Bid Manager & Writer

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a Bid Manager and Writer to join our Bid Team, which is part of the wider Development, Marketing, and Communications Department! You will support the delivery of effective business development strategies and activities to achieve organisational growth and to enhance our existing services!

Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

You will be responsible for leading on specific competitive tendering and bidding processes on behalf of the group, writing high-quality competitive tenders and proposals, understanding the current market and feeding information to guide strategic planning, and supporting colleagues within the wider group to develop products, funding bids, and proposals!

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday, based in our central office in Islington, with flexible work from home available. You will also be expected to travel across London and the South East, as well as our other locations to attend market engagement and bid related activities and attend regular service visits.

Benefits, including Non-Contractual Perks

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Medicash includes discount gym memberships, routine optometry care, dental treatments, and physiotherapy treatments
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards

ABOUT YOU

We're looking for a passionate writer, someone with previous experience writing bids and/or proposals, securing new or existing contracts. We're looking for an effective communicator, with a high attention to detail and quality. You will be passionate about what we do, supporting vulnerable people and understand the complexities of their backgrounds. 
We're looking for a self-starter, someone who can form effective purposeful relationships within the organisation and externally, someone innovative, creative, and able solve problems to support our growth!

OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Bid Writing and Management

• Lead in all elements of the bidding process which includes writing competitive bids within strict deadlines.
• Identify, research, and communicate opportunities and needs across the organisation, working proactively with colleagues at all levels to identify fundable initiatives.
• Host internal and external briefings and liaise with relevant teams to develop compelling bids which are fit for purpose, realistic, and aligned with organisational needs and aims.
• Lead the development of specific bid responses which includes the structure, content, and responses. Ensure tenders are submitted on time and achieve the highest scores by the evaluator(s).
• Develop and manage an internal network of subject matter experts and bring them into the development and writing process as required.
• Support colleagues in developing presentations, and briefings.

Partnership Building

• Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships internally throughout the organisation and externally with external partners and organisations.
• Represent Social Interest Group and our subsidiaries in market engagement and events online and in-person and support with all aspects of enhancing and developing our brand.

Organisational Growth

• Identify priorities from strategy and business plans, translating growth plans into effective practices aligned to SIG’s mission, vision, and values.
• Collect and share information relevant to teams involved in Mobilisations and TUPE’s for won bids. Ensure communication is clear, and concise, providing a logical strategy and direction to follow to ensure a smooth transition for new contracts.

Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position. 

KEY CRITERIA

What we are looking for:

• Previous experience in a similar role with similar responsibilities, this includes a track record of securing new bids and/or retaining existing contracts
• Previous experience in bid/proposal writing, reviewing, and editing
• IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, experience in Microsoft, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability and willingness to travel and attend market engagement events and to visit services to gain greater understanding of what SIG offers and to inform teams of relevant tender responses
• Ability to create and write engaging content, with proofreading skills
• Proven ability to prioritise and juggle multiple tasks and competing priorities within a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral and ability to build relationships
• Ability to review large amounts of information and research materials to inform model development and shape tender responses
• Proficiency in navigating tender portals

What we would like, but not essential:

• Previous experience managing the full bidding process end to end from pre market engagement and contract notification, through to award
• Previous experience working in the same or similar sector

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

WORKING FOR US

ABOUT US

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.

Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change

Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Our Values

Ambition – Eager to succeed and to accomplish as much as possible for our people

Empowerment – Giving staff and the people we support the tools, training, and information they need to achieve their potential

Transparency – Upfront and visible about our actions and open to scrutiny from stakeholders, service users, and staff

Inclusivity – Listening to, understanding, and including all our stakeholders to ensure we make a difference and get things right

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

For Recruitment related enquiries, or if you need support with making your application for example due to learning needs or a disability, please email recruitment@socialinterestgroup.org.uk or call us on 020 3668 9270