The Role
Lead and own end-to-end bid and new business function for NatCen: manage and improve bid processes, lead high-value proposals, produce bid playbook and templates, embed automation/AI where useful, align senior stakeholders, and drive stronger messaging to win public-sector research contracts.
Summary Generated by Built In
Head of Bids & New Business
Competitive salary (depending on experience)
London | Hybrid
Full time | Permanent
Role details
- Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days in the London office, 2 days from home)
- Reporting to: Director, Policy Research Centre
- Team: Lead a small New Business team (Bid Manager + Administrator)
The National Centre for Social Research are hiring a senior bid leader to take ownership of their new business and bidding function.
You’ll bring structure, pace and consistently high standards to how NatCen shape opportunities and deliver bids, working closely with Directors and research leaders.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the bid function end-to-end — set the standard, shape how we work, and make sure bids are planned, written and submitted with confidence and consistency.
- Lead high-stakes bids — steer complex, high-value submissions, bring clarity to the story, and apply rigorous quality checks before anything goes out of the door.
- Bring pace and accountability — run kick-offs and check-ins, lock timelines, unblock teams and keep everyone aligned, so bids don’t drift.
- Improve how NatCen shows up to commissioners — strengthen messaging, positioning and ‘why us’ so bids read clearly and reflect NatCen’s credibility.
- Build a repeatable ‘bid playbook’ — templates, strong examples, and a shared approach so teams can produce high-quality bids.
- Drive smarter ways of working — embed learning from outcomes, improve turnaround time and consistency, and introduce AI/automation where it genuinely reduces manual effort and raises quality.
- Strengthen collaboration — partner closely with Directors and Research Directors and help shape partnerships that make bids stronger and more competitive.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Proven track record of winning competitive public‑sector bids/tenders and leading proposal writing.
- Good understanding of the research/policy commissioning landscape and what strong bids look like.
- Confident, collaborative style, able to influence senior stakeholders and hold high standards.
- Comfortable owning the function (not just facilitating) and improving processes that teams will actually use.
- A research background is helpful (social research ideal), but not essential if you’ve led bids in a similar environment.
- If you’re a bid leader who enjoys improving quality, strengthening ways of working and helping teams win the right work, we’d love to hear from you.
Job Benefits
As well as a competitive salary, performance related bonus structure and excellent working environment (including a home/office hybrid working environment), you will be working for the largest independent social research organisation in the UK. We are proud of the benefits we offer our employees which include:
- 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) rising to 30 days after 3 years of service.
- Flexible working
- Generous company pension scheme
- Life insurance and health cash plan
- Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan
Career development, professional subscriptions support and mentoring support from industry-leading experts
About
At The National Centre for Social Research we believe that social research has the power to make life better. By really understanding the complexity of people’s lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping services that can make a difference to everyone. And as an independent, not-for-profit organisation we’re able to focus our time and energy on meeting our clients’ needs and delivering social research that works for society.
Skills Required
- Proven track record of winning competitive public-sector bids/tenders and leading proposal writing.
- Good understanding of the research and policy commissioning landscape and what strong bids look like.
- Experience leading bid teams and managing end-to-end bid processes (planning, writing, quality checks, submission).
- Able to influence senior stakeholders, maintain high standards, and drive accountability and pace.
- Comfortable owning the bid function and improving processes teams will actually use.
- Research background (social research helpful)
- Experience introducing AI/automation or smarter ways of working to reduce manual effort and improve quality.
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The Company
What We Do
The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the UK's largest independent social research organisation. It aims to improve society by conducting rigorous research and ensuring public voices shape decisions and services.
