As Osborne Clarke rolls out its 2030 strategy, we are looking for an experienced Bids Manager to join our team in Bristol or London. With a sharper focus on our sectors and growth services, we’re evolving how we win, serve and grow our clients, moving from tech-enabled to AI-native ways of working.
This role will be pivotal in strengthening our Bids Centre of Excellence and delivering expert support on live bids to increase win rate and revenue across the firm. Working directly with our lawyers, you will advise and influence decisions that drive the firm’s performance and client relationships, with clear scope to see the impact of your work.
This is an 18-month fixed-term contract based in Bristol or London, with travel to all locations as required.
The role is 35 hours per week, with flexibility to meet deadlines as required.
The role
The Bids Manager will be a key member of our Sales & Marketing team, reporting to the Head of Bids and working closely with two other Bids Managers and a Bids Senior Executive. You will lead high-quality bid responses across the full bid lifecycle, embed best practice and drive improvements that support the firm’s strategy.
Other key responsibilities include:
- Bid Delivery & Strategic Advice
- Lead and influence bid/no-bid qualification decisions, project manage the bid process and develop compelling win themes and differentiated propositions.
- Guide lawyers on best-practice bidding, including content, presenting and pricing, to increase our chances of winning.
- Write and edit high-quality bid content, ensuring submissions are compelling and tailored to the opportunity.
- Coach and prepare teams for pitch meetings.
- Conduct win/loss debriefs and capture learning to strengthen future bids.
Sector & Service Alignment
- Support strategic bids across the firm, working on opportunities spanning any sector or service line.
- Collaborate with Business Development colleagues to tailor bids to particular industry sectors.
- Build alignment with one flagship sector and one growth service—initially Life Sciences and Healthcare, and disputes—to ensure the Bids team has compelling content to hand.
Centre of Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Work with the Head of Bids and other Bids team members to embed best practice and drive positive change.
- Proactively identify, devise and deliver improvements aligned with the firm’s strategy that increase win rate and revenue.
- Take ownership of improvement workstreams, including strategic pricing and the bid content library.
- Continually improve systems, processes and approaches, bringing curiosity and creativity to the use of AI and technology.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Build strong relationships with partners and senior stakeholders, providing expert advice and constructive challenge to support effective bidding decisions.
- Work collaboratively with Business Development and other Business Services teams to provide joined-up, holistic bid support.
- Partner with the Head of Pursuits, whose remit includes supporting forecast bids and mobilising wins.
- Adapt to different working styles and manage competing priorities while maintaining quality under pressure.
Team Development & Leadership
- Share your expertise to upskill colleagues across the Bids team, Business Development, other Business Services teams and our lawyers.
- Lead by example, nurturing a collaborative team that delivers outstanding bid support and advice.
- As the team grows during the fixed-term contract, potentially take on direct line management of Bids Executives or Assistants, holding effective one-to-ones, setting meaningful objectives and supporting their development.
What we are looking for
- Extensive bid experience, with a solution-focused approach and confidence in developing differentiated, compelling propositions.
- Proven content writing and bid project management skills within a professional services firm.
- A sound understanding of strategic pricing approaches and experience of influencing pricing to win.
- Confidence and effectiveness in coaching and preparing teams for pitch meetings.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships quickly and adapt to different working styles.
- The confidence to question and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise independently, manage competing deadlines and remain resilient under pressure.
- Absolute attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality delivery.
- A proactive, accountable approach, taking ownership and navigating challenges without needing prompting.
- Curiosity, creativity and a desire to improve how we work, particularly through AI and technology.
- A passion for people development and collaborative working, actively contributing to a healthy team dynamic.
- A positive, “can do” attitude and a “firm first” approach.
Salary and benefits
We 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 process
Please 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.