Bid Writer

About Dovetail & Slate

Dovetail & Slate is a recruitment specialist focusing on the education and public sectors across the UK. We assist schools, colleges, universities, local authorities, and other public bodies with permanent, temporary, and interim staffing solutions. Our expert teams understand sector challenges and deliver tailored recruitment strategies with an emphasis on long-term client partnerships.

Role Overview

The Bid Writer plays a key role in expanding Dovetail & Slate's business by crafting persuasive, high-quality proposals in response to client tenders and requests. This position is vital for securing new clients and business growth. Ideal candidates will exhibit strong writing skills and a clear grasp of recruitment industry language, though extensive bid writing experience is not mandatory.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop clear, structured, and convincing bids and proposals that address client needs effectively.
• Collaborate across Sales, Delivery, and Operations teams to gather necessary information for bids.
• Ensure all submissions meet client specifications and showcase the company’s strengths.
• Proofread and refine all bid materials to maintain quality, consistency, and appropriate tone.
• Keep an updated repository of template responses customized to Dovetail & Slate’s services.
• Partner with marketing to create engaging visuals and support materials for proposals.
• Apply excellent written communication skills to other consultancy projects within the company.
• Manage the entire bid process, from initial qualification to final submission deadlines.
• Plan and track bid timelines, set milestones, and coordinate contributors to ensure punctual submissions.
• Administer relevant inboxes by monitoring and responding promptly to tender notifications and queries.
• Oversee procurement and tender portals, including registrations, opportunity monitoring, document downloads, clarifications, and final bid uploads.
• Maintain comprehensive records of bid activities, deadlines, results, and feedback; assist in enhancing the bid process through reporting.
• Support strategic development in alignment with company goals alongside the Chief Strategy Officer.

Person Specification

• Previous experience in bid writing, proposal writing, or business writing is highly advantageous.
• Alternatively, a strong understanding of recruitment combined with excellent writing skills will be considered.
• Excellent research, writing, and editing abilities with a keen eye for detail.
• Exceptional organizational and administrative skills, including project planning and managing multiple deadlines and communications simultaneously.
• Ability to perform well under pressure and meet tight deadlines without quality loss.
• Collaborative team player with strong communication skills.
• Self-driven, proactive, capable of working independently.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with bid management software and e-procurement platforms is a plus.

Additional Details

• Salary range: £35,000 to £40,000 per year, depending on experience.
• Employment type: Full-time, permanent role.
• Work hours: 40 hours per week.
• Annual leave: 25 days annual leave plus 8 public/bank holidays.
• Location: Hybrid model requiring attendance at Bristol, Manchester, London, or Keighley offices at least three days per week.