At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the tender and bid function, driving quality and consistency across submissions.
- Company: Join Sunbelt Rentals, the UK's largest equipment rental provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy a flexible rewards package, generous holidays, 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 with strategic oversight and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in bids, strong leadership skills, and commercial acumen required.
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 central, business-critical role is responsible for driving consistency, governance, and commercial quality across all bids and tenders, from high-volume submissions through to complex, strategic opportunities. It combines strategic oversight with operational excellence to deliver high-quality, differentiated, and commercially disciplined submissions that drive sustainable revenue growth, margin performance, and return on capital. The role is Warrington-based, with regular travel to engage with customers, support key bids, and work closely with sector and operational teams across the UK. Overnight stays are limited but may be 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.
- Interpret bid outcomes and opportunities 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 we offer
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 in Warrington employer: Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland
At Sunbelt Rentals, we pride ourselves on being the UK's largest equipment rental provider, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that fosters personal and professional growth. As a Head of Tender & Bids, you will benefit from our industry-leading flexible rewards package, generous holiday allowance, and a strong commitment to your development, ensuring you have the tools and support needed to excel in your role. Join us in Warrington, where you'll engage with diverse teams and customers across the UK, making a meaningful impact in a fast-paced, collaborative setting.
Contact Detail:
Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Tender & Bids in Warrington
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you 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 way, we can tailor our responses to show how we can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. The more we practice, the more confident we’ll be when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping us top of mind. It shows our enthusiasm for the role and gives us another chance to reiterate why we’re the best fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Tender & Bids in Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in bids and tenders. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Head of Tender & Bids, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior role, we’re looking for someone who can lead and influence teams effectively. Use your application to demonstrate your leadership experience and how you've driven success in previous roles—this is your chance to shine!
Be Specific and Insightful:When discussing your past experiences, be specific about the strategies you implemented and the results you achieved. We love insight-led applications that show you understand market trends and customer behaviours—make it compelling!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of bid management and tender processes. Familiarise yourself with Sunbelt Rentals' recent projects and their approach to bids. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a senior role, they’ll be looking for strong leadership qualities. Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and drive results in a complex environment. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Tailor Your Responses
Make sure your answers are tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience in managing high-volume submissions and improving win rates, and discuss how you can bring that expertise to Sunbelt Rentals.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company. Inquire about their current bid strategies, challenges they face, or how they measure success in their tendering process. This shows your genuine interest and strategic thinking.
