Senior Strategic Bid Manager

Advanced

Permanent

Full-time

Business Development

London / Hybrid

The role

This is a key leadership position within an exciting forward-thinking business development, marketing and client relations team, which supports the delivery of the commercial objectives of the firm.

As a Senior Strategic Bid Manager, you will support the Head of Strategic Bids in working closely with the partnership to develop strategies for creating competitive win themes that improve our chances of success. You will constructively challenge and advise on ways to constantly improve the way in which we engage in the bid process.

You will need to be comfortable in working in an advisory capacity, being a valued sounding board for partners to support them in the pursuit of new opportunities. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management and development of direct reports.

The firm

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Strategy

Shoosmiths strategy is to transform Shoosmiths from being a really good firm with a really solid reputation, into an excellentfirm with a reputation forexcellence. So that by 2030, we will excelin our chosen markets. At the heart of our new strategy is focus on what we do well. And a bold commitment to doing it even better.

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning
• Undertake initial bid qualification process and make justified recommendations whether to pursue or not in relation to firm strategy, current commercial parameters and targeted return on investment.
• Manage compliance with internal risk management protocols.
• Lead on strategic/high value opportunities, advising on approach, team selection and wider solutions to strengthen our proposition.
• Demonstrate a deep focus to work closely with partners to create winning strategies and utilise this process to develop tailored, client-centric propositions.
• Leading client scoping meetings for large bids to ensure key messages are captured and reflected in the final bid document.
• Provide advisory support and coaching to prepare presentation teams to give high levels of performance.
• On existing client re-tenders, work closely with the client relationship team and manage the process to ensure the bid reflects our latest offerings, is tailored, innovative and creative and differentiates us from our competitors.
• Work with services areas to manage the development of templates to support self-service when required.
• Work alongside our Client Relationship team to successfully manage panel appointments.
• Leadership
• Act as an ambassador for the Strategic Bids team, instilling best practice across the firm, to help promote a client-centric focus for growth.
• Build your network within the firm to understand the pipeline and identify the right opportunities to support.
• Operational Excellence
• Conduct win/loss reviews for major proposals, identify the themes for winning and losing and create regular reports to improve firm-wide performance. Work with the Senior Client Listening Manager on this.
• Contribute towards ensuring the bid team’s process and procedures are efficient as possible to make optimal use of our resources.
• Review, draft and maintain standard content and templates to ensure consistency and best practice. Ensure that the team updates the proposal library so that it is continually updated with relevant content.
• Link with training and development teams to ensure that current best practice in winning business and pitching is shared through our internal training programmes.
• Use the right internal channels to share success stories and best practice across Shoosmiths.
• Build relationships with procurement professionals and other external experts and bodies to keep on top of industry best practice.
• Financial Performance
• Work closely with the Client Pricing Manager to create innovative pricing strategies for our clients.

Skills and qualifications

• A track record of success in managing and delivering effective and winning sales opportunities / bids within a professional services environment for at least 6 years. An understanding of the legal sector is advantageous.
• Exceptional writing skills and attention to detail.
• A collaborator, who creates confidence amongst colleagues and builds co-operative and inclusive working arrangements.
• Personal credibility and confidence to be able to convince partners of the best course of action.
• Ability to persuade and influence across all levels on the business and challenge constructively.
• A solutions-focused individual who is proactive in their approach.
• An excellent communicator who is able to lead and direct team meetings and influence others.
• The ability to meet deadlines, prioritise workloads and manage multiple projects.
• Strong project management experience
• Excellent IT knowledge and comfort using Teams, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint in particular.

Equal opportunities

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

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