight stays will be limited but should be expected where required to support critical opportunities.
Responsibilities:
- Define and lead the UK-wide bid and tender strategy, aligned to Sunbelt’s growth priorities, sector focus, and customer segmentation.
- Act as the senior owner of the central bid function, ensuring consistency, governance, and quality across all business units and bid types.
- Own and manage the bid pipeline, ensuring focus on the right opportunities through structured qualification (bid/no-bid) and prioritisation.
- Partner with the Executive Commercial Director and wider Exec to support strategic pursuits and provide visibility on performance, risks, and opportunities.
- Be able to interpret bid outcomes and opportunities presented to provide insight into market trends, competitor positioning, and customer procurement behaviours.
- Lead the end-to-end bid lifecycle: qualification, solution design, pricing, submission, negotiation, and post-bid review.
- Ensure all submissions are high-quality, compliant, and compelling, with clear differentiation and strong customer value propositions.
- Drive a structured “bid spine” process across the function to improve discipline, consistency, and conversion rates.
- Ensure bid responses are highly tailored, insight-led, and specific to each customer and opportunity—minimising generic content and maximising relevance and impact.
- Oversee delivery of a high-volume, complex pipeline (300+ submissions annually), ensuring consistency and quality at scale.
What can we offer you in return?
You’ll be joining a highly successful company, the UK’s largest equipment rental provider. We provide an industry-leading flexible rewards package including generous holiday allowance (with the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave), life assurance, retail discount scheme, employee recognition awards and a great Company pension scheme.
About You
If you join the team we’ll provide you with everything you need and ensure you are equipped for success. We’ll talk to you about your training and personal development needs and what you’d like to do to further your career and support your future aspirations. To succeed in the role you will bring the following skill-set and behaviours:
- Experience in bids, tenders, or proposal management.
- Experience in a senior management role, leading teams and influencing at a senior level.
- Proven leadership of a complex bid/tender function in a multi-sector or B2B environment.
- Strong commercial acumen, with experience influencing pricing and deal structures.
- Track record of improving win rates and bid performance at scale.
- Experience using CRM and bid management systems (ideally Salesforce) and leveraging technology to improve performance.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with delivery in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication and influencing skills across technical, operational, and commercial audiences.
About Us
Why Sunbelt? Whether it's construction sites, energy projects, government initiatives, or unforgettable events, Sunbelt Rentals deliver the equipment and expertise to move every industry forward. With our ambition to be an employer of choice, this makes Sunbelt Rentals an ideal destination for your next career move. We are committed to the fair treatment of our staff, potential staff, and users of our services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability, or offending background. Having a criminal record will not automatically bar an individual from working with us. We judge each case on its own merits, taking into account the relevance of the conviction to the role, the circumstances, and the time passed since the offence.
Head of Tender & Bids employer: Sunbelt Rentals Careers
At Sunbelt Rentals, we pride ourselves on being the UK's largest equipment rental provider, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment that fosters employee growth and development. Our Warrington-based team enjoys an industry-leading flexible rewards package, generous holiday allowances, and a commitment to personal development, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the tender and bids sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Tender & Bids
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the position. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Tender & Bids
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Tender & Bids role. Highlight your experience in bids and tenders, and show how your skills align with our needs at Sunbelt Rentals.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see your leadership experience shine through! Share examples of how you've led teams and influenced decisions in previous roles, especially in a complex bid environment.
Be Specific and Insightful:When discussing your past experiences, be specific about your achievements. Use metrics to demonstrate how you improved win rates or bid performance, and provide insights into market trends you've identified.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Sunbelt Rentals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sunbelt Rentals Careers
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the bid and tender process. Familiarise yourself with Sunbelt Rentals' approach to tenders and be ready to discuss how you would enhance their existing strategies. Highlight your experience in managing complex bids and how you've driven success in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a senior member of the Commercial leadership team, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams through high-pressure situations, influenced stakeholders, and improved bid performance. Be ready to discuss your management style and how you foster collaboration across departments.
✨Be Data-Driven
Sunbelt Rentals values commercial acumen, so come prepared with data to back up your claims. Discuss how you've used analytics to inform bid strategies, improve win rates, and understand market trends. Show that you can balance strategic thinking with operational execution by providing specific examples from your past experiences.
✨Tailor Your Responses
During the interview, ensure your answers are tailored to the role and the company. Avoid generic responses; instead, focus on how your skills align with Sunbelt's goals. Use the job description as a guide to highlight relevant experiences and demonstrate your understanding of their business needs and customer segments.
