Business Development and Bid Manager

Service: Business Development Contract: Permanent Salary: £38,793 to £42,824 FTE per annum pro-rata for part time Solent Mind Band F. In line with organisational policy, new appointments will ordinarily be made at the starting salary point of the advertised grade. Hours: 22.5 - 30 hours per week with candidates able to specify their preference Location: Hybrid working from home and Southampton with travel to other service locations Interview Date: Friday 06 November 2026 Closing Date: Sunday 25 October 2026 (11.59pm) About the role As Business Development and Bid Manager, you will join a compassionate but highly driven team and lead the development of new income, strategic partnerships and service proposals that enable Solent Mind to respond to the mental health needs of our communities. Working alongside the Senior Leadership Team, operational teams, finance colleagues and external partners, you will manage the tender lifecycle from opportunity identification through to contract award. You will develop viable service models and budgets, write and quality-assure compelling submissions, maintain the bid and contract pipeline, and support the handover of successful awards into mobilisation and delivery. About you You will bring at least three years' experience in bid, tender or proposal management, including writing and submitting successful tenders and managing multiple deadlines. You will be an exceptional writer and editor with strong project management, stakeholder and commercial skills, able to interpret complex procurement and contractual documents and turn them into clear plans and persuasive proposals. You will be confident developing sustainable delivery models and budgets, using Microsoft Office and technology to support bid development, and working collaboratively across teams and partner organisations. Knowledge of the mental health or voluntary sector, public procurement, social value and partnership or consortium bids would be an advantage. About us Solent Mind is the largest mental health charity in Hampshire. It is part of a network of 125 local Minds in England and Wales, which are independent charities affiliated to Mind. Solent Mind has its own board of trustees and raises its own funds to deliver its services, support and training tailored to the needs of people living in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight. Solent Mind has a gold award for Workplace Wellbeing Index 2022/2023 and has signed up to be a Mindful Employer. For further details on this role please email:

• Ian Stiff, Chief Operating Officer: istiff@solentmind.org.uk
• Solent Mind Talent Acquisition team careers@solentmind.org.uk or 023 8201 1718 NOTE TO APPLICANTS - You will be asked about gaps in your employment at interview and you will need to provide proof of your right to work in the UK before you start your employment. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor this role as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Any offer for this role will be subject to receiving your references. We welcome people from all the communities we work in to apply for a role within Solent Mind, especially those with experience of mental health problems. Offers are made based on merit. Please submit your application as early as possible, as we may close this advert before the advertised closing date.