About the role
Job Title: Senior Proposals Writer
Location: Basingstoke (Hybrid Working)
Company: Balfour Beatty – Living Places
Shape the Future of Major Highways & Civils Infrastructure
At Balfour Beatty Living Places, we deliver and maintain some of the UK’s most critical highways and local authority infrastructure frameworks. We are now seeking an experienced Senior Bid Writer to take a leadership role in developing compelling, high-value submissions for large, complex civils and highways opportunities valued at from £100m to £1b+
This is not an entry-level writing role
The successful candidate will be a work-winning professional who understands the intricacies of bidding into Local Authorities, strategic highways frameworks, and regulated public sector procurement environments.
What you'll be doing
Key Responsibilities
As the Senior Proposals Writer you will:
- Lead the development of winning value propositions for major highways and civils frameworks
- Shape and articulate compelling win themes tailored to Local Authority clients
- Lead answer planning sessions and review panels at senior level
- Ensure submissions align precisely with evaluation criteria and scoring mechanisms
- Drive “One BB” tone of voice across all responses
- Develop structured, compliant, high-scoring responses for complex £100m+ programmes
- Coach operational and technical teams on best practice bid writing
- Manage evidence, case studies, and knowledge systems
- Support submission graphics, document production and final upload
You will work closely with the Bid Director, Work Winning Director, Estimating and Commercial teams, and subject matter experts across operational civils and highways delivery.
Who we're looking for
This role requires a highly experienced candidate with demonstrable success at senior bid level.
Essential Experience:
- Significant experience writing and managing proposals in civils and highways infrastructure
- Proven track record bidding into Local Authorities
- Experience leading submissions for large, complex programmes (£100m+)
- Deep understanding of public sector procurement processes and evaluation models
- Experience running planning sessions, red reviews, and final submission sign-off
- Ability to translate operational delivery into compelling, differentiated narrative
- Strong stakeholder management across technical, commercial and operational teams
Desirable:
- APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification
- Degree in English, journalism, or professional writing background
- Advanced MS Word and document production expertise
Why This Role Matters
Our highways and civils frameworks support communities, connect regions, and maintain critical infrastructure across the UK. The work-winning team plays a direct role in securing long-term Local Authority partnerships worth hundreds of millions.
This is an opportunity to:
- Operate at a senior, strategic level
- Influence major public infrastructure awards
- Be part of a high-performing management-level work winning team
- Work in a hybrid structure supporting flexibility and collaboration
Professional and personal development
The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career.
We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities.
We're proud of the Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it’s sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified, our 70:20:10* approach to development means we have a learning approach that suits everyone.
- 70% learning on the job, 20% learning from those around you, and 10% formal training courses and learning events.
For further information about Balfour Beatty please go to www.balfourbeatty.com/careers- You can also check out further job opportunities in the careers section
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Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.
Why join us?
As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…
About us
Balfour Beatty Living Places works in long-term partnerships with local authorities to create great places to live, work and play. We actively engage with local people to understand the needs of the communities we work in and shape the places where local economies can thrive and grow. As a leader in sustainable working, diversity, and social value, we use our expertise to bring real, positive change for our customers.
Diversity and inclusion
At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion
To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [email protected]
Job Reference: BBUK17810
