Bid Manager

QP Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A national service provider is seeking an experienced Head of Tendering Centre to lead its group-wide tendering function. The role involves managing the end-to-end tendering process, mentoring bid teams, and producing compelling proposals for both public and private sectors. Candidates should have 3–5 years of bid management experience, strong written communication skills, and strategic thinking capabilities. You'll be part of a collaborative organization dedicated to service excellence across the UK and internationally.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ experience in bid management, tendering or proposal development.
• Experience within multi-service, facilities management or service-based sectors.
• Proven experience managing public and private sector tenders.
• Strong knowledge of tender portals, procurement frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full tender lifecycle from opportunity identification through to submission.
• Manage and coordinate multiple tender submissions and deadlines.
• Build and lead cross-functional bid teams to develop compelling solutions.
• Deliver board-level reporting on tender pipeline, performance and outcomes.
• Lead post-tender debriefs to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Excellent written communication

Strong commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Proactive and solutions-focused

Education

APMP certification (or working towards it)

Tools

CRM platforms such as HubSpot

Job description

Group Director – Head of Tendering Centre

A leading national service provider delivering specialist solutions across security, cleaning, recruitment and training is seeking an experienced Head of Tendering Centre to lead and develop its group-wide tendering function.

With a workforce of over 11,000 colleagues and services delivered across 5,000+ sites, the organisation provides integrated solutions to both public and private sector clients. The business combines national scale with strong regional support and is continuing to expand both across the UK and internationally.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic bid leader to shape and drive a high-performing tendering function that supports both new business growth and client retention.

The Role

The Head of Tendering Centre will lead the end-to-end tendering process across multiple service divisions. You will mentor and develop bid teams, manage multiple concurrent opportunities, and convert complex requirements into high-quality, compliant and compelling proposals that win work.

You will work closely with senior leadership, operational teams and subject matter experts to deliver solutions-led bids across both public and private sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full tender lifecycle from opportunity identification through to submission
• Manage and coordinate multiple tender submissions and deadlines
• Build and lead cross-functional bid teams to develop compelling solutions
• Review, critique and approve all tender submissions to ensure quality and compliance
• Maintain tender portals and systems to capture new opportunities
• Deliver board-level reporting on tender pipeline, performance and outcomes
• Develop strong win strategies incorporating innovation, ESG and social value
• Maintain a high-quality bid library and knowledge base
• Manage external bid writers or partners where required
• Lead post-tender debriefs to drive continuous improvement

About You

You are a strategic and commercially aware bid professional who thrives in a fast-paced, service-led environment.

You bring strong leadership capability alongside exceptional written communication skills and a passion for developing winning proposals.

• 3–5 years’ experience in bid management, tendering or proposal development
• Experience within multi-service, facilities management or service-based sectors
• Proven experience managing public and private sector tenders
• Strong knowledge of tender portals, procurement frameworks and compliance requirements
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written proposals
• Experience leading or mentoring bid teams
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tenders and deadlines
• APMP certification (or working towards it)

Key Skills

• Excellent written communication and attention to detail
• Strong commercial awareness and value-based proposal writing
• Stakeholder management across senior leadership and operational teams
• Familiarity with CRM platforms such as HubSpot
• Strategic thinking with a solutions-focused approach
• Ability to analyse tender feedback and improve win rates

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Results-driven with strong ownership
• Calm and composed under pressure
• Collaborative team player
• Authentic, people-focused leader
• Positive, resilient and adaptable

What You’ll Be Part Of

You will join a people-powered organisation where collaboration, innovation and service excellence are at the heart of everything we do. The business is committed to developing its people, improving processes and delivering high-quality services to clients across the UK and internationally.

If you are an experienced bid leader looking to shape and lead a group-wide tendering function, we would love to hear from you.