We are currently looking for a Business Development Assistant to form a key part of a small support team to provide business development support to a busy research team. Our team of 70+ researchers is based across four offices in Birmingham, London, Leeds and Brussels.

Our team provides research and evaluation work for a range of clients including charities and voluntary sector organisations, UK Government departments, the European Commission and international governments and NGOs. Our research covers a range of policy areas; education, employment, children, young people and families, health and wellbeing.

The BD Assistant will support the team to win new work from existing and new clients. Working with the team’s researchers, experts and consultants, and our administrators you will coordinate and administer the production and submission of bids and proposals. Every week we submit several bids and support is needed to ensure our ongoing growth and success.

Your business development tasks will include supporting with tender searching activity, summarising opportunities when they arrive, and weighing up go/no go factors. You will be collating content for proposals such as company information, CVs and track records as well as creating presentations and diagrams/charts/tables. You will be responsible for completing the administrative and legal requirements of bidding procedures. The role involves searching for and securing suitable partners and experts, negotiating fees and obtaining letters of intent. You will be formatting our MS Word proposals to a professional standard, following company or client branding guidelines. You will liaise with clients, partners and stakeholders to ensure excellent relationships are maintained. You will be using client online portals to submit clarification questions and submit bids. Background research into competitors, clients or new market areas will be part of your work.

This is a full time position however we would consider someone on a part time basis. The role can be based in any of our three UK offices.

Role Requirements

You must be educated to degree level or have equivalent years of relevant work experience where you will have demonstrated intermediate Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint skills and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Your work experience would ideally be relevant within professional services, consultancy or research sector where you will have provided valuable support to bid coordination and business development activities.

You will be required to demonstrate the ability to format large, complex Word documents with annexes following corporate and client templates with a high degree of accuracy and eye for detail. You will also be required to learn how to use new systems such as online project management software and client procurement portals, working on your own initiative and as part of a team based across four office locations.

Excellent co-ordination and organisational and administrative skills to collect and maintain proposal files and paperwork, to meet multiple deadlines and prioritise work in a demanding environment is important.

A high standard of written and spoken English as well as an excellent telephone manner.

Please apply with your CV and covering letter by 5.00pm, Monday 25th November 2019