Senior Bids & Proposals Manager

Ashfords LLP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashfords LLP in Exeter is seeking a Senior Bids & Proposals Manager to lead our Marketing & Client Development team. You will oversee tender and proposal delivery, craft compelling client-focused submissions, and steer strategy to win high-value opportunities.

You’ll govern the bid toolkit, champion governance over credentials and case studies, collaborate with partners and lawyers, and drive efficiency through technology and AI.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading bids and proposals in professional services or relationship-led organisations.
• Ability to develop persuasive client-focused proposals and communicate value.

Responsibilities

• Lead the bids & proposals team and oversee high-quality tender submissions.
• Provide strategic direction on proposal strategy and win work.
• Govern the firm's proposal toolkit, templates and content library.
• Collaborate with partners, lawyers and business services to align proposals with client needs.
• Drive continuous improvement in how we respond to tenders and opportunities, including use of technology and AI.
• Support framework appointments and governance of the framework portfolio.

Skills

Bid management

Proposal development

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Bids & Proposals Manager to join our Marketing & Client Development team in Exeter.

In this strategic management role, you'll play a key part in positioning Ashfords to win work that supports the firm's growth ambitions. Leading our Bids & Proposals team, you'll oversee the delivery of high-quality tenders and proposals, creating compelling client-focused submissions that clearly communicate our expertise, approach and value.

You'll provide strategic direction across the firm's approach to winning work, leading complex bid opportunities, advising on proposal strategy and driving continuous improvement in how we respond to both formal tenders and other high-value opportunities. Working closely with partners, lawyers and business services colleagues, you'll help shape winning strategies and ensure our proposals are commercially focused, engaging and aligned with client needs.

You'll take ownership of the firm's proposal toolkit, ensuring colleagues have access to high-quality content, templates and resources, while maintaining governance over credentials, case studies and value propositions. You'll also work with the wider Marketing & Client Development leadership team to drive consistency across proposal messaging, branding and design, while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency through technology, automation and AI.

Alongside leading the bids function, you'll provide oversight of the firm's framework portfolio, supporting the Frameworks Coordinator to ensure appointments are effectively governed, managed and developed. You'll work closely with partners, client development colleagues and business support teams to maximise opportunities arising from our framework appointments and ensure we continue to meet our commitments.

Using client feedback, market insight and proposal performance data, you'll identify trends and opportunities that support business planning, service development and future growth. You'll also collaborate across the firm to develop compelling added value and social value propositions that strengthen our client offering.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-performing team, influence the firm's strategic approach to winning work and play a central role in delivering sustainable growth.

Who you are

You bring significant experience leading bids and proposals within a professional services or relationship-led organisation and have a strong track record of delivering successful work-winning strategies. You're confident working with partners and senior stakeholders, providing trusted advice and influencing decision-making on complex opportunities.

An experienced people leader, you have successfully developed high-performing teams while fostering a collaborative and supportive culture. Combining strategic thinking with a practical approach, you're able to balance long-term planning with hands-on delivery, ensuring high-quality outcomes across multiple priorities.

You have excellent written communication skills and know how to develop persuasive, client-focused proposals that clearly articulate value. Commercially aware and insight-driven, you're comfortable analysing client requirements, proposal performance and market trends to continuously improve how work is won across the firm.

Highly organised and proactive, you enjoy improving processes, implementing new technologies and finding more efficient ways of working. You're confident managing multiple projects simultaneously and maintaining exceptional attention to detail throughout.

Above all, you build strong relationships, work collaboratively across teams and act with professionalism, integrity and credibility, earning the trust of colleagues and clients alike.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work - we believe in building a great place to work.

When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work - they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities.

With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work-life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career.

Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way.

Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team.

Our offer

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do – and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work-life balance.

Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee led diversity and inclusion groups.

You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

What’s next?

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, which are designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it’s like to work at Ashfords. Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way.

We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

At Ashfords, we’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed.

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