Marketing Manager - Bids, Tenders & Proposals

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Marketing Manager - Bids, Tenders & Proposals

🔹 Company: Appleyard Lees

🔹 Location: Leeds, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-28

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Managing the end-to-end process for creating proposals for new business, focusing on tenders and proposal/pitch documents.
• Securing tender wins and converting prospects into customers.
• Collaborating with internal teams, including partners, associates, and support teams.
• Developing high-impact tender, proposal, and pitch content tailored to specific industries, entities, or services.
• Analyzing tender and pitch outcomes, integrating learnings into future processes and content.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the firm's services and market position to create compelling and differentiated content.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead Tender Process: Oversee the preparation, submission, and management of tenders, proposals, and pitch documents, ranging from individual follow-ups to high-value private and public tenders.

✅ Evaluate and Present Opportunities: Assess all tender opportunities, conduct research, and present findings to decision-makers. Facilitate and lead discussions with key stakeholders to drive decision-making.

✅ Collaborate with Internal Teams: Work closely with partners, associates, and support teams to gather necessary content and insights for RFPs, ITTs, and other tender responses. Act as the main liaison between marketing and internal stakeholders during the tendering process.

✅ Produce Tailored Content: Develop high-impact tender, proposal, and pitch content that is tailored to specific industries, entities, or services. Highlight the firm’s strengths and market position in a way that is both compelling and differentiated.

✅ Manage Planning Calendar: Organise and oversee the tender/pitch planning calendar to ensure timely submissions and coordinated efforts.

✅ Analyze Results and Integrate Learnings: Evaluate the outcomes of tenders and pitches, identify areas for improvement, and integrate lessons learned into future processes and content.

✅ Maintain Proposal Content Repository: Develop and maintain a central repository for proposal content, ensuring it is up-to-date and refreshed regularly.

✅ Training and Development: Provide guidance and training to attorneys and junior marketing/business development staff involved in the bid process.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple proposals simultaneously.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field. A postgraduate degree would be an asset.

Experience: Proven experience (5-10 years) working in a similar role in a professional services environment, with a strong track record in managing public and private sector tenders through to completion.

Required Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information in a clear and persuasive way.
• Meticulous attention to detail and strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple proposals simultaneously.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in proposal management software, including online proposal and pitch management platforms.
• Commercially minded, with a clear grasp of the firm’s value proposition and how to deliver profitable outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with intellectual property law or a strong understanding of how IP firms operate and their service offerings.
• Wider knowledge of legal marketing and business development strategies.

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the legal industry or intellectual property law may have an advantage in this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £45,000 - £60,000 per annum (based on experience and qualifications)

Benefits:

• 34-hour working week, Monday-Friday
• Agile working
• A supportive and friendly place to work and learn
• Annual salary review
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Salary Exchange
• Life assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan & Wellbeing App
• Group Income Protection
• Long Service Milestones
• Social outings
• Vouchers on Christmas, Birthdays and Special Occasions
• Charity events

Working Hours: 34 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with flexibility for occasional overtime or weekend work as needed.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a marketing manager role in the legal sector in the UK.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Appleyard Lees is a leading intellectual property law firm, specialising in patents, trade marks, copyright, disputes, and litigation. They serve a broad range of clients, including in-house teams, R&D specialists, owner-managers, and branding professionals.

Company Size: Appleyard Lees is a mid-sized firm with approximately 162 employees, providing a supportive and friendly work environment with great career prospects.

Founded: 1852, with a rich history and established reputation in the intellectual property law sector.

Company Description:

• Appleyard Lees is a leading intellectual property law firm with over seventy patent and trade mark attorneys and litigators.
• They offer a commercially intelligent approach to client service, incorporating flexibility and adaptability to suit specific client requirements.
• The firm helps IP owners and creators protect and monetise their intellectual property, supporting clients manage post-grant challenges if necessary.

Company Specialties:

• Intellectual Property
• Patents
• Trade Marks
• Copyright
• Disputes
• Litigation

Company Website: http://www.appleyardlees.com

ASSUMPTION: Appleyard Lees' focus on intellectual property law requires candidates with a strong understanding of the legal industry and its specific requirements.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is suitable for an experienced marketing professional looking to take on a management role with significant responsibility for driving business growth through tender and proposal management.

Reporting Structure: The Marketing Manager will report directly to the Head of Marketing and work closely with partners, associates, and support teams across the firm.

Work Arrangement: This role is based on-site at the Leeds office, with occasional remote work or flexible hours as needed.

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to a senior marketing role or management position within the firm.
• Expanding knowledge and expertise in intellectual property law and the legal industry.
• Developing skills in tender management, proposal development, and stakeholder engagement.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers excellent growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to progress within the firm and develop expertise in the intellectual property law sector.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Appleyard Lees' Leeds office is a modern, professional environment with a collaborative and supportive work culture.

Office Location(s): 6th Floor, 1 East Parade, Leeds, LS1 2AD, United Kingdom

Geographic Context:

• Leeds is a vibrant city in the north of England, with a thriving business community and a strong focus on innovation and technology.
• The city offers a high quality of life, with excellent transport links, cultural attractions, and a diverse range of housing options.
• Leeds is home to several major law firms and professional services providers, providing ample networking opportunities.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with a 34-hour working week. Occasional overtime or weekend work may be required to meet deadlines or support specific projects.

ASSUMPTION: The Leeds office provides a supportive and collaborative work environment, with a strong focus on teamwork and knowledge-sharing.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR team
• Face-to-face interview with the Head of Marketing and relevant stakeholders
• Final interview with the Managing Partner

Key Assessment Areas:

• Understanding of the legal industry and intellectual property law
• Tender management and proposal development skills
• Stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Project management and organisational skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the legal industry and intellectual property law in your application materials.
• Prepare examples of your tender management and proposal development work to discuss during the interview.

ATS Keywords: Tender Management, Proposal Development, Project Management, Legal Marketing, Intellectual Property Law, Stakeholder Engagement, Commercial Awareness, Attention to Detail, Organisational Skills

ASSUMPTION: Appleyard Lees uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage job applications, so including relevant keywords in your resume and cover letter can help your application stand out.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Proposal management software (e.g., RFP360, RFP365, or similar)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, or similar)
• CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar)

ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in relevant software tools and technologies is essential for success in this role.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Expertise
• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Innovation
• Client Focus

Work Style:

• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Focus on knowledge-sharing and continuous learning
• Agile and adaptable approach to client service
• Strong commitment to work-life balance

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a strong understanding of the legal industry and intellectual property law?
• Are you comfortable working in a collaborative and supportive team environment?
• Do you thrive in an agile and adaptable work environment, with a focus on continuous learning?

ASSUMPTION: Appleyard Lees values candidates who align with their expertise-driven, client-focused, and collaborative work culture.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple tenders and proposals simultaneously, with tight deadlines.
• Navigating the complexities of the legal industry and intellectual property law.
• Balancing the demands of the role with a strong commitment to work-life balance.
• Adapting to the firm's agile and adaptable approach to client service.

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, a solid understanding of the legal industry, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role differs from other marketing management positions in its focus on tender and proposal management, requiring a strong understanding of the legal industry and intellectual property law.
• In the legal industry, this role is comparable to a Business Development Manager or Proposals Manager, with a focus on driving business growth through effective tender and proposal management.
• Career progression in this role may lead to senior marketing or business development positions within the firm or the wider legal industry.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to similar roles in the legal industry, requiring a specific skill set and understanding of the sector.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive tender response for a high-value public sector opportunity, involving collaboration with multiple internal stakeholders and external consultants.
• Creating a library of reusable proposal content, tailored to specific industries, entities, or services, to streamline the tender management process.
• Managing a team of junior marketing or business development professionals to support tender and proposal activities, providing guidance and training as needed.

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and challenges faced by the Marketing Manager - Bids, Tenders & Proposals at Appleyard Lees.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the firm's approach to tender and proposal management, and how this role fits into that strategy?
• How does the firm support the professional development and growth of its marketing and business development team members?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does the firm measure the success of its tender and proposal management activities, and how will my performance be evaluated in this role?
• What are the most rewarding aspects of working in this role, and what are the most challenging?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions demonstrates your interest in the role and your commitment to understanding the firm's culture and expectations.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, with a focus on tender management, proposal development, and stakeholder engagement.
• Prepare examples of your tender management and proposal development work to discuss during the interview.
• Follow up with the HR team one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about the next steps in the interview process.

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.