Package Description

Bid Manager

Location: Hybrid (with travel to Keys Group offices as required)
Salary: Up to £60,000
Working pattern: Full Time. Mon – Fri
 

About Keys Group

Keys Group provides high-quality care, education and health services across the UK, supporting children, young people, and adults to achieve positive outcomes. Our group is made up of 4 divisions, Adults, Childrens Residential, Education and Health.

We are growing our commercial capability and looking for an experienced Bid Manager to lead the development, coordination, and submission of compelling bids and tenders across our services including local authority and NHS opportunities.

Role Purpose

The Bid Manager will be responsible for managing the full tender process from opportunity identification to final submission ensuring the highest quality responses that reflect Keys Group’s values, expertise, and commitment to positive outcomes.

This role will also provide leadership and day-to-day management for a Bid Coordinator, supporting their development and ensuring efficient delivery of all tender activities. This role will have a strong working relationship with an external bid writing consultant who supports with tender writing.

The successful candidate will bring strong experience in health and social care tendering, excellent project management skills, and the ability to coordinate contributions from operational, clinical, commercial and other key colleagues from across the organisation. 

Key Responsibilities

Tender Management & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end bid process for local authority and NHS tenders.
• Coordinate Bid/No Bid meetings for informed decision-making.
• Manage timelines, submissions, and quality control.
• Write, edit, and proofread high-quality, compliant responses.
• Work with external bid consultant and stakeholders on reviews.
• Line-manage the Bid Coordinator and support development.
• Oversee tender pipeline reporting and opportunities.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with teams to gather accurate, compelling bid input.
• Work with leaders on service models and pricing strategies.
• Strengthen internal relationships to enhance bid quality and readiness.

Opportunity Management & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor procurement portals for tenders aligned with Keys Group’s growth areas
• Maintain a central library of bid content and evidence.
• Analyse feedback to improve quality and win rates.
• Support development of bid processes, templates, and governance.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven track record winning health and social care bids for local authorities/NHS.
• Strong knowledge of commissioning and procurement in care and education.
• Excellent writing, editing, and compliance skills.
• Experience using AI tools for bid writing.
• Strong project management and multitasking ability.
• Experience mentoring or managing team members.
• Highly organised, detail-focused, and deadline-driven.
• Effective communicator with all stakeholder levels.
• Understanding of public sector procurement and the Procurement Act 2023.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience in children’s or adult social care, or health sectors.
• Knowledge of tender portals (e.g., Proactis, In-Tend).
• Understanding of pricing and commercial evaluation in care tenders.
• APMP or equivalent bid management certification.

Why join Keys Group?

• Salary - Up to £60,000 per annum
• Flexibility – Hybrid working pattern. 1 day per month in the office
• Annual Leave - 33 Days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Career Progression – We have a whole world of opportunities available within the group. Many of our managers have progressed into Senior Leaders within our organisation
• DBS Check – we cover the cost of your DBS check and subsequent renewals
• Ongoing Training and Development – Supported by our award winning Learning and Development Team, you will receive ongoing training and development throughout your career
• Pension Scheme – start growing that pot for a healthy and happy retirement
• Wellbeing Support, Advice and Guidance – via our Employee Assistance Program though an online portal or over the telephone
• Staff Referral Scheme – earn a generous bonus for spreading the word and referring a friend to join our team
• EPIC Awards –All of our employees are EPIC in our eyes and do some incredible things each and every day. Each month, we recognise those that have shown that they really live by our values with EPIC awards and a fantastic prize on offer
• Discounts at Highstreet retailers, days out, gifts, holidays and even when buying a car – available via a Blue Light card and out HAPI app, save up to 50% with certain retailers

Due to the nature of the role, it is necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken (DBS).

Keys Group are very proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant that means we have made a commitment to welcoming service personnel, veterans and military families into the group. We are delighted to have veteran friendly policies, offer a Veterans Peer Support Network within our teams and are able to offer Military Awareness and support to our colleagues.

Keys Group