Bid Manager

Bates Smart is an award-winning design studio, and design is at the heart of everything we do, both on our projects and within our marketing and communications material. Our Business Development & Marketing Team includes talented people from a variety of professional backgrounds such as Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Architecture, Communications, and Interior Design. The team work collaboratively from Sydney and Melbourne, to support the broader national studio.

We are looking for an experienced candidate to join the team in a Bid Manager role within our Sydney studio. This is a position suitable for someone with 7+ years of similar experience preferably within the architecture / property industry. The role is for a pro-active, creative, and collaborative team member who can manage multiple bids at one time and actively engage with the Leadership Team and the external market.

Role Overview

The Bid Manager role sits within the Business Development and Marketing (BDM) team in Sydney. This team works in close collaboration with the Melbourne BDM team, and both teams are overseen by the BDM Director who is based in Melbourne. These teams operate at a local and national level and oversee the requirements of the Brisbane studio.

Primary focus is to lead the bids and submissions process for architecture and interior design with the assistance of a dedicated Bid Coordinator and support from the wider BDM team as required. This includes the management and coordination of resources, programmes, data and collateral. The Bid Manager works in close collaboration with the Directors, Studio Directors, Practice Management and the Communications Manager.

The role also requires involvement and contribution to ongoing Business Development and Marketing. Working with both the BDM Director and Communications Manager with initiatives and strategy relating to BD and marketing. There is a requirement to contribute and assist with marketing requirements such as research and writing/editing.

Responsibilities

Bids and Submissions

• Develop bid plans for key opportunities in collaboration with leadership group.
• Work alongside Directors and Studio Directors to develop bid strategies.
• Overview of all architecture and Interior Design bids in potential and committed.
• Team resourcing – understanding capacity within the team and assigning bids/tasks, managing program and deadlines.
• Coordinating and directing output of the submissions team and assisting Bid Coordinator as required.
• Development of tailored written content specifically for each individual bid.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for writing and produce written text and other content as required.
• Assist in drafting fees, coordinating with Directors.
• Coordinate with Practice Director and Studio Directors in regards to teams to be included in submissions.
• Maintain record of all bids and their current status within salesforce.
• Track performance of proposals (conversion, client briefs).
• Undertake project completion surveys with clients.
• Graphic Design aligned to the Bates Smart brand and tone, including: Graphic design of marketing collateral; and assist with content for internal and external communications including Newsletters, Journal magazine, Insite, tailored client presentations and social media content

Business Development

• Collaborate with Sydney Leadership Team and BDM Director to identify and track key market opportunities.
• Contribute to strategy for positioning and inclusion on tender lists and bid teams.
• Undertake appropriate market research relevant to upcoming submissions, existing sectors and new growth sectors.

Marketing and Communications

• Collaborate with BDM Director and Communications Lead to contribute to broader marketing initiatives such as the new brand evolution, events, awards, and media.
• Assist with award submissions, photography when feasible.
• Assist with writing, editing and research for collateral, media releases, journal and white papers.

Essential Skills and Experience

We look forward to welcoming someone with:

• Strong communication and collaboration skills across all levels of the BDM team and the full organisation, including with senior leadership
• Detail oriented, strong time management and multi-tasking skills
• Demonstrated experience in writing, ideally in the architecture or property industries.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Indesign
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Able to prioritise, plan and juggle competing deadlines

To Apply

Please submit your resume (less than 10MB) to

with the following reference in the subject line – SY/BID-M