The purpose of this role is to secure high quality executive input and support for the political engagement strategies and partnership workings, linked to preparing identified tender opportunities that will enhance and secure future business.

Strategic/Political Partnership Engagement:

• Proactively and independently forge, maintain and manage meaningful relationships with political stakeholders (MSPs, MPs, office staff of political stakeholders and Scottish/UK Parliament staff).
• Responsible for ensuring the company is positively and accurately represented, with a strong customer focus.
• Coordinate, manage and take forward discrete parliamentary engagement projects in alignment with the Government and Parliamentary Engagement Strategy.
• Work flexibly and collaboratively with internal colleagues across all elements of the business at all levels, including the Managing Director, to provide judicious support for parliamentary engagement.
• Develop a sound understanding of the views of political stakeholders, by closely and effectively monitoring and analysing relevant political stakeholder activity. 
• Lead on drafting responses to requests from political stakeholders - liaising independently with senior management and colleagues across the business to collate information. 
• Making judgements on relevant information to include, taking into account current political sensitivities and discussing issues which may affect the content of the response with senior colleagues. 
• Lead on preparing submissions to Scottish/UK Parliamentary Committees, including sourcing and selecting relevant information, key messaging, gathering insight, data and research material.
• Lead on managing external engagement with Scottish Parliament Cross Party Groups (CPGs), proactively and independently seeking out all opportunities to contribute positively to CPGs relevant to service delivery. 
• Attend CPGs and support colleagues at these meetings by providing advice on lines to take, key contacts to engage with and taking forward information requests/issues raised at CPGs. 
• Undertake research into issues in order to contribute to high quality, accurate briefing material for senior management to attend Scottish Parliamentary Committees and other high-level meetings with political stakeholders. 
• Manage and maintain corporate records and files relating to parliamentary engagement, ensuring they are organised and easily accessible for other colleagues in the business.
• Support and implement the delivery of parliamentary engagement plans going forward.

Bid Writing;

• Develop a detailed knowledge base of the company business to support the preparation of bids.
• Develop effective partnership relationships which may benefit the company’s future growth,both in current areas of expertise and areas not yet considered.
• Check tender portals systems and emails on a daily basis and identify any contracts which may be of interest to the company, either to bid or for market intelligence.
• Build and ensure competences in accessing and completing online tenders using multiple tender portals.
• Plan the key stages of individual tender projects and allocate to all appropriate areas of the company, correct timelines with follow up, to ensure deadlines are met at all times.
• Supply Directors and managers with relevant research and market intelligence information and give guidance with relevant strategy and pricing proposals.
• Contribute at meetings involving Directors and management to provide detailed knowledge of the requirements of each tender.
• Proactively manage tender opportunities (identification through to tender submission) and competently write technical and commercial tenders, displaying creative flair in tender preparation.
• Think laterally and contribute to pertinent ideas for developing tender opportunities that will give advantages to the company and portray the company’s strengths over its competitors.
• Build internal and external relationships with individuals associated with the bid process to ensure quality bids are prepared and submitted on time in line with buyer deadlines.