Bid Manager

This is a new role for Oxford Insights, designed for an exceptionally organised individual who wants to apply their commercial and coordination skills to work that has genuine social impact. As our Bid Manager, you will be a key enabler of our mission, ensuring that our Global expertise in AI and digital transformation is articulated clearly and competitively to the governments and international organisations that need it most.

We are looking for someone who enjoys the challenge of managing a sales pipeline and who can maintain high standards of quality under the pressure of procurement deadlines. This role requires a unique blend of "soft power" and professional discipline; you must be able to empathise with a diverse range of busy colleagues while remaining influential enough to ensure that deadlines are met and commercial standards are upheld.

Key Responsibilities

• Bid Coordination and Writing
  • End-to-End Production: Lead the production of high-quality bid responses, tailoring our expertise to meet specific government requirements across various frameworks (e.g. G-Cloud, DOS).
  • Content Creation: Work with consultants to draft compelling narratives that reflect our public service ethos and technical excellence.
  • External Engagement: Identify capacity and capability gaps for specific bids and engage with third-party partners or associates to find collaborative solutions.
  • Influencing and Soft Power: Manage competing priorities and different personalities across the team to gather the technical input required for successful submissions.
• Pipeline and Commercial Management
  • Pipeline Ownership: Responsible for the day-to-day management of our sales pipeline, ensuring data is accurate and providing the SLT with clear forecasting for longer-term staffing needs.
  • Commercial Documentation: Support the SLT in drafting and reviewing Statements of Work (SoWs), contract variations, and ensuring strict procurement compliance.
  • Process Improvement: Continuously refine our internal bid library and commercial processes to improve our efficiency and "win" rate.
  • Deadline Management: Be comfortable working to tight deadlines, whether working independently on a proposal or coordinating a large, multidisciplinary team.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Organisation: Exceptional organisational skills with a proven ability to prioritise competing demands in a fast paced environment.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to build relationships with a diverse range of colleagues.
• Commercial Acumen: Experience in bid management or commercial coordination, ideally with exposure to UK public sector procurement frameworks.
• Resilience: A professional, calm approach to working under deadline pressure and managing the ambiguity of complex government tenders.
• Writing Excellence: The ability to draft clear, professional, and persuasive content.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary: £42,000 - £48,000 per annum.
• Health: Private health insurance provided as standard.
• Leave: Five weeks holiday, plus a two-week Christmas shutdown.
• Flexible: Access to office space across the UK.

Our Growth and Maturity

Oxford Insights is moving through a period of sustained growth, with a consistent 25%+ year-on-year increase in our turnover. As we scale from a close-knit team of 16 toward a larger organisation, the "professionalisation" of our commercial processes is a top priority. This role is a cornerstone of that maturity. You will not just be managing bids; you will be building the library of evidence and the internal frameworks that will allow us to scale our impact globally over the next 3 - 5 years.

You can read more about our culture and how we work here.

Our Commitment to Public Service and Inclusion

We welcome applications from career changers and offer flexible working patterns to support those with caring responsibilities.

Oxford Insights is an equal opportunities employer. We value integrity, professional discretion, and a genuine interest in public service. We actively welcome applications from those who share our commitment to social impact and want to help us grow our influence ethically and sustainably.