Tendering and Business Development Manager

Tendering and Business Development Manager - 18 hours per week on average

We beleieve in a future where people with learning disabilities shape an inclusive society where anything is possible. Our mission is to empower individuality, achieve happiness and provide high quality in everything we do.

We are looking for an experienced and highly organised Tendering and Business Development Manager to lead the drafting, coordination and submission of tenders, framework applications and mini-tenders.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled tender or bid writer who can bring together complex operational, financial, quality and service information and turn it into clear, persuasive and evidence-based submissions.

Working closely with Directors and Managers, the successful candidate will coordinate contributions, manage procurement deadlines and write the substantive content of submissions for review and approval by the Executive Team.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Take primary responsibility for drafting and compilation of tenders, framework applications and mini-tender responses.
• Translate tender specifications, evaluation questions, scoring criteria and submission instructions.
• Draft clear and persuasive method statements using information gathered from colleagues and subject-matter experts.
• Coordinate contributions and supporting evidence from operational, finance, quality and other specialist teams.
• Develop submission plans and manage actions, internal review points and deadlines.
• Monitor procurement portals and identify relevant tender and framework opportunities.
• Maintain procurement timetables, opportunity trackers and submission records.
• Compile and quality-check supporting documentation before submission.
• Build and maintain a structured library of approved tender content, case studies, policies, outcomes and organisational evidence.
• Use commissioner feedback and learning from previous submissions to strengthen future responses.
• Provide concise progress reports and identify risks, information gaps and decisions required.

When capacity allows between live tendering activity, the role will also support referral and partnership development for our accommodation and employment services. This may include building relationships with commissioners, placement teams, schools, colleges and other referral partners.

About the successful candidate

Candidates will need to demonstrate:

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to turn detailed and technical information into clear, concise and compelling content.
• Strong knowledge of tender and bid-writing processes, including the preparation of method statements and evidence-based responses.
• The ability to interpret tender specifications, evaluation criteria and procurement requirements.
• Knowledge of public sector commissioning, framework agreements, local authority procurement or equivalent commercial processes.
• Experience of coordinating multiple projects, contributors and competing deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder and relationship-management skills.
• Experience of working within social care, health, education, housing, the charity sector or another commissioned-service environment, or equivalent experience.
• Experience of maintaining opportunity pipelines, trackers or business development processes.
• The ability to work independently, manage priorities and deliver outcomes within a remote-working environment.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint.
• A relevant degree or professional qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

Candidates must also have the right to work in the UK, hold a clean and current driving licence and be willing to complete the required criminal records check.

Flexible working

The role is offered for 18 hours per week, with scope for an element of annualised working by agreement. Working hours may be flexed across the year to respond to tender deadlines, procurement timetables and periods of increased or reduced activity.