About this role
Decoded seeks a Tenders, RFPs & Proposals Manager to take ownership of our engagement with external tender portals and tendering opportunities, ensuring we are present on the right platforms and tendering frameworks, focusing our energy on the best fit opportunities and submitting high‑quality, values‑aligned proposals.
You will be responsible for identifying opportunities, shaping responses with internal stakeholders, and ensuring our proposals and applications to tender opportunities clearly articulate the impact, quality, and integrity of our work. You will help secure long‑term institutional partnerships through formal tender success.
This is a hands‑on, highly proactive role suited to someone who enjoys autonomy, clear ownership, and influencing without hierarchy. This is a Part Time Role – approx 6 hrs per day – flexible working, core hours being 9 to 3, Monday to Friday.
Key Responsibilities
Tender Submission Frameworks and Portal Management
* Own and manage Decoded’s presence across all relevant tender portals and frameworks, (e.g. public sector frameworks, portals).
* Proactively scan evolving tender submission environment and identify and join frameworks and portals relevant to Decoded’s business.
* Monitor opportunities regularly and maintain a clear, prioritised pipeline.
* Assess opportunities against predefined criteria including strategic fit, values alignment, capacity, and commercial viability.
* Make informed recommendations on whether to bid, elevate, or decline opportunities.
Proposal & Tender Coordination
* Act as the central point of coordination for proposals and tender responses.
* Liaise with internal stakeholders (delivery, subject matter experts, leadership, finance) to shape compelling, accurate, and tailored responses.
* Translate complex ideas into clear, persuasive written content that reflects Decoded’s tone, values, and impact.
* Review and edit contributions from technical teams to ensure a consistent Decoded voice and a compelling narrative.
* Ensure all submissions are compliant, well‑structured, and submitted on time.
Stakeholder Engagement & Escalation
* Build strong working relationships with internal teams to bring the right solution to each opportunity.
* Escalate decisions, risks, or resourcing concerns appropriately and early.
* Support leadership with clear summaries, recommendations, and next steps on live opportunities.
Contracting & Commercial Support (Desirable)
* Support contract review and commercial/tender procurement processes, working alongside internal and external stakeholders where needed.
* Assist with clarifications, contract variations, and post‑award documentation.
* Maintain organised records of bids, contracts, and tender application documentation.
Continuous Improvement
* Track outcomes, feedback, and learning from tender submissions to improve future submissions.
* Help refine bid/no‑bid criteria and proposal processes over time.
* Contribute to templates, standard responses, and internal guidance.
About You
You are a credible, organised, and highly articulate professional who can balance commercial awareness with values‑led decision‑making.
Essential Experience & Skills
* Proven experience managing bids, tenders, tender portals and frameworks, or proposals in a commercial, public sector, and/or consultancy environment.
* Exceptional written communication skills – able to write clearly, persuasively, and with attention to detail.
* Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge constructively.
* Highly proactive and self‑directed; comfortable owning a remit and driving it forward.
* Strong judgement – able to assess what is worth pursuing and what is not.
* Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Desirable Experience
* Experience supporting contracting and/or tendering processes.
* Familiarity with public sector procurement frameworks or DPSs.
* Experience working in purpose‑driven, values‑led, or education/skills organisations.
Ways of Working
* You are comfortable working independently but value collaboration.
* You communicate clearly and calmly, even under time pressure.
* You care deeply about quality, not just winning tenders, but winning the right ones in the right way.
* You’re pragmatic, thoughtful, and solutions‑focused.
Salary
Salary: £32,000–£40,000 per annum (£40,000–£50,000 FTE)
Day‑To‑Day
Our key working hours are from 9am‑5pm Monday‑Friday. However, this role is a Part Time Role – approx 6 hrs per day – flexible working, core hours being 9 to 3, Monday to Friday.
You plan your working day around the best outcomes for success, identifying and prioritising projects against business needs. We have recently moved into a fully remote working model. In‑person team days such as workshops, training days and social events are organised for teams to spend time together on an occasional basis.
Benefits
Apart from the above, working at Decoded means you’ll get:
* 33 days leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays) and extra tenured holiday enabling team members to gain an additional day for every year you are with us (after the first 2 years) up to a maximum of 8.
* We also close the office for 2 full weeks at Christmas at Decoded's discretion which does not come out of your holiday allowance.
* Company pension contributions.
* Private health care including dental, GP and hospital cover and a gym discount to help you prioritise your wellbeing after a successful probation period.
* Travel insurance.
* Social events including themed Christmas, summer days and quarterly in‑person/virtual company get‑togethers.
* Continuous learning and development, coaching and development to allow you to reach your potential. You will be challenged with lots of responsibility and exciting projects in an environment that encourages learning, creativity, personal growth and collaboration.
*Benefits may differ slightly depending on your location of residence.
**Pro‑rated for Part time equivalent.
Additional Information
Decoded is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. All roles involving interaction with learners, or access to sensitive learner data, are subject to mandatory background clearances. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a DBS check; where the role meets the criteria for regulated activity, an Enhanced DBS check (including a barred list check) will be required prior to commencement of employment.
We also require 2 professional references that come from either of the following: Your HR department; Current or previous manager; Someone senior to you in the business.
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