Bids Officer

Location: Hybrid/Aylesford, Kent
Salary/package: £28,000 per annum
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37 hours per week

The Education People (TEP) are looking for a proactive individual with a solutions‑focused approach to join their growing team as a Bids Officer. This is an exciting opportunity offering the chance to build expertise, collaborate widely and support the growth of a diverse and ambitious organisation.

Who we are

The Education People (TEP), part of Commercial Services Group (CSG) excels in delivering essential services that significantly impact the lives of children. With a team of specialists in various educational fields, they take pride in offering expert-driven services including early years and childcare, equality and inclusion, school improvement and professional development, ensuring comprehensive support for educational institutions.

Why this role matters

The successful candidate will play a key role in identifying strategic bid opportunities and supporting the end‑to‑end bid lifecycle, ensuring high‑quality submissions that reflect client needs and organisational priorities. This is a role where collaboration, judgement and attention to detail are essential, with responsibility for coordinating content, managing timelines and supporting continuous improvement across our bidding activity.

What you’ll be doing

• Identifying relevant bid opportunities and frameworks to support business growth.

• Tracking upcoming tenders and maintaining strong relationships with procurement teams.

• Supporting the full bid lifecycle from qualification through to handover.

• Coordinating content from subject matter experts across multiple brands.

• Promoting continuous improvement in bid quality and processes.

• Creating bid plans and supporting colleagues to deliver timely, high‑quality content.

• Supporting CPD activity for business and content specialists.

• Logging and tracking risks, assumptions and opportunities throughout the tender process.

• Escalating resource needs and challenging solutions with a focus on client requirements.

• Collating, publishing and submitting tender responses in line with agreed deadlines.

• Working with Platform Account Managers to optimise use of systems such as Tussell.

What we’re looking for

• Proven project management experience with the ability to oversee and coordinate processes.

• An understanding of bids and tender submissions across varied business areas is desirable but not essential.

• Ability to build effective relationships with internal teams, customers and partners.

• Proficient IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office packages.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written.

• Strong attention to detail and commercial awareness.

What you’ll get in return

• Salary of £28,000 per annum.

• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 after four years.

• Birthday Day Off.

• One concessionary day during the Christmas period.

• Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution.

• Life assurance cover.

Why CSG?

CSG is the UK’s largest local authority‑owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue per annum and supporting more than 16,000 education and public sector customers globally.

We are growing through a combination of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our businesses deliver services across education, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and more, all focused on delivering meaningful impact.

As a locally owned organisation, we take pride in reinvesting a significant proportion of our profits into frontline services, helping strengthen the communities we serve.

Inclusion & Accessibility

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds.

As a member of Inclusive Employers and a Working Families Employer, we are actively building an environment that supports inclusion, flexibility and belonging for