JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Bid Writer / Location:
Across Kent: based in Ashford
Contract:
Full Time / Salary:
£28,000 to £35,000 OTE
Reports to:
Director of Business Development / Responsible for:
Job Purpose:
CXK is a leading charity and provider of careers advice, employability services, training and support services across the South East. CXK supports young people and adults to maximise their potential. The CXK Group has an annual turnover in excess of £10 million and employs more than 150 skilled and professional staff.
Thisrole will have overall responsibility for leading on all bids and tender processes and will be responsible for managing the information flow of bids and the overall production of documentation. The primary focus is the identification, preparation and submission of bids and tenders in pursuance of growth and/or funding for the Group. This will include all stages of the process from initial expression of interest through to Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQ’s); Framework Agreements and full tenders.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties will include the following:
  • Project manage the end to end delivery of bids including writing and editing bids, proposals, expressions of interest, presentations and pre-qualification questionnaires to secure new business, responding to tendering opportunities
  • Build strong relationships with key members of CXK, developing an excellent understanding of the skills, strengths and direction of travel of the charity.
  • Work as the project coordinator for the production of all tenders and submissions setting up bid teams which include relevant people and ensuring meetings are held regularly during the bidding process to review the progress of the bid.
  • Set up a project development plan at the start of all tendering processes and ensure this is communicated and adhered to and shared with all relevant bid team members and SMT.
  • Manage all document versions and controls and ensure these are updated as necessary
  • Liaise with strategic partners, consortium members, Trustees and stakeholders during tendering processes and gather and share information where necessary
  • Centralise and distribute all incoming bid information to relevant bid team members and keep team members up to date with any changes to process
  • Check the tendering portals on a regular basis and oversee the process of asking clarifying questions and communicating responses to relevant people
  • Manage the research and intelligence gathering process
  • Complete bid documents in advance of the deadline for final review by SMT and prepare them for dispatch, ensuring they are of consistent quality to meet CXK’s high standards and conform to CXK brand and style by working closely with the Marketing Team
  • Identify opportunities by working with colleagues to develop proposals, support bidding activity and monitor and report on progress to support the achievement of projected growth targets
  • Liaise with operational staff and support services to develop an understanding of practices and gather information on current practices in relation to HR, Training, policies etc.
  • Understand the public funding landscape and the approach by national and local governments including European Union requirements, to identify and assess business opportunities relevant to CXK
  • Develop good knowledge of funding streams including ESF, SFA, DWP, NHS and other funding streams as appropriate to the organisation
  • Analyse opportunities, assess risk, determine the business case and work in consultation with the finance department on bids to ensure viability
  • Support the management team in understanding how to identify upselling opportunities to support the achievement of income generation targets
  • Identify creative fundraising business ideas and secure funding for them
  • Maintain an up to date database of information on all current and post bids
  • Develop and update a database of information on competitors and possible partners
  • Produce relevant reports for the Management Team, Business Development Committee, CXK Board and other areas of the business as requested
  • Take ownership the bidding part of the company share drive ensuring it is current, contains all current and past bidding information and is a resource base for those involved in business development.
  • Undertake other duties appropriate to the post under the direction of the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team
Due to the nature of work undertaken by CXK there is a requirement on all employees to work flexibly across the organisation to support teams and projects as required including working out of hours and weekends where necessary and attending residentials. It is also the responsibility of all employees to remain fully informed of the service offers delivered by CXK and to upsell and secure business where possible. All employees are encouraged to continually up-skill themselves through continuous professional development.
The CXK service offer and its co-ordination arrangements will be developing substantially in the short to medium term. This will require all employees to work flexibly and creatively to contribute to the establishment of the service.

All appointees will be subject to a DBS enhanced check prior to taking up any post

All appointees will be subject to a DBS Check(enhanced level).

Signed by Employee: ______

Signed by Human Resources:______

Person Specification

Qualification, Training & Experience / Essential / Desirable
Procurement, Management or Business qualification (ideally degree level) and/or a qualification in a relevant business area – education, employment and training, skills, welfare to work, care, guidance, youth support services / 
Experience of working within a changing, growing organisation with the resultant challenges that brings / 
Previous professional/management experience in procurement / 
Experience of working within the3rd sector, public sector and/or commissioning based markets / 
Experience of Consortium/partnership bidding / 
Previous experience of dealing with big bids of high net worth / 
Knowledge, Skills and abilities / Essential / Desirable
Able to develop presentations creatively, articulate and deliver them confidently, using a variety of media, to persuade and influence others, making the business case for the charity / 
Able to work in multi-disciplinary teams in a variety of contexts / 
Evidence of analytical skills and paying attention to detail, producing appropriate, accurate, high quality written work within often challenging word limits and time frames / 
Knowledge of sources of information about tendering opportunities, understanding of and ability to assess new market opportunities in support of business strategy / 
Good networking and interpersonal skills / 
Understanding and awareness of the needs of the clients that CXK works with
/ 
Familiarity with tendering portals, understanding of public sector procurement practices and demonstrable experience of managing, preparing and writing successful bids for contracts with national and local government departments and agencies. / 
Understanding of and commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and social value, and celebrating diversity in bidding and tendering. / 
Excellent written communication skills including editing/précis ability, with an interest in developing them to produce high quality, successful proposals / 
Comprehensive IT skills to produce high quality documents; competence in using Word, Excel (and preferably also Access and PowerPoint - must be willing to learn) / 
Ability to research and establish evidential links to support bidding proposals / 
Sufficient numeracy to understand the implications of project budgets and develop skills to draft budgets accurately and assess financial risks / 
Personal Skills / Essential / Desirable
Customer focused attitude and approach / 
Excellent written and verbal communication skills / 
A team worker who is keen to lead by example / 
A flexible and solution focused approach to work / 
Commitment to quality and continuous improvement / 
Enthusiasm and determination required for inspiring and leading a team of people working to on bids/IIT etc to tight deadlines / 
Ability to work in a fast paced environment and adapt to change and tight deadlines / 
Other / Desirable
Must be prepared to travel mainly within Kent and occasionally nationally and regionally / 
Prepared to occasionally work out of office hours in order to respond to demands of the role / 
Share with CXK the commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people / 
Ability to drive and daily access to a vehicle / 