BID Writer

Are you ready to make a real difference in the world of charity? Do you have a passion for writing and business development? Can you imagine yourself crafting compelling bids that support vital community programmes? We are currently looking for a Bid Writer to join our dynamic team at LifeLine Projects.

Hours of Work:

·      Full-time: 37.5 hours per week

·      Part-time: 22.5 to 37.5 hours per week (negotiable)

Bid Writer Benefits:

·      Salary up to £42,000

·      Company pension - 5% employee contribution; 3% employer contribution.

·      Up to 25% childcare discount

·      Continuing Professional Development – including in-house training

·      Progression Pathway with annual appraisal and development targets

·      Mix of office based and working from home

·      Employee Assistance Programme

· day's holiday pro rata

The Bid Writer will play a crucial role in our in-house business development team, responsible for developing funding and new business proposals that support the growth and sustainability of our charity's activities. You will work collaboratively with operational managers to identify funders, research partnership opportunities, and generate new business leads. Your responsibilities will include producing high-quality funding proposals, contributing to an active bid pipeline, and managing relationships with partners and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of projects.

Responsibilities:

1.   Working with operational managers to identify relevant funders and funding opportunities to support continued growth and evolution of LifeLine's core activities in public health, community programming and young people's services

2.  Identifying, researching and vetting business development opportunities in order to present to Senior Management Team

3.  Generating new business leads through relationships with a range of funders and partners, including corporate contacts

4.  Contributing to an active bid pipeline to ensure efficient and effective work, with a focus on quality, consistency and impact of submissions

5.  Producing high quality, competitive funding proposals and tender submissions (typical values range from approximately £50,000 to £1 million)

6.   Contributing to the bid production process, liaising with partners and external bid writers whilst ensuring input from relevant operational and technical managers

7.   Supporting, through guidance and insight, the application of evidence and relevant project evaluation to the bid writing process and to organisational knowledge and expertise

8.   Working with LifeLine's finance team and operational managers to develop fully-costed project budgets and resourcing plans to submit to funders and commissioners as part of the tender process

9.   Managing relationships with funding partners, delivery partners, stakeholders and external consultants to ensure LifeLine's business interests and objectives are achieved and that we continue to build on our strong reputation for approachability, positivity, and being practically minded

10.  Identifying and managing risk during the tender process to support successful project implementations and handover to operational leads

11. Working with project managers and operational leads to develop implementation plans to ensure management and resourcing requirements are met and key milestones achieved

12.  Working closely with the Head of Finance and Business Development Manager to deliver LifeLine's business and fundraising strategies

13. Contributing to the vision and values of LifeLine as a community focused organisation

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT:

Essential:

Experience

·      At least two years proven track record of effective bid writing and bid management

·      Understanding and experience of business development within the voluntary sector

·      Experience of community or trust/grant fundraising

Skills

·      Highly articulate with excellent writing & communication skills

·      Excellent analytical skills and the ability to distil and summarise information clearly and engagingly

·      Excellent research skills, including into government policy, and the ability to obtain and analyse relevant demographic and socio-economic information

·      Commercially astute and detail focused with negotiation skills

·      Resilience with the ability to manage multiple work tasks and work to non-negotiable deadlines

·      Self-motivated, solutions-oriented and flexible

Desirable:

Qualification

·      Preferably educated to degree level and / or with research experience

Experience

·      Previous experience of developing and implementing fundraising strategy in relation to public health / community programming and/or young people's services

Skills

·      Familiarity with the use of AI productivity tools to support bid and proposal writing

Knowledge

·      Demonstrable knowledge of commercial, finance and market related requirements in the youth, community and public health sectors