Senior Bids Manager

Foot Anstey LLP; Exeter, Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Foot Anstey LLP is seeking a Senior Bids Manager to lead end-to-end bids and tenders within our Client Development team. Hybrid working from Bristol or Exeter, full-time, focused on winning high-value opportunities and strengthening client relationships.

You will drive bid strategy, capture planning, and persuasive bid responses, coaching presenters and collaborating with Partners, legal and finance to deliver competitive proposals.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing bids, tenders and proposals, ideally in professional services.
• Proven ability to lead complex opportunities from capture through to submission and debrief.
• Experience navigating RFIs, PQQs, RFPs, ITTs and framework opportunities.
• Outstanding writing, editing and proofreading skills with ability to tailor messaging.
• Strong project management skills handling multiple deadlines and stakeholders.
• Confident in challenging and guiding senior stakeholders to best outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen with contribution to pricing and strategy.
• Experience coaching others for pitches and client presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end management of complex bids, tenders and panel appointments across the firm.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to develop winning bid strategies and value propositions.
• Drive capture planning and position Foot Anstey before formal procurement processes begin.
• Facilitate go/no-go discussions and assess win themes, risks and resources.
• Create high-quality, persuasive bid responses that differentiate Foot Anstey.
• Collaborate with legal and finance to develop commercially attractive solutions.
• Lead bid presentation sessions and coach presenters for client engagements.
• Continuously improve bid processes, content libraries and templates.
• Analyse feedback and outcomes to drive future success.
• Build strong internal and external relationships to strengthen bid effectiveness.

Skills

Bid management

Proposal writing

Stakeholder influencing

Project management

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Pitch coaching

Data analysis

Tools

Excel

Job description

Shape winning strategies. Influence major opportunities. Help drive the future growth of Foot Anstey.

We’re one of the UK’s most forward-thinking law firms, built on a foundation of innovation, collaboration, and ambition. Join us, and let’s shape the future together.

Being refreshingly human starts with how we hire. We believe a diverse mix of perspectives makes us stronger - not just as a business, but in creating a culture where we all feel we truly belong and can thrive. That’s why we’re committed to removing barriers and creating fair opportunities for everyone.

* We are in a period of exclusive direct sourcing for this role and are not currently accepting applications from recruitment agencies.

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The role in 60 seconds

• Role: Senior Bids Manager
• Team: Client Development
• Location: Hybrid working from Bristol or Exeter
• Working Pattern: Full time
• Why this role matters: Winning new business and deepening client relationships is central to our growth strategy. As Senior Bids Manager, you'll play a key role in shaping and delivering compelling bids, tenders and pitches that showcase the very best of Foot Anstey, helping us secure high-value opportunities across a diverse range of sectors and clients.

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What you’ll do

You'll be a key member of our Client Development team, taking ownership of strategic bids and tenders from opportunity identification through to submission and client feedback.

In this role, you'll:

• Lead the end-to-end management of complex bids, tenders and panel appointments across the firm.
• Partner with senior stakeholders, Partners and business teams to develop winning bid strategies and compelling value propositions.
• Drive capture planning activity, helping position Foot Anstey strongly before formal procurement processes begin.
• Facilitate go/no-go discussions, providing insight on win themes, competitive positioning, risks, resources and commercial considerations.
• Create high-quality, persuasive and client-focused bid responses that clearly differentiate Foot Anstey in the market.
• Work closely with legal and finance teams to develop commercially attractive and profitable solutions.
• Lead pitch preparation sessions, coaching presenters and helping teams deliver engaging client presentations.
• Continuously improve bid processes, content libraries, templates and best practice materials.
• Analyse feedback and tender outcomes to identify trends, share learning and improve future success rates.
• Build strong relationships across the firm and with external procurement professionals to strengthen market understanding and bid effectiveness.

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What we’re looking for

We're looking for an experienced bid professional who combines strategic thinking, commercial awareness and exceptional writing skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience managing successful bids, tenders and proposals, ideally within professional services.
• A proven ability to lead complex opportunities from early-stage capture planning through to submission and debrief.
• Experience navigating a range of procurement processes including RFIs, PQQs, RFPs, ITTs and framework opportunities.
• Outstanding writing, editing and proofreading skills, with an ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders simultaneously.
• The confidence to challenge, influence and guide senior stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to contribute to pricing discussions and overall bid strategy.
• Experience coaching others for pitches, presentations and client interviews.
• A collaborative approach and a passion for continuous improvement and sharing best practice.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, including the ability to work confidently with data and spreadsheets.
• Experience delivering bid training, facilitating workshops or supporting business development initiatives would be advantageous.

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What if I don't tick every box?

We're not box tickers. We appreciate the need for everyone to find a role that challenges them and gives them room for growth.

If you bring transferable skills and a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you. If this role excites you and you have the skills to succeed, we encourage you to apply.

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Join a seriously ambitious firm

At Foot Anstey, we’re committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and society. Here’s what makes us stand out:

• An ambitious growth strategy that opens up opportunities for our people to make their mark.
• A client base that spans household names, thriving startups, and ambitious enterprises.
• A culture built on our values of being refreshingly human, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative.
• A strong focus on being a responsible business with a commitment to sustainability and giving back to our communities.
• Comprehensive professional development and training – whatever your role and level we have training that will support you to achieve your goals.

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Progressive benefits tailored to you

We believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth and personal wellbeing, including:

• Competitive salary and performance-linked bonus.
• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives.

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Demographic Questions

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we invite applicants to complete optional demographic questions. Any information you choose to share will be anonymised and not linked to your application.

For applicants in Northern Ireland: To meet our obligations under the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998, we monitor community background and sex to promote equality of opportunity. While you’re not required to answer these questions, we encourage you to do so. Your responses will be used anonymously for reporting to the Equality Commission and will not influence any recruitment or employment decisions.

Community Background: In Northern Ireland, individuals are often perceived as belonging to either the Protestant or Roman Catholic communities, regardless of religious practice. If this section is left blank, we may use the residuary method to determine community background based on the personal information in your application.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at our firm – click here

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