Proposal Manager

Position Title: Proposal Manager

Reports to: Contract Services Sales Director

Location: Remote, with frequent travel across the U.K.

Position Summary

To create compelling bid proposal submissions for Contract Services (B2B/LA) tenders (franchises by exception/if needed) which score highest for quality and support First Bus in winning the competition.

Throughout the full bidding process produce response documentation (such as PQQ, RFI, ITN, Presentation etc) which fully addresses all customer scoring criteria, utililising insight gained by the team, to maximise solution design, and attractiveness for the customer.

Acting with integrity, they will role model First Bus values and behaviours (‘Our Way’) in all interactions, and through effective leadership and stakeholder management, they will ensure the needs of local authorities, investors, customers, partners, and colleagues are met.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Analyse the scoring mechanism and any other guidance provided in the tender documents to devise a strategy to maximise our quality score
• Support the Contract Services Sales Director in defining the win strategy for the opportunity; creating win themes, differentiators and language that will meet the clients expectations
• Create a bid plan for the development of the proposal; stepping through Bronze (storyboard), Silver (material completion) and Gold (ready to submit) phases of development and review
• Contribute to, review and maintain bid library content
• Write the proposal, leaning heavily on bid library content but ensuring sufficient specificity to deliver a proposal which appears client and opportunity focussed for those reviewing. Ensure maximum readability through the use of structure, wording and graphics
• Support tender presentation stages, with materials that clearly articulate the solution, and promote the USP’s and customer benefits
• Act as the ‘voice of the tender;’ challenging the bid team members and others who are using their personal view of preferences when they do not align with what the client has elected to procure as detailed in the tender documents
• Work with the Solutions Lead, SMEs and functional leaders to understand how First Bus’s solutions and capabilities will be deployed for the opportunity, how this aligns with client requirements, needs and wants, and what benefits and evidence can be included to support our positions
• Manage Bid Writer, or external bid writer performance (if applicable during higher value/complexity bids) providing clarity on team and individual objectives and setting expectations on proactivity, work quality, performance, ways of working, deadline adherence
• Support the bid team and Contract Services Sales Director to conduct post bid reviews which develop First Bus’s bidding processes and capabilities to ensure sustainable high bid winning success through continuous development and improvement
• Deliver winning bids which are compliant, compelling, competitive; our aim is to score top for quality and be competitive, but not lowest price, to win; our aim is to be recognised in the industry for providing the most considered, highest quality bid submissions
• Support, coach and lead commercial colleagues in LBUs and SBUs
• Work with colleagues in LBUs, SBUs and central functions including solutions leads and bid colleagues, finance, and legal to identify opportunities for proposal development improvement
• Represent First Bus at industry events where there is a clear commercial benefit from doing so

Skills, Experience and Leadership behaviours required

Skills / Experience

• Proposal Lead, Bid Manager, Senior Bid Writer for a transport, FM, outsourcing contract services provider
• Strong track record of success in complex public sector bids
• Evidence of delivering winning proposals, with high quality scores as the winning factor
• Capability to plan, write, edit, review and proof read proposals, a
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Evidence of building strong and trusting relationships with key client stakeholders and decision makers, positioning firms as ideal partners and gathering intelligence to support competitive tender pursuits
• Evidence of proactive, self-starter, resilient sales and relationship management
• A team player, wholly committed to working with and supporting their peer group and other colleagues to achieve the First Bus business strategy
• Self-sufficient, down to earth and values driven
• Detail orientated, tenacious and resilient, with the capability to remain calm and work effectively under pressure
• Proven ability to analyse data at a high level to assess risk and take informed commercial decision making.
• Ability to engage with professional leaders in a network and use examples of external best practice and thought leadership to improve internal strategies.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to engage with senior leaders both internally and externally.
• Acts with a high degree of diplomacy and professionalism and the ability to progress tasks with minimal direction
• Commercially astute, emotionally intelligent; and an effective networker and communicator with the ability to quickly forge strong working relationships at all levels and build trust
• Highly motivated with the ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
• Advanced IT skills with proficiency in all Microsoft packages.

Behaviours (“our Way”)

Always care : show warmthand compassion; be fair and respectful; listen intently to others and interpret findings to support business improvement; always think about your customer

Do what’s right: have a can-do attitude; be open and explainthe “why”; do what you say you will; do the best you can, every chance you get; challenge behaviours when necessary across all levels of the business

Succeed together: work across teams and learn from each other; be supportive of other views and ideas; offer up your knowledge and experience; recognise others; share everyday successes

Shape the future : see possibilities, not problems; exploreideas big and small; be considerate of others when making decisions; never stop learningand improving

Key Performance Indicators

• Bid quality score average position
• Confidence of Bus Exec and Group
• Client feedback
• Bid Director satisfaction

Rewards & Benefits

• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares
• Enhanced maternity / paternity pay
• Flexible working

We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

Please apply now. We look forward to receiving your application.

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all.

Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.