Business Development and Bid Manager

Solent Mind; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Part time

Job summary

Solent Mind is seeking a part-time Business Development and Bid Manager to lead income generation, partnerships and service proposals. You will oversee the tender lifecycle from opportunity identification to contract award, developing viable delivery models and budgets while ensuring quality submissions.

You will collaborate with senior leaders, operations, finance and external partners, turning complex procurement documents into clear plans and persuasive bids.

Qualifications

• Three years’ experience in bid, tender or proposal management.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with ability to produce compelling submissions.
• Strong project management, stakeholder and commercial skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new income, strategic partnerships and service proposals.
• Manage tender lifecycle from identification to contract award.
• Develop viable service models and budgets for bids and proposals.
• Write and quality-assure submissions and manage bid calendar.
• Maintain bid and contract pipeline and support mobilisation of successful awards.

Skills

Bid management

Proposal writing

Project management

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Job description

Salary: £38,793 to £42,824 FTE per annum pro-rata for part time Solent Mind Band F. In line with organisational policy, new appointments will ordinarily be made at the starting salary point of the advertised grade.

Hours: 22.5 - 30 hours per week with candidates able to specify their preference

Location: Hybrid working from home and Southampton with travel to other service locations

Interview Date: Friday 06 November 2026

Closing Date: Sunday 25 October 2026 (11.59pm)

About the role

As Business Development and Bid Manager, you will join a compassionate but highly driven team and lead the development of new income, strategic partnerships and service proposals that enable Solent Mind to respond to the mental health needs of our communities.

Working alongside the Senior Leadership Team, operational teams, finance colleagues and external partners, you will manage the tender lifecycle from opportunity identification through to contract award. You will develop viable service models and budgets, write and quality-assure compelling submissions, maintain the bid and contract pipeline, and support the handover of successful awards into mobilisation and delivery.

About you

You will bring at least three years’ experience in bid, tender or proposal management, including writing and submitting successful tenders and managing multiple deadlines. You will be an exceptional writer and editor with strong project management, stakeholder and commercial skills, able to interpret complex procurement and contractual documents and turn them into clear plans and persuasive proposals. You will be confident developing sustainable delivery models and budgets, using Microsoft Office and technology to support bid development, and working collaboratively across teams and partner organisations. Knowledge of the mental health or voluntary sector, public procurement, social value and partnership or consortium bids would be an advantage.

About us

Solent Mind is the largest mental health charity in Hampshire. It is part of a network of 125 local Minds in England and Wales, which are independent charities affiliated to Mind. Solent Mind has its own board of trustees and raises its own funds to deliver its services, support and training tailored to the needs of people living in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight. Solent Mind has a gold award for Workplace Wellbeing Index 2022/2023 and has signed up to be a Mindful Employer.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS -

You will be asked about gaps in your employment at interview and you will need to provide proof of your right to work in the UK before you start your employment.

Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor this role as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Any offer for this role will be subject to receiving your references.

We welcome people from all the communities we work in to apply for a role within Solent Mind, especially those with experience of mental health problems. Offers are made based on merit.