Gloucester
Role profileAs we roll out our 2030 strategy, we’re sharpening our sector focus and accelerating profitable growth so we can better advise and advance the businesses of tomorrow. We’re proud to help clients in the sectors shaping tomorrow’s world, including technology, media and communications, life sciences and healthcare, energy and utilities, financial services, real estate and transport and automotive. We’re evolving how we win, serve and grow our clients, moving from small change to big gains, and from tech‑enabled to AI‑native in how we work.We now have a new opportunity for a Bids Manager to join our Sales & Marketing (Business Development) team, based in either Bristol or London.About the roleYou’ll work closely with our Head of Bids and two other Bids Managers to continue embedding Bids “Centre of Excellence” best practice across the firm and provide expert support on live bids to increase our win rate and revenue.This is a highly visible role, working directly with partners and lawyers on strategic opportunities. You won’t just be delivering bid documents – you’ll be advising and influencing qualification, win strategies, content, presenting and pricing decisions that drive the firm’s performance and deepen key client relationships.You will support cross-sector and cross-functional bids, with an alignment to driving forward best practice bidding in at least one flagship sector and one growth service – Life Sciences & Healthcare and Disputes – supporting the firm’s strategic priorities.What you’ll be doingLeading live bidsTaking ownership of complex, high‑value bids across the full bid lifecycleGuiding partners and lawyers through best practice bidding, including bid/no‑bid qualification, win themes, compelling content, presenting and pricingProject managing bids to ensure timely, high‑quality submissions, often to tight deadlinesCreating and editing persuasive, client‑focused content with an expert eye for detailConducting win/loss debriefs and capturing learnings to improve future performance Driving our Bids Centre of ExcellenceProactively identifying and leading strategic improvements to our bids approachDevising solutions that enhance systems, processes and tools to increase win rate and revenueTaking accountability for key improvement workstreams, for example strategic pricing and bid content library development Using your experience to upskill Bids, BD and other Business Services teams, as well as lawyers, in best practice bidding Collaborating across the businessWorking closely with the wider BD team to ensure bids are tailored to priority sectors and clientsCollaborating with the Head of Pursuits/Mobilisation on forecast bids and mobilisation of winsBuilding strong relationships with partners, Sector Leaders, BD Directors/Managers, Finance, Osborne Clarke Solutions and Risk & Compliance to deliver joined‑up support People leadership (as the team grows)Providing line management for Bids Executives/Assistants as the team expandsHolding effective 1:1s, setting meaningful objectives and supporting developmentLeading by example to nurture a collaborative, high‑performing bids team About youWe’re looking for a highly experienced, solution‑focused bids professional who is passionate about driving improvements and winning work.You will have:Significant bids experience within a professional services environmentProven bid project management skills across complex, multi‑stakeholder opportunitiesStrong content writing skills and the ability to shape differentiating, compelling propositionsA sound understanding of strategic pricing approaches and experience influencing pricing to winConfidence in coaching and preparing teams for pitch meetingsExcellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including at partner/senior levelThe ability to question and challenge constructively to positively influence outcomesStrong resilience and the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlinesA proactive, accountable approach – comfortable taking ownership and navigating challengesAbsolute attention to detail and high standards of qualityCuriosity, creativity and a desire to improve how we work, particularly through AI and technologyA passion for people development and for working as a collaborative teamA “firm first” mindset and a positive, “can do” attitudeSalary and benefitsWe offer competitive salaries and generous benefits. We value the health and wellbeing of our people and our wide range of initiatives and benefits support this.Our recruitment processPlease note that although we include closing dates for our roles as a guide, we review and progress applications on a rolling basis. At Osborne Clarke we do not make any recruitment decisions using automated decision-making. We are committed to providing an environment where you can perform to the best of your abilities at every stage of your recruitment experience and beyond. If you require any adjustments to be made during the application stage, interview process, or when working with us, please let us know in confidence.About YouAbout UsOsborne Clarke is an international legal practice with over 330 Partners and more than 1,260 talented lawyers in 26 locations. Our sector-based approach enables us to help our clients tackle the issues they are facing today, and prepare for the ones that they will face tomorrow. Advising them both comprehensively and commercially. We love working closely with our clients on new deals, products and solutions which will transform their businesses, markets and even sectors. And our unique approachable culture is not an added extra, it's fundamental to our success.At Osborne Clarke we value difference and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We want everyone to feel that OC is a place where you can be yourself and belong, and our range of interest groups and diversity networks - not to mention our great teams - are a part of making that a reality. Services in India are provided by a relationship firmCareers Site Advertising End DateNot SpecifiedAll LocationsBristol, LondonAll Locations is a required fieldPositionMarketing & SalesAdvertising SalaryNot SpecifiedContract TypePermanentFunctionBusiness Services