Part of sales and business development work.
Sales accounts and business development managers
As a Bid manager, you craft the winning proposals that define our success and secure the future.
You're not just filling out forms; you're the strategist who turns client needs into compelling solutions. Every bid is a story you tell, a challenge you embrace, and a victory you aim for.
- Experience
- Mid-senior (5-8 years)
- Direct reports
- 1-3
- Typical level
- 5
What you own
- Crafting compelling bid proposals
- Coordinating cross-departmental input
- Tracking bid progress and deadlines
- Analysing client requirements
- Presenting bids to senior management
A day in the life
What the work actually looks like
Kick off the day with a team call to align on today's bid priorities.
Review and refine the proposal draft with input from technical experts.
Meet with the finance team to finalise costings for a major bid.
Present a completed bid to senior management for approval.
What you decide, and what you will decide next
| Decision | Coming in | You, now | The role above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal Content | Suggest content ideas | Decide on the overall narrative and structure | Approve final bid strategy |
| Team Coordination | Assist in gathering inputs | Lead the team in bid development | Oversee multiple bid teams |
| Client Engagement | Support client meetings | Lead discussions to clarify bid requirements | Develop long-term client strategies |
The skills this job needs
Each of these is a UK National Occupational Standard, matched to this occupation and then confirmed by a reader that checked both records.
- Write and submit the bid Bidding and Tendering
- Plan the bid Bidding and Tendering
- Evaluate and develop your organisation’s ability to bid Bidding and Tendering
- Undertake Post-Submission Activities Bidding and Tendering
- Develop sales tenders, proposals and quotations Sales
- Bid for contracts to supply products and services Management and Leadership, Treework
- Develop sales proposals and quotations Sales
- Develop Sales Proposals & Quotations Print Administration
- Prepare sales proposal and deliver sales presentations Master Printer
How you will be measured
Bid Win Rate
The percentage of bids won compared to those submitted.
e.g. Securing a major contract after a competitive bidding process.
Bid Turnaround Time
The time taken to complete and submit a bid.
e.g. Submitting a comprehensive bid ahead of schedule.
Client Feedback
Positive client responses to bid proposals.
You can tell when: Clients express satisfaction with the clarity and relevance of proposals.
Team Collaboration
Effective coordination and communication within the bid team.
You can tell when: Smooth, efficient teamwork with minimal friction.
What is changing, and what to do about it
AI-Enhanced Proposal Crafting
As AI takes over routine tasks, your ability to integrate AI insights into strategic decisions becomes crucial.
- Find your feet. Explore AI tools with your Navigator to understand their impact on bid strategies.
- Put it to work. With your Coach, apply AI insights to real bids and refine your approach.
- Make it yours. Experiment with new AI-driven strategies with your Explorer, learning from each iteration.
A broad read on this kind of work, not an analysis of this occupation on its own.
Fading: Routine data entry and document formatting are increasingly automated.
Rising: Strategic judgement and creative storytelling become more valuable.
How Zavmo would teach you this
The Navigator
Your Navigator helps you map out the strategic landscape, ensuring each bid aligns with long-term goals and stands out in the competitive market.
The Coach
Your Coach sets up practice scenarios based on real bids, offering feedback that sharpens your ability to craft persuasive proposals.
The Explorer
Your Explorer encourages you to experiment with innovative bid strategies, learning from each attempt to refine your approach.
No two people are taught the same way
NavigatorLast time, we discussed aligning your bid strategies with the company's growth goals.
YouYes, and I've been thinking about how to integrate that into our current proposals.
NavigatorGreat! Let's focus on your next major bid and identify key areas where strategic alignment can make a difference.
Where this role sits
How people get here
Sales Executive
2-3 years
Developing persuasive communication skills and understanding client needs.
Where it leads
Head of Bids
2-4 years
Leading the entire bid function, setting strategic directions and overseeing multiple teams.
Beyond Head of Bids, you could move into strategic business development or even executive leadership roles, shaping the future of the organisation.
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines and last-minute changes
- Balancing multiple bids simultaneously
- Managing input from diverse teams
- Navigating complex client requirements
Your path, personalised
You have the map. Walking it is the part we do together.
This route runs to 9 national skill standards. That is a real journey.
Zavmo shapes a learning experience as unique as you are. It fits how you learn, your pace and the work you already do. Every step stays benchmarked to recognised national standards. That’s the plan for becoming a Bid managers: personal to you, and it still counts. Your first Future Fluency module is free.
Independent research finds well-designed intelligent tutoring performs nearly as well as one-to-one human tutoring: VanLehn (2011), Educational Psychologist.
A private tutor in the UK averages £35–40 an hour . Zavmo is £70/month.
Free tools
Want a read on where you stand?
Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.