This role will support the Head of Bids and other senior colleagues in parallel teams, and guide our Bids Executives to deliver the bid process from initiation to implementation and post-process debrief / follow up. You'll work as a team to develop and deliver compelling and high quality responses to new opportunities, ensuring that the firm submits responses of the highest quality, and that success rates – and the firm's return on investment – are maximised

This role is flexible in terms of location and home working.  However, we have offices in  Leeds, Southampton, Bristol, London, Newcastle, Plymouth and Edinburgh, so the ability to work from one of these locations when necessary would be essential for collaborative team working. 

The Team

The Bids team project manages the delivery of our bid and proposal processes, and co-ordinates strategically significant firm-wide bids and tenders. and panel reviews. The team assists with new opportunities to help to penetrate the firm's sectors and key client relationships, and develops and constantly improves the model for best practice in new and repeat business to maximise the return on time and investment in this area.

The Department

Our Business Development team is firmly embedded within the business and works closely with our partners offering a real expertise in winning new business and delivering an excellent client experience. Our success comes from really understanding our clients, their businesses and sectors and working in strategic partnership with them. But that's not enough. We know that to secure new business and further growth, we have to really differentiate ourselves in a crowded market - our Business Development team is crucial to this strategy.

The Person

You'll be experienced in leading and managing bids and tenders in a busy team with a proven track record of working with sales/technical teams to produce successful and profitable proposals, whilst working to non-negotiable deadlines. Experience of professional services is helpful, but not essential – being able to focus on the dual aspects of project managing and critiquing live bid and tender responses, and coaching colleagues at all levels to ensure high quality outcomes, will be invaluable.  Experience of working on Public Sector tenders would be highly advantageous.

We're looking for someone who is a good persuader within confident communication skills, both verbal and written; resilient and the ability to manage multiple and parallel deadlines; a flexible and adaptable individual who is comfortable with change and someone who is practical and hands-on, yet able to take a proactive, imaginative and strategic view about the services being provided.

It would be great if you were CIM Certified or working towards this and have a good understanding of the legal sector and pressures that exists within it.

Who are we?

A Top 100 law firm globally and Top 20 law firm in the UK, Womble Bond Dickinson has more than 400 partners and 1,000 lawyers based across 19 US cities and seven UK cities including a significant presence in London. The firm's reach also extends to Europe where it has strategic partnerships with other law firms in Germany and France.

In the UK, Womble Bond Dickinson advises in excess of 40 FTSE 350 companies, many of the largest businesses in the country, government organisations and wealthy individuals. With a focus on eleven key sectors (Energy & Natural Resources; Financial Institutions; Healthcare;  Insurance, Manufacturing;  Real Estate; Retail and Consumer; Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure; Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals; Technology and Private Wealth) the firm's experience allows it to build strong relationships and deliver an excellent service to clients.

What makes it great to work here?

We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits!  We like and make time for each other enabling us to establish professional relationships that can often become lasting friendships. 

Through our D&I initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued.  We have a Diversity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have an ethnic diversity, an LGBT+, a family network and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody).  We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work.  We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing, including our team of dedicated mental health first aiders.  We recognise that getting the right work life balance is a priority for all of us and we're very happy to talk flexible working, full-time or part-time working patterns.

And that's not all, alongside a competitive salary you'll receive a flexible benefits package so you can pick and choose between the benefits that matter most to you.

Next steps

If this sounds like your next career move then please get in touch to find out more. My name is Lisa Gater (lisa.gater@wbd-uk.com) No agencies please, we're an in-house recruitment team!

If this isn't the role for you (or the right time) why not connect with us on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@WBD_CareersUK) to keep up to date with all of our opportunities.  We also have a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/womblebonddickinsoncareers/)