Solutions Architect

Job OverviewReporting to the Bid Excellence Director, the Solutions Architect will deliver bidding excellence to help secure commercial and public sector opportunities across a broad range of projects and services.

You will provide specialist solutions architecture, operating as a specialist bid writer and individual contributor, owning and co-ordinating the design and articulation of compelling, innovative, and effective solutions aligned to our customers' requirements.

The role will focus on designing and articulating solutions for identified specialist contract requirements. Typically, these will involve complex and/or integrated services (e.g., transformative IFM, multi-activity support service contracts and contracts with multiple delivery locations).

This will include determining the best integrated service delivery model and relevant industry partners (including teaming and potential joint ventures), analysis of management and contract structures, assessment of alternative delivery methods, asset management approaches, technology requirements and alignment with other service outputs.

Working within a high-performing bid team, the role requires close working with Bid Leads, bid managers and other bid team members, as well as colleagues in finance, commercial, legal, HR, other business units and operations, including suitably qualified and experienced subject matter experts.

Main Duties

-Supporting Bid Leads and bid managers with the development and written articulation of high-quality, tailored, and integrated solutions for identified complex requirements in their solution design

-Demonstrating an understanding of relevant markets, customers and opportunities, to support the development of customer-focussed, tailored solutions and proposals

-Preparing for, engaging in and meaningfully contributing to critical bid and solution development workshops, including bid kick offs, solutions workshops, storyboarding workshops, critical reviews and bid reviews

-Working closely with operational team in the business to draw on their experience and knowledge, and reach agreement on the optimal solution design

-Contributing to the design of Target Operating Models that meet customer needs, Mitie business requirements, and align with the win strategy for each bid

-Designing and articulating overarching solution integration for complex deals which offer efficiencies and innovation, by interfacing with the sales leads, bid leads, bid managers, bid writers and SMEs contributing to the core solution build

-Creating and developing storyboards for relevant responses / sections of proposals, and ensuring that these are adhered to throughout the writing process

-Gathering and extracting information from key technical experts to develop responses that align with the agreed storyboards, writing plans, tone and style

-Working proactively with key stakeholders in the bid process to develop compelling and persuasive written responses that articulate Mitie's value proposition, the benefits of our solution and the differentiators and discriminators of our offer

-Fully understanding and capturing subtleties and nuances within our solutions to present features, benefits, added value and social value in a clear and compelling way, in line with customers' evaluation criteria

-Where working with bid writers, reviewing draft storyboards and written responses to provide constructive feedback to authors in line with the win strategy and storyboard requirements, prior to formal reviews

-Contributing to regular solution progress status meetings and updating on individual actions as required

-Describing (to internal stakeholders) the competitiveness of our solution, how the solution meets customer needs and requirements, and the winnability of the solution against Mitie's competitors

-Liaising and collaborating with bid leads to ensure that the integrated solution support is presented in a timely manner as part of the overall bid process

-Contributing to the development and production of client and internal presentations, as required

-Contributing to the risk and issues register, to ensure risks and issues are recorded with mitigations and impacts

-Supporting an effective handover to the mobilisation and transition team that explains the solution thoroughly and allows the account team to launch, run, and use the solution that has been designed

-Ensuring clear record-keeping of all bid documentation including client documents, working and final submission documents and governance documents.

At least 5 years' proven experience in a bid related role, working as part of a successful bid team (essential)

-Strong technical knowledge of IFM and multi-activity contracts and corresponding mobilisation processes (essential)

-Capable of working without supervision as an individual contributor to a high-performing matrix bid team (essential)

-Excellent time management and prioritisation skills (essential)

-A strong understanding of bid writing best practices, bid processes and methodologies (essential)

-Demonstrable experience working with senior individuals, subject matter experts and other key stakeholders to gather the information required to craft high-quality, compelling proposals (essential)

-Ability to challenge senior stakeholders where required, to drive the design of client-focussed solutions that meet client requirements (essential)

-Strong written English language skills (essential)

-Excellent attention to detail (essential)

-Ability to work well under pressure and in a deadline-driven environment (essential)

-Excellent organisational and project management skills (essential)

-Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills (essential)

-Proficient MS Office skills (essential)

-Ability to think strategically and balance multiple inputs (essential)

-Ability to solve problems and complex issues and secure the buy-in of others (essential)

-Highly developed written and presentational skills (essential)

-Strong interpersonal skills (essential)

-Strong management and resilience with ability to adapt styles to the audience and outcomes (essential)

-Certified to APMP Foundation level or above (desirable)

-Experience of bidding to both public and commercial sectors (desirable)

-Experience of bidding in at least one of the following: Facilities Management, Security, Care & Custody, Defence and Technical Services (desirable).