Bids & New Business Assistant

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Shoosmiths’ Business Development team has a strong focus on client development and working with clients to ensure we provide the best possible service, in line with their business goals and aims. Our Bid and New Business team is part of our wider Relationship function as we recognise that taking a relationship-focused approach to winning new work is essential. We are not a team who responds to RFPs and ITTs, going through the motions with standard text and a generic approach. We apply a very creative, tailored approach to winning new work, whether this is for an existing client or a target relationship.

You will support a range of new business opportunities, ranging from formal tenders to informal opportunities, working with the Bid and Client Partners leading the opportunity, other Partners and key stakeholders and of course colleagues in the Bid and New Business team. Your ideas and creative flair will help set our bid / sales approach apart from other law firms, drawing on intel about the client and key knowledge about the firm and the clients we work with. You will report into the Senior Bid Manager and will work closely with the wider Relationship team. We are a non-hierarchical team and encourage as much cross-team ideas development as possible – tapping into the collective team is crucial to ensure we are making the most compelling proposition we can.

• Working as part of BD and legal adviser teams co-ordinating and carrying out day-to-day tasks to progress and convert bid / new business opportunities including:

• Co-ordinating preparation / input into scoping meetings with the client.
• Organising research / client intelligence to help the team shape ideas tailored to the clients’ business/goals.
• Helping project manage internal and external deadlines, including diary and meeting management, monitoring performance against against key dates and follow up reminders.
• Collating and co-ordinating copy.
• Document production – controlling master drafts and version control of documents, including amending, formatting and reviewing documents.
• Liaising with / briefing BD colleagues providing input on a particular opportunity.
• Carrying out portal uploads.
• Organising hard copy submission logistics.

• Monitoring email alert services for appropriate bid opportunities to consider.
• Maintaining Bid Record.
• Identifying and maintaining precedent type material.
• Working with BD colleagues to ensure case studies are grouped and banked.
• Assisting with BD project work as required.

• Confident, collaborative approach to working with other staff in the Firm (Legal Advisers, PAs, other directorates).
• Highly personable – with an ability to communicate concisely and courteously with the Firm.
• Communication skills, particularly drafting and editing accurate copy.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm to understand how the firm can provide excellent client experience.
• Highly organised and comfortable working to deadlines in a pressurised environment without compromising quality.
• Self starter able to manage and prioritise own workload.
• Excellent knowledge / comfort with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel.
• Team worker, collaborating with colleagues in a geographically spread national business development team.
• Personal credibility and confidence to be able to convince partners of the best course of action.
• Professional services experience desirable, or experience in a marketing / business development context.
• Relevant qualification

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.