Bids Manager: Role, Career, Training & Outsourced Support

The Role Of A Bids Manager

As a bids manager or bid manager, you play a crucial part in winning new business for your company. Your main job is to oversee the entire bidding process from start to finish.

You'll lead a team of writers, technical experts, and analysts to create winning proposals. This involves carefully reviewing client requirements and developing strategies to meet them.

Your responsibilities include:

• Planning bid timelines and budgets
• Coordinating with sales teams and subject matter experts
• Writing and editing proposal content
• Managing deadlines and quality control
• Presenting bids to clients

You'll need strong leadership skills to guide your team effectively. Being organised and detail-oriented is also key, as you'll juggle multiple bids at once.

Communication is vital in this role. You'll liaise with clients, company executives, and various internal departments regularly.

Your efforts directly impact your company's success and your performance will be monitored closely. By managing the 'business winning process' and leading in the production of high quality and compelling bids, you help secure valuable contracts and drive business growth. If there are obstacles in your way to success you need to be transparent and open about this, providing solutions to ensure success is achievable.

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Career Opportunities in Bid Management

Bid managers have many career paths available to them. You can find roles in various industries like construction, technology, and consulting.

As a bid manager, you might start as a bid coordinator or assistant. With experience, you can move up to senior bid manager positions.

1. Apprentice Bid Coordinator:
   • Entry-level role, assisting with administrative tasks and basic bid preparation.
2. Bid Coordinator:
   • Supports the bid team by managing timelines, gathering documents, and ensuring compliance with bid requirements.
3. Bid Writer:
   • Specialises in writing and crafting proposal content, ensuring clarity, compliance, and persuasiveness. A bid writer will often be referred to a proposal writer.
4. Bids Manager:
   • Oversees the entire bid process, from preparation to submission, ensuring all requirements are met and deadlines are adhered to.
5. Proposals Manager:
   • Manages the development and submission of proposals, often working closely with the sales and marketing teams to align proposals with business strategy.
6. Senior Bids Manager:
   • Experienced role, leading complex bids, mentoring junior staff, and improving bid processes.
7. Head of Bids:
   • Leads the bid management function within an organisation, setting strategies, and overseeing multiple bids simultaneously.
8. Bid Director:
   • Senior leadership role, responsible for overall bid strategy, major bids, and ensuring alignment with corporate goals.
9. Sales Director:
   • While not always directly involved in bid management, collaborates closely with bid teams to ensure proposals align with sales strategies and client needs.

Each of these roles plays a crucial part in the successful preparation and submission of competitive bids, contributing to an organisation's ability to secure new business opportunities.

Your skills can also lead to roles in project management or sales. These positions often value the expertise gained from bid management.

Salaries for bid managers vary. In the UK, the average yearly pay is around £43,000. This can increase with experience and specialisation.

To advance your career, consider:

1. Getting certifications in bid management
2. Learning about new industries
3. Developing leadership skills
4. Building a network of contacts

Many companies need bid managers. You might work for:

• Large corporations
• Small businesses
• Government agencies
• Non-profit organisations

The job market for bid managers is steady. Companies always need experts to win contracts and grow their business.

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Day In The Life Of A Bids Manager

As a bids manager, typically you will be working 9am to 5pm but depending on the level of bids live at any time, you may be expected to 'go the extra mile'... I always like to get into the office early and prepare the day for the team. However, depending on the structure of the business you work for and their bid team, there may also be part time opportunities in bid management.

Your first task is to check emails and portals and respond to urgent messages. You might have queries from clients or updates from team members to address.

At 9:30 am, you lead a bid team meeting. During this time, you:

• Review ongoing bids
• Assign tasks to team members
• Discuss any issues or risks
• Go over bid strategies and deadlines

By 10:00 am, you're in a client meeting. You present your company's proposal and answer any questions they may have.

After lunch, you spend time reviewing and editing bid documents. You ensure they meet all requirements and showcase your company's strengths.

Later in the afternoon, you might:

• Analyse competitor information
• Update bid trackers
• Prepare reports for management

Your day ends around 5 or 6:00 pm, but you're always ready for last-minute changes or urgent requests that may come in.

Throughout the day, you coordinate with various team members, including writers, financial analysts, and technical subject matter experts. You're the glue that holds the bid process together, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

Qualifications and Training

To become a bid manager, you'll need a mix of education and experience. Many employers look for candidates with a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field. Some roles may require a master's degree for senior positions.

Specific qualifications can boost your career prospects. The Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) offers certifications that are widely recognised in the industry. These include:

• APMP Foundation
• APMP Practitioner
• APMP Professional

Training courses can help you develop key skills. Look for programmes that cover:

• Bid writing techniques

• Project management

• Financial analysis

• Contract law basics

Our CPD accredited bid writing courses are CPD accredited and widely acknowledged in the sector.

On-the-job training is also valuable. You'll learn by working on real bids and collaborating with experienced team members.

Some organisations offer in-house training programmes for bid managers. These can be tailored to the specific needs of the company and industry.

Continuing professional development is important in this field. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices by:

• Attending workshops and seminars
• Joining professional networks
• Reading industry publications

Remember, qualifications are just part of the picture. Employers also value practical experience and a track record of successful bids.

Interview Tips For Aspiring Bids Managers

Prepare thoroughly for your bid manager interview. Research the company and its bidding structure and recent successes by monitoring tender notices. Review common interview questions and practise your responses.

Highlight your relevant skills and experience. Focus on communication, leadership, negotiation, and project management abilities. Give specific examples of how you've used these skills in past roles. Like responding to a tender, it's about answering the question clearly and confidently to build trust.

Be ready to discuss different bidding processes and terminology. Know the differences between open, closed, and sealed bids or tender types, such as SQs or ITTs. And new requirements such as the Procurement Act and its likely impact. Explain how you'd handle each type effectively.

Showcase your knowledge of bid management tools and software. Mention any certifications or training you've completed in this area.

Prepare to talk about challenges in bid management. Think about how you've overcome obstacles in previous projects. Be ready with examples of successful bids you've managed.

Dress professionally and arrive on time. Bring copies of your CV and any relevant work samples or case studies. See it as yet another competition to win!

Ask thoughtful questions about the role and company. This shows your interest and engagement. It also helps you learn if the job is a good fit for you. Not having any questions to ask is often a red flag - as there should be quite a few! This is a big risk and opportunity for both parties. It's a chance to demonstrate your understanding of the importance of bid management.

Follow up after the interview with a thank-you note. Restate your interest in the position and briefly highlight your key qualifications.

Outsourced Bid Support

Outsourcing bid management can be a smart choice for many organisations. You might consider this option if your company lacks in-house expertise or needs extra help with important bids.

Outsourced bid support offers several advantages:

• Access to specialised skills and knowledge
• Fresh perspectives on your proposals
• Increased capacity during busy periods
• Support for 'must-win' bids

When you work with an external bid team, they can handle various tasks. These may include:

• Writing and editing bid documents
• Gathering and organising required information
• Managing the bid timeline and deadlines
• Providing strategic advice on bid content

To get the most from outsourced support, clear communication is key. Share your company's goals, values, and unique selling points with the external team.

Remember that outsourced support comes at a cost. However, many firms find the investment worthwhile when it leads to winning new contracts. Take a look at our testimonials and reviews.

You can use outsourced services flexibly. Some companies bring in external help for specific high-stakes bids. Others use ongoing support to complement their in-house teams.

When choosing a bid writing company, look for one with experience in your industry, a professional approach and with capacity to spare. Ask about their success rates and request client testimonials.

Outsourcing to a bid writing or bid support consultancy is different to working with freelance bid writers and bid managers. Freelancers can often offer specific expertise, work in-house or support smaller elements of a specific tender. You also have more flexibility to find those who may have worked with certain competitors. BidTalentConnect is a specific platform and market place for freelance bid professionals in the UK.

For businesses who need consistent support, outsourced bid management consultancy firms, like Thornton & Lowe, or recruiting your own in-house bid team may be the solution. Take a look at Bid Resource our bid recruitment agency.