A Day in the Life of a Bid Manager
What does a bid manager do on a typical day? How do they navigate the bid process and deliver winning proposals? In this article, we will give you a glimpse into the daily activities and challenges of a bid manager, and show you how they manage their time, tasks, and team.
Of course, no two days are the same for a bid manager, as they may work on different bids, clients, and sectors. However, here is an example of a possible day in the life of a bid manager, based on a busy bid manager who monitors tenders and portals as well as bid writing and management.
8:30 am: Check emails and tender portals
This bid manager starts their day by checking their emails and tender portals, to see if there are any new opportunities, updates, or queries related to their current or potential bids. They also check their bid calendar and schedule, and prioritise their tasks for the day.
9:00 am: Bid team meeting
The bid manager holds a bid team meeting, where they discuss the status and progress of their ongoing bids, assign tasks and responsibilities, and address any issues or risks. They also review the bid strategy, objectives, and deadlines, and ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.
10:00 am: Client meeting
The bid manager attends a virtual client meeting, where they present their proposal, answer any questions, and clarify any details. They also build rapport and trust with the client, and demonstrate their understanding of their needs and expectations.
11:00 am: Bid writing and editing
They then get to work on writing and editing a section of their bid document, using their bid writing skills and industry knowledge. They also use their bid library and other resources, to ensure that their content is relevant, compliant, and compelling. They also check the quality and consistency of their bid document, and ensure that it follows the business bid standards and templates.
12:00 pm: Lunch break
A bid manager needs a lunch break? Afraid so... A chance to relax and recharge.
1:00 pm: Bid writing and editing - again...
See above.
2:00 pm: Bid review and submission
A bid management review and feedback to the team, prior to their submission later in the week. Their bid review analyses the tender document, ensuring that it is complete, accurate, and error-free. They also ensure that it is in the correct format and meets the client's requirements and expectations. They also keep a record of their bid submission, and update their bid database and records.
3:00 pm: Tender search and qualification
The bid manager searches and qualifies new tender opportunities, using various sources and methods, such as tender portals, websites, networks and of course Tender Pipeline.
3:30 pm: Bid planning and preparation
They then plan and prepare for a new bid project, based on the tender opportunity that they have qualified. They create and follow a bid plan, which includes setting up the bid team, defining roles and responsibilities, creating and following a bid project plan, setting the bid budget and resources, and establishing the bid strategy and objectives.
5:00 pm: End of day review and wrap up
The bid manager ends their day by reviewing and wrapping up their work, and ensuring that they have completed their tasks and met their deadlines. They also communicate and update their bid team, clients, and other stakeholders, on the status and outcomes of their bids. They reflect on their performance and achievements, high fives all around, but of course, identify any areas for improvement or learning.
What else could have happened?
- Recruiting bid writers and coordinators
- Leading a CPD session for your team
- Lessens learned workshop
- Refining bid management strategy and procedures
- Updating bid templates and libraries.
Bid Management Services - T&L
A bid manager has a busy and varied day! They have to juggle multiple tasks and roles, such as bid writing, bid management, bid strategy, bid compliance, bid design, bid communication, bid negotiation, and bid evaluation. They also have to work with different people and teams, such as bid writers, bid coordinators, bid partners, suppliers, clients, and other stakeholders.
If you are looking for a bid manager for your bid team - temp, perm our a fully outsourced bid management service - contact us - hello@thorntonandlowe.com - 01204 238046.
If you need additional bid management support, contact us today. We have a dedicated bid recruitment division, Bid Resource, that specialises in finding and hiring the best talent for your bid team. We also have a large in-house bid team that can provide you with flexible and scalable solutions for your bid needs.
