Head of Strategic Bids
| Posting date: | 08 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 05 February 2026 |
| Location: | Lancashire, PR7 1NY |
| Company: | Ipsum Utilities Limited |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | ORG6276-CM1472647ChoHOSB |
Summary
Head of Strategic Bids
Location: This role can be based in Northwest, Midlands or Yorkshire, this role includes business travel.
Employment type: Full Time, Permanent
What’s in it for you…
We believe in looking after our people, and it shows. When you join Ipsum, you’re not just taking a job — you’re starting a career with real support behind it.
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Option to buy up to 5 additional holidays
Hybrid Working
Group Personal Pension Plan
Career development & progression with the opportunity to earn professional qualifications
24/7 access to a virtual GP and Mental health support & counselling services
Cycle to Work scheme
Discount club - supermarkets, phone bills, gyms & more!
Life assurance cover
Long service recognition
Enhanced Maternity Pay
Paid volunteering opportunities in your community
About the role…
As Head of Strategic Bids, you’ll play a key role in driving Ipsum’s growth by working closely with the Business Development Director and senior stakeholders on high-value, strategic opportunities.
You’ll lead the development and delivery of bids for both new and existing customers, helping to secure long-term partnerships and achieve year-on-year sales growth.
Collaborating with operations and senior management teams, you’ll shape growth strategies, create key account plans, and manage sales activity for new customers.
A significant part of your role will focus on strategic bidding, ensuring processes are robust and successful outcomes are achieved.
As a Head of Strategic Bids, you will…
Develop and execute growth strategies with key stakeholders.
Build and maintain a strong CRM and opportunity pipeline through market research.
Identify and develop new customer relationships and opportunities.
Lead end-to-end pre-qualification and tendering processes, ensuring quality and compliance.
Manage tender content, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Drive business development activities aligned with growth targets and KPIs.
Provide regular reporting on pipeline, tender status, and key account plans.
Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering development and a learning culture.
About you…
You’re an experienced business development professional with a proven track record of winning strategic bids and delivering results in fast-paced environments.
You have strong knowledge of tendering principles, procurement processes, and pre-qualification management, coupled with exceptional written communication skills to craft compelling proposals.
Highly detail-oriented and deadline-driven, you can translate complex information into clear, persuasive responses.
Your leadership style fosters collaboration and high performance, and you excel at building relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
A strategic thinker who can also act tactically, you bring creativity, resilience, and a continuous improvement mindset.
Experience in the UK utilities sector and digitalisation would be desirable.
Our commitment to Equal Opportunities...
We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences, and we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Before applying, please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we process your data in line with GDPR.
Next steps...
If you’re interested in this opportunity, please apply or reach out to the Talent Team for more info!
Location: This role can be based in Northwest, Midlands or Yorkshire, this role includes business travel.
Employment type: Full Time, Permanent
What’s in it for you…
We believe in looking after our people, and it shows. When you join Ipsum, you’re not just taking a job — you’re starting a career with real support behind it.
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Option to buy up to 5 additional holidays
Hybrid Working
Group Personal Pension Plan
Career development & progression with the opportunity to earn professional qualifications
24/7 access to a virtual GP and Mental health support & counselling services
Cycle to Work scheme
Discount club - supermarkets, phone bills, gyms & more!
Life assurance cover
Long service recognition
Enhanced Maternity Pay
Paid volunteering opportunities in your community
About the role…
As Head of Strategic Bids, you’ll play a key role in driving Ipsum’s growth by working closely with the Business Development Director and senior stakeholders on high-value, strategic opportunities.
You’ll lead the development and delivery of bids for both new and existing customers, helping to secure long-term partnerships and achieve year-on-year sales growth.
Collaborating with operations and senior management teams, you’ll shape growth strategies, create key account plans, and manage sales activity for new customers.
A significant part of your role will focus on strategic bidding, ensuring processes are robust and successful outcomes are achieved.
As a Head of Strategic Bids, you will…
Develop and execute growth strategies with key stakeholders.
Build and maintain a strong CRM and opportunity pipeline through market research.
Identify and develop new customer relationships and opportunities.
Lead end-to-end pre-qualification and tendering processes, ensuring quality and compliance.
Manage tender content, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Drive business development activities aligned with growth targets and KPIs.
Provide regular reporting on pipeline, tender status, and key account plans.
Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering development and a learning culture.
About you…
You’re an experienced business development professional with a proven track record of winning strategic bids and delivering results in fast-paced environments.
You have strong knowledge of tendering principles, procurement processes, and pre-qualification management, coupled with exceptional written communication skills to craft compelling proposals.
Highly detail-oriented and deadline-driven, you can translate complex information into clear, persuasive responses.
Your leadership style fosters collaboration and high performance, and you excel at building relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
A strategic thinker who can also act tactically, you bring creativity, resilience, and a continuous improvement mindset.
Experience in the UK utilities sector and digitalisation would be desirable.
Our commitment to Equal Opportunities...
We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences, and we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Before applying, please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we process your data in line with GDPR.
Next steps...
If you’re interested in this opportunity, please apply or reach out to the Talent Team for more info!