Bid Writing Specialist

Do you want to make a difference to the Forest of Dean community and help us to build upon recent funding success?

The Forest of Dean is a special place. We are looking for a dynamic Bid Writer to help us improve it, making it an even better place to live, learn, do business and enjoy. The Forest of Dean District Council has an ambitious Council Plan with a specific focus on sustainable economy, thriving communities and decarbonisation & nature recovery.

About the role

The Bid Writing Specialist role will help the Council identify opportunities and initiate bids for funding. The successful candidate will assist the Council to deliver additional services and initiatives over and above those funded by its budget.

This role will provide first review and challenge of proposals raised internally by officers across Publica, guiding the development of viable options through to submission. Funding bids could relate to any of the Council's priorities listed above. An essential part of the role will be to liaise with various stakeholders including: Gloucestershire County Council, Town & Parish Councils, Forest Growth Hub, Forest Economic Partnership, local schools, colleges & university.

Key responsibilities

• Identify potential funding calls and opportunities for Forest of Dean District Council that are relevant to the Council's Council Plan and beyond.
• To draft, develop and lead written full applications for the Regeneration Manager and Executive Leadership Team to review.
• Review, interpret and understand funding call requirements and match the capabilities of the Council and its partners to the calls. Capture key call requirements and identify what the Council and its partners can do to meet the requirements. Provide strategic advice, guidance and summaries to the Regeneration Manager and Executive Leadership Team for bid-no-bid decision process.
• Work with the Regeneration Manager to establish and lead bid teams to support funding proposals. Prepare written drafts for bid teams to review, ensuring delivery of bid to meet deadlines, ensuring appropriate sign-off from all partners.
• Record and report progress on all bid activity following relevant legislation, prescribed policy, procedures and guidelines procedures and processes.
• Prepare strategic and progress reports for the Council's Executive Leadership Team.
• Continuous improvement of Council procedures and processes for successful bid winning and writing.

You will need

• Degree level qualification in your area of expertise, or relevant professional experience of five years
• Ability to work independently under pressure and within tight deadlines
• Ability to work with others to deliver key outcomes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Competent in using a range of technology and software packages, including Microsoft 365 and Teams

Special Conditions

• Ability to travel
• BPSS
• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament

For more information about this role please see the Job Description.

What can we do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of 5% of your earnings
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling.
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
• Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
• Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary

To apply for this position please click on "apply now" within this page to complete an application form and supporting statement together with your CV. Please tell us about your skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and how they meet the criteria listed above and in the job description/person specification. It's important that we're a good fit for each other, so let us know what's important to you and why you want to work for Publica Group Ltd. Your CV will not be available to the hiring manager unless you are shortlisted for interview to assist with our non-biased screening process so please ensure you complete the application form in full.

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years' employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.