Lead Bids Manager

We are recruiting for a Lead Bids Manager to join our Marketing and Business Development team in Bristol. This role is being offered on a full-time basis.

Your Role

The Lead Bids Manager is responsible for the leadership, coordination and delivery of complex public and private sector bids across the firm. The role ensures that bids are strategically positioned, compliant, compelling and delivered in line with best‑practice processes to maximise win rates and support the firm’s growth objectives.

The role operates nationally, working closely with Partners, the Business Development function and key business services teams to shape bid strategy, manage risk and continuously improve bid quality, systems and processes.

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to: Head of Business Development
• Direct reports: Bids Managers and Executives (including mentoring and development responsibility)
• Works closely with: Senior Bids Manager, Partners, Sector Growth Leads, Commercial Business Partners, Risk and “Can I Act” teams

Scope and Context

• Operates across public and private sector bids with a national remit
• Responsible for leading high‑value and strategically significant bids
• Acts as a senior bid professional and subject‑matter expert within the firm
• Influences bid strategy and approach but does not hold overall firmwide growth or P&L accountability
• Contributes to the continuous development of bid systems, processes and best practice

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Bid Strategy and Delivery

• Leads the end‑to‑end delivery of complex bids, ensuring quality, compliance and alignment with evaluation criteria
• Scopes bid requirements, manages go/no‑go processes, identifies stakeholders and defines delivery approach
• Develops bid plans, delivery programmes and structured best‑practice processes
• Works with Partners and subject‑matter experts to define bid strategy, win themes and value propositions

Content Development and Quality Assurance

• Develops and/or oversees the production of compelling, benefits‑led bid content in line with tone of voice guidelines
• Ensures consistency, clarity and quality across written submissions and presentations
• Leads the development of bid presentations and supporting materials, embedding innovation and best practice

Project Management and Governance

• Project manages bids from opportunity assessment through submission, feedback and reporting
• Coordinates internal contributors to ensure deadlines and quality standards are met
• Acts as the primary point of contact with the firm’s Risk and “Can I Act” teams to manage conflicts and risk positioning

Commercial and Pricing Support

• Works with Commercial Business Partners to inform and support bid pricing strategy
• Ensures commercial considerations are appropriately reflected in bid solutions

Process Improvement and Systems

• Leads the continuous improvement of bid systems, tools and processes to drive efficiency and effectiveness
• Captures and embeds lessons learned from bid feedback into future activity

Leadership and Team Development

• Provides line management, mentoring, training and development for bid team members
• Builds strong internal relationships with Partners, client relationship teams and business services functions
• Promotes a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement within the bid team

Sector and Client Insight

• Works with Sector Growth Leads and the wider Business Development team to track bid pipeline and progress
• Produces regular reporting on bid performance, feedback and success rates
• Uses insight to propose improvements to content, approach and wider business development initiatives

Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced knowledge of bid management within a professional services environment
• Strong understanding of public and private sector procurement processes
• High level of written communication capability, including complex, persuasive content development
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Ability to understand broader business and commercial issues to add value to bid strategy

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Required to manage complex, deadline‑driven bid processes involving multiple stakeholders
• Exercises judgement in interpreting evaluation criteria, shaping bid strategy and balancing competing priorities
• Contributes to the development of new approaches and improvements to bid delivery

Impact and Accountability

• Directly influences the firm’s ability to win new work through high‑quality bid delivery
• Has measurable impact on win rates, reputation and growth outcomes
• Accountable for the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of bids within remit

Communication and Relationships

• Requires frequent interaction with Partners, senior stakeholders and subject‑matter experts
• Builds credibility quickly and influences without direct authority
• Develops relationships with client and target‑client procurement teams to build insight

Effort

• Sustained mental effort required due to high‑pressure deadlines and complex coordination
• Requires resilience and focus to deliver multiple bids simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment

What You’ll Bring

Job Functional Knowledge: You will be a subject-matter expert who can demonstrate deep specialist knowledge; trusted technical authority who shapes direction, best practice, and functional strategy. Working as a highly specialised professional or senior manager, you will shape best practice and drive high‑impact outcomes across your area of expertise.

Business Expertise: You will have a strong understanding of how work drives business-unit goals; applies sound judgement, stakeholder challenge, risk management and change delivery, aligned to values and compliance. Acting in line with the Firm’s values and Code of Conduct, you will role‑model compliance, monitor individual and team metrics, and ensure effective risk management.

Leadership: You will be responsible for the effective day‑to‑day management of people and work, including resource planning and the allocation of activity. You will understand the needs and motivators of the team, providing timely, clear and actionable feedback to identify strengths and development areas.

Problem Solving: You will define complex problems and create innovative solutions using evidence-based analysis; engage stakeholders early, manage risk, and make confident strategic decisions to deliver outcomes.

Nature of Impact: You will be accountable for shaping technical/professional strategy; setting outcome-focused objectives and stretching KPIs, maintaining delivery discipline, managing conflict, and building an inclusive high-performing team.

Area of Impact: You will have significant influence through direct leadership of the sub‑function or by exerting strong strategic influence that materially affects its performance and outcomes. You will create a development‑focused environment for yourself and others, being visible and accessible to colleagues, and providing timely support and constructive feedback to build capability, confidence and sustained performance.

Interpersonal Skills: You can lead high-stakes communication and negotiation with discretion; handle sensitive situations confidently, build support through others’ input, and communicate change clearly to drive engagement. You will handle challenging, on‑the‑spot questions and delicate situations with confidence, tact and empathy, and you will draw on subject matter experts or third‑party perspectives to build support for proposals where appropriate.

About TLT

Fast paced, fast growing and forward thinking, TLT is the law firm that helps clients stay one step ahead, and we do the same for our people.

With local, national and international reach, we have over 1,800 people in offices across the UK and a network of partner firms across Europe, India and the US. Over the last few years TLT’s successful growth, delivery of high-quality work and support for colleagues has been consistently recognised by The Times and at the Legal Business, The Lawyer and British Legal Awards.

Our ambition is to create opportunities for what comes next for our clients, recognised as their 1st tier adviser and being valued for our values. We do this in our unique way by creating social value and a dynamic environment where our people are curious, creative and ambitious for their success.

In our open and collaborative culture, we encourage everyone to be their whole self, to have a voice and to contribute to the success of TLT.

Our Benefits

We value our employees highly and we want you to feel valued. You’ll receive a competitive salary with an annual pay review. You will also have access to an extensive range of benefits via our flexible benefits scheme including 25 days holiday (which will increase to 30 days based upon length of service) and private medical insurance. 

At TLT we have a progressive fully flexible working approach. We empower our people to work in a place and at a time that meets their needs, those of their clients and of the wider team and firm. Part of this agile approach is a focus on hybrid working and supporting the work/life balance of our people. We’re happy to talk about how flexible working can work for you and this role. 

TLT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and encourages applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of disability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by the laws in the locations in which we operate.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, where necessary, to make interviews and jobs more accessible. Should you have any difficulty during the recruitment process, require any reasonable adjustments or an application to Access to work please contact the recruitment team on Recruitment.Operations@TLT.com