Bid Writer
Job Description
SALARY:
£20,460 - £24,818 per annum
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Director of Fundraising and Business Development
HOURS:
Full time – 37* hours per week
* currently reduced to 35 hpw with an associated pro rata reduction in salary as part of temporary savings
package
General principles for all Voice staff
To participate in the empowerment of children and young people in care, in custody, in need
and leaving care and to help them speak out for improvements in their lives.
To support the active participation of children and young people in delivery and development
of services they receive.
To practice anti-discriminatory behaviour and to adhere to Voice objectives and policies in
the delivery of all Voice services.
Main focus for the post:
• To produce successful tender proposals – as well as other fundraising applications when required –
based on good research and excellent communication with and support to colleagues across Voice
• To be an effective and collaborative member of the Fundraising and Business Development team.
Relationships:
A member of the Fundraising and Business Development Directorate, which is being newly created
around the nucleus of the existing team of three fundraisers. The Bid writer will report to the newlycreated post of Director of Fundraising and Business Development (this appointment is pending – the
post holder will report to the Deputy Chief Executive in any interim period before the Director of
Fundraising and Business Development is appointed) and will in due course have the support of a
research intern.
The Bid Writer will have particularly close working relationships with the Director of Children’s
Services, the Finance Director and the Lead Managers for the different services for which we are
invited to tender. S/he will also collaborate with fundraising colleagues, especially during periods of
peak workload as the team collaborates to ensure that all necessary tenders and grant applications
are submitted in a timely fashion.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Writing tenders based on instruction and detailed information from Voice’s experts and
knowledge holders (normally service managers and Directors), referring back to them for
editing and final approval, leading to increased success in winning contracts
2. Project manage the completion of individual tender applications when appropriate, including:
•
Maintaining an awareness of contracts due for tender and taking responsibility for
acquiring pre-qualification questionnaires and tender documentation
•
Negotiating contributions from other specialists and researchers and allocating
appropriate deadlines for completion
•
Collating the input of disparate contributions to create a coherent and well
structured final tender
•
Ensuring the timely submission of tenders and other proposals
3. Writing up new approaches to service provision in a manner that will support their marketing
and/or attractiveness to donors.
4. Being flexibly available to support the fundraisers, including by contributing to grant
application writing. (Trust fundraisers will also be available to support tender writing at peak
times).
5. Developing and maintaining a library of tender document templates to act as a reference
point for other staff involved in the tendering process and to ensure a unified and consistent
approach to proposals.
The responsibilities contained within this job description are subject to annual review and may need
to be adjusted in line with service developments.
Bid Writer
Person Specification
* Method of Assessment
A = Application Form D = Documentary Evidence (e.g. Certificates/Portfolio) I = Interview E = Exercise
Please note that this column is indicative of where each criterion is likely to be tested, however all elements of the person specification may be tested at any
stage of the recruitment process. Candidates must use each element of the person specification as a heading in the supporting statement of their application,
explaining clearly and with examples how they meet the criteria.
Method of
Factor
Criteria
Essential/Desirable
Assessment*
A D I E
Education /
Essential
• Experience of writing and delivering successful tenders, ideally in a social
Experience
care or equivalent environment
Skills/Abilities
and Knowledge
General
Ability to communicate complex issues in writing in an accessible and
engaging manner, combined with comfort in having your written
communications edited by others
• Ability to seek out information proactively from a variety of sources, including
written/online materials and knowledge held by busy senior staff, converting
this into accurate prose.
• Ability to empower trust fundraisers to support the tender writing process
while in turn supporting fundraisers in their grant applications.
Essential
Essential
Essential
• Ability to organise your own time effectively, meeting deadlines while
showing good attention to detail and maintaining quality
Essential
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and databases
Essential
• Commitment to working in line with Voice’s values
Essential
• Flexible regarding working hours and timing of annual leave to ensure that
tender deadlines are met
Essential
•