Bid Lead

Cala Consulting Limited; Newtownabbey; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cala Consulting Limited is seeking a Strategy & Bid Development Lead to shape growth opportunities and lead high-quality bids, tenders and proposals. The role requires translating priorities into persuasive submissions and managing the product and proposition portfolio across its lifecycle.

Reporting to the Director of Service Provision & Strategic Growth, you will coordinate clinical, service delivery, digital, finance and commercial stakeholders, ensuring evidence-based, commercially sound

Qualifications

• Three years or more in business development, bid management or strategy.
• Experience handling procurements, tenders or commissioning processes within large organisations or public sector contexts.
• Proven track record in producing compliant, evidence-based bids and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assess and progress strategic growth opportunities aligned with priorities.
• Translate market intelligence and service data into growth plans and proposals.
• Develop robust business cases and strategic recommendations for senior leaders.
• Lead full bid lifecycle from qualification to submission.
• Produce clear responses demonstrating quality, standards and outcomes.
• Ensure bids are accurate, compliant and delivered on time.
• Own and develop the product and proposition portfolio across its lifecycle.
• Coordinate input from clinical, service delivery, digital, finance and commercial stakeholders.
• Build an evidence base with outcomes, performance data and case studies.
• Maintain a pipeline of opportunities and report progress, risks and dependencies.
• Lead post-bid reviews and develop reusable bid content.
• Drive continuous improvement in bid management and strategic planning processes.

Skills

Bid management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Proposal writing

Commercial growth

Market intelligence

Project coordination

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Tender management software

Job description

Strategy & Bid Development Lead

Cala Consulting are recruiting for a commercially focused Strategy & Bid Development Lead to join an established, purpose-led organisation. This is an opportunity for an experienced bid and strategy professional who can turn insight, service evidence and complex stakeholder input into compelling, commercially sound growth propositions.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Service Provision & Strategic Growth, you will shape and progress strategic growth opportunities while leading the development of high-quality bids, tenders and proposals. You will translate organisational priorities, service performance insight, customer need and clinical expertise into clear growth plans and persuasive submissions.

The role also owns the product and proposition portfolio across its full lifecycle, from opportunity identification and development through to launch, performance review, refinement and retirement. Working across multiple teams, you will ensure that every opportunity is evidence-based, operationally deliverable and aligned with the organisation's long-term direction, values and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Identify, assess and progress strategic growth opportunities aligned with organisational priorities, capabilities and long-term direction.

Translate market intelligence, customer insight, service performance data and clinical expertise into clear growth and development priorities.

Develop robust business cases, opportunity assessments and strategic recommendations to support senior-level decision-making.

Lead the full bid lifecycle, including opportunity qualification, bid planning, evidence gathering, drafting, review, approval and submission.

Produce clear and compelling responses that demonstrate service quality, clinical standards, operational capability, outcomes and social value.

Ensure all bids and proposals are accurate, compliant, evidence-based, commercially sound and delivered to agreed deadlines.

Own and develop the product and proposition portfolio, ensuring it remains current, clearly positioned and responsive to customer and market needs.

Coordinate input from clinical, service delivery, digital, finance and commercial stakeholders, establishing clear responsibilities, deadlines and decision points.

Build and maintain a strong evidence base for bids and propositions, including service outcomes, performance data, quality information and case studies.

Maintain a clear pipeline of opportunities, bids and proposition priorities, reporting on progress, risks, dependencies and outcomes.

Lead post-bid reviews and develop reusable content, templates and bid assets to improve quality, consistency and efficiency.

Drive continuous improvement across bid management, proposition development and strategic planning processes.

Essential Skills and Experience

A third-level qualification and a minimum of three years' experience in business development, bid management, strategic planning, service development or a related field.

Proven experience of procurement, tendering, bid management or commissioning processes within large organisations and/or public-sector environments.

A strong track record of producing high-quality, compliant and evidence-based bids, tenders or proposals.

Demonstrable experience of owning and delivering strategic growth initiatives aligned with organisational priorities, customer needs and long-term objectives.

The ability to use performance data, market intelligence, customer insight and service evidence to shape proposals, recommendations and decisions.

Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, persuasive and accurate content against customer requirements and evaluation criteria.

Strong planning, organisation and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage contributors, risks, reviews and competing deadlines.

Proven influencing and negotiation skills, with the credibility to build effective relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.

A collaborative, solutions-focused approach and the confidence to lead complex work across multiple functions.

Flexibility to work in and travel to different locations across Ireland, together with a full current driving licence and access to a car with business insurance. Alternative travel arrangements will be considered for applicants with a disability who cannot hold a licence.

Desirable

Experience of managing a product or service proposition through development, launch, performance review and refinement.

Experience working with clinical, service delivery or other regulated operational teams.

Experience developing business cases, proposition materials, bid libraries or reusable tender content.