Senior Bid Manager

Cardiff, South Glamorgan
Howells Solutions

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced senior bid manager on behalf of a growing social housing maintenance contractor. This is a senior role, responsible for leading and overseeing the bidding process for complex, large-scale maintenance contracts.

You will be responsible for managing the entire bid lifecycle. Working closely with key internal stakeholders and partners, you will drive the bid process and demonstrate the company’s capability in delivering exceptional social housing maintenance projects.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Bid strategy development: Lead the development and execution of bid strategies to align with organisational goals and market positioning.
2. Proposal management: Formulate high-quality submissions to meet and exceed client specifications.
3. Cross-functional collaboration: Assemble and coordinate cross-functional teams from technical, legal, finance, operations, and HR departments. Maintain clear and regular communication to ensure everyone is aligned with bid requirements and expectations. Ensure milestones and deadlines are met.
4. Win themes: Ensure win themes are effectively articulated throughout the bid response, demonstrating a clear understanding of client needs and how the company can meet them.
5. Pricing strategy: Collaborate with the estimating team to ensure bids are financially competitive, cost-effective, and reflective of the company’s capability to deliver projects within budget. Ensure the quality submission aligns with pricing principles and model.
6. Risk assessment: Identify potential risks (technical, financial, legal) throughout the bid process and work with internal teams to effectively mitigate these risks.
7. Regulatory compliance: Ensure all bids comply with relevant regulations, standards, and client requirements. Stay informed of regulatory changes and incorporate them into bid submissions.
8. Leadership and mentorship: Provide leadership and guidance to junior bid managers and coordinators. Mentor the team in developing their skills and expertise to improve overall performance.
9. Post-submission engagement: Lead debriefing sessions with clients and intermediaries after bid submissions to gather feedback and use this information to improve future bid submissions.
10. Bid review and feedback: Conduct internal bid reviews and lessons learned sessions to refine the bidding process, improving overall performance.
11. Pipeline Development: Work with the BDM and sales teams to develop the pipeline, consolidate opportunities, and ensure compelling and competitive submissions.

Key Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

Essential:

1. Proven track record in leading and winning large, complex bids (£40m+).
2. Min 5 years’ experience in bid management within the social housing maintenance or construction sectors.
3. In-depth understanding of the social housing sector, including procurement processes, government policies, key stakeholders (e.g., housing associations, local authorities), and industry trends.
4. Experience in preparing competitive pricing structures and understanding financial modelling for social housing projects.
5. Strong understanding of risk management principles and the ability to apply them to ensure successful and compliant bid submissions.
6. Strong understanding of cost estimation, pricing strategies, and financial modelling for social housing maintenance projects.
7. Understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities in social housing maintenance, including sustainability, community impact, and social value.
8. Strong project management skills.
9. The ability to identify challenges within the bidding process and develop innovative solutions to address them.
10. Strong negotiation skills, with experience in managing stakeholder relationships at all levels.

Key Attributes:

1. Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team of bid professionals.
2. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write compelling and persuasive copy.
3. Strong verbal communication skills to effectively present proposals and negotiate with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
4. Excellent attention to detail, ensuring quality and accuracy of all bid documents.
5. Proactive approach.
6. Strong vision to assess long-term market trends and sector opportunities.
7. Familiarity with relevant construction standards, regulatory requirements, and project delivery models within the social housing context.

Applications:

If you feel that you have the relevant experience to be successful in this position and would like to find out more please apply online today attaching a copy of your current CV. Alternatively, contact us on .

Howells are an Equal Opportunities employer. All applications will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. Howells acts as an Employment Business for the supply of temporary workers and an Employment Agency in relation to permanent vacancies.