Head of Bid; Maternity Interim Cover

Term

12 month FTC maternity interim cover

Supporting the Isio business growth strategy, the Head of Bid is a crucial role in leading and successfully overseeing the entire cycle of the bid process, including qualifying opportunities; supporting win strategy development; generating high quality, persuasive business winning pitches and proposals; coaching presentation teams and understanding debriefs and embedding lessons learned.

The role is also responsible for analysing our overall success/failure rates and identifying and implementing improvements so we can continuously strive for excellence against a competitive market.

The Head of Bid is part of a marketing communications and client development team. The team leads and implements all marketing, communications and client development programmes within Isio.

The team is a fully integrated and valued component of our Isio strategy, playing a key role in developing and delivering the firm’s strategy with an integrated approach to sales and marketing.

To help Isio win more work through tenders and bids. To support the business in delivering bid strategy including managing the bid pipeline, providing guidance on win strategy, producing documents and coaching presentation teams.

Play a key role in the development and execution of a bid process self‑serve system alongside strategic prioritisation.

This role will involve working closely with the rest of the regional business and service division teams whilst managing a small team of bid managers.

Using project management techniques to ensure a strategically planned and operational efficient bid process that supports our business

Ensure a clear win strategy for varying levels of bid support (based on strategic client prioritisation framework)

Ensure strategy is implemented throughout the process of bid & tender support

Managing bid meetings confidently, inspiring enthusiasm and support for the bid

Manage a small team that provides execution support against a clear process that may include the drafting, editing, formatting and production of bid documents and pitches through to completion

Enable high impact, winning bid and pitch documentation – varying support level

Coaching and guiding on effective presentation techniques, both through ad hoc workshops and pitch rehearsal as part of the bid process, delivering feedback

Working with the sales and marketing team to manage the bid pipeline, maximising the chances of success when the bid invitation arrives

Set up a self‑serve bid library for operational efficiency – maintaining and reviewing high quality materials for use in proposals as standard response

Consistently advance and improve implementation of bid best practice

Responsible for bid activity review to ensure best practice is benchmarked against competitors and the market

Lead clear debriefs and feedback on our performance on bids, whether won or lost, and use this intelligence to improve the quality of future bids

Define and promote best practice proposal processes across the business

Would suit an individual who has experience of leading a bid function and team, process improvements and who can implement best practice (B2B professional or financial services)

Experience working with marketing and client development teams

Experience working within financial, benefits or wealth markets

In‑depth knowledge of pitch presentation skills and best practice

Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills

Self‑starter with the ability to work independently

Highly collaborative and effective in team environments

Skilled at managing complex workloads and multiple concurrent projects

Experience of supporting a small team from a performance and line management perspective

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point

Experience using design software and bid management software

Power in Partnership
:
We work in partnership with our clients & each other – building open and trusted relationships. Working together allows us to deliver the best for our clients.

Future Focus
:
We want to…