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Bid Manager
Bid Development Manager – Pharma & HealthTech
Location: Northeast (Darlington & Sedgefield) | Working Arrangement: Hybrid | Salary: £47,693 – £59,693
About the Role
We are seeking a Bid Development Manager to support the development of a pipeline of public-funded collaborative R&D and innovation projects in the Pharma and HealthTech sectors, spanning the entire process from initial concept to submission and contracting.
This is a highly visible role at the nexus of science, innovation, and business development. You’ll collaborate with technical teams, industry partners, funding bodies, and external stakeholders to transform innovative ideas into successful funding proposals, driving growth and organisational capability.
While bid writing forms a critical part of the role, this goes far beyond mere proposal formulation. Key responsibilities include network building, funding opportunity identification, consortium development, stakeholder coordination, and actively shaping future innovation programmes from concept through delivery.
Responsibilities
Opportunity Identification & Network Building
- Identify funding opportunities across programmes such as Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, and other collaborative funding schemes
- Build and maintain strong relationships with industry, academic, healthcare, and innovation partners
- Attend conferences, networking events, and brokerage activities to uncover emergent opportunities and generate leads
- Develop a deep understanding of funding landscapes, emerging technologies, and Pharma/HealthTech market trends
Bid & Proposal Development
- Lead the development of collaborative R&D proposals from concept through submission
- Coordinate technical, commercial, and strategic inputs from stakeholders across the organisation
- Oversee proposal writing, internal reviews, and final submissions to ensure compliance, accuracy, and alignment with business strategy
- Ensure bids are compelling, costed transparently, and free of commercial, technical, or reputational risks
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Consortium Development & Stakeholder Management
- Build and coordinate multi-partner consortia, aligning on innovative project concepts
- Facilitate cross-partner discussions to foster innovative ideas and project coherence
- Influence and motivate stakeholders to achieve effective proposal contributions
- Collaborate closely with technical teams, legal, finance, project management, strategy, and business development teams to deliver successful submissions
Pipeline Management & Commercial Delivery
- Manage the funding opportunity pipeline via CRM systems, ensuring accurate records and reporting
- Contribute towards agreed targets for business development and external funding
- Work with legal teams during contracting phases
- Transition awarded projects smoothly into execution by ensuring alignment with project delivery teams
Continuous Improvement
- Capture lessons learned from submitted and awarded projects
- Support the development of future funding strategies and bid pipelines
- Share best practices across teams and contribute to process refinement
Key Requirements
You are a commercially astute professional with a passion for innovation and exceptional stakeholder engagement skills.
Essential Qualifications
- Degree in a scientific or business-related discipline with industrial experience in Pharma, HealthTech, MedTech, Life Sciences, or healthcare-related sectors
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects/priorities simultaneously
Highly Desirable
- Previous experience in bid development, proposal management, grant funding, or business development
- Hands-on involvement in collaborative R&D or consortium-based funding applications
- Familiarity with InnovateUK, Horizon Europe or similar funding programmes
- Experience within research, innovation, or technology environments
- Proven technical/scientific writing skills
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We are particularly enthusiastic about candidates who combine a technical/scientific foundation with strong business acumen. However, we also actively encourage applications from individuals who have developed cross-functional bid/management expertise within Pharma/HealthTech domains.
Why Join?
- Play a critical role in shaping future innovation programmes within Pharma and HealthTech
- Build diverse partnerships with leading businesses, universities, healthcare organisations, and funding bodies
- Engage in impact-driven projects that accelerate the pathway to market for new technologies and therapies
- Operate within a collaborative and supportive team environment
- Benefit from a competitive remuneration package (£47,693 – £59,693)
Location & Working Pattern
- Hybrid working arrangement
- Aligned primarily with Darlington and Sedgefield sites
- Initial on-site presence during onboarding to support relationship building
- Hours:
- Monday–Thursday: 08:30 – 17:00
- Friday: 08:30 – 16:00
The Opportunity
This role offers an exciting challenge for someone who excels at blending science, strategy, relationship-building, and commercial thinking. You’ll help case ground-breaking innovation projects, influence significant funding opportunities, and play a pivotal role in mobilising the right partnerships to deliver meaningful impact in the Pharma and HealthTech sectors.
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