Frontline services senior manager jobs in Edinburgh

Senior Bid & Proposal Manager

Location: London

Salary: £52,000 - £56,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week)

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'. We achieve this in two ways. First we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Job Description

As Senior Bids and Proposals Manager, you will lead a high-performing team responsible for securing public sector contracts and grant funding that enable Catch22 to deliver life-changing services. Your leadership will help retain vital services, win new opportunities, and drive sustainable growth and social impact.

As part of the Business Development leadership team, you will inspire excellence across our bidding function, building capability, driving continuous improvement, and supporting your team to develop winning bids and proposals that deliver Catch22's mission.

Your responsibilities will include: 

· Overseeing Catch22's bidding function, securing public sector contracts and grant funding that sustain and grow our services.

· Leading and developing Bid & Proposal Managers, driving excellence, accountability and continuous improvement.

· Managing bid resourcing, ensuring the right opportunities receive the right support at the right time.

· Embedding robust quality, compliance and governance across all bids and proposals.

· Providing commercial oversight of bids, ensuring competitive pricing, sound financial models and effective risk management.

· Acting as Bid Director on key strategic opportunities, shaping winning approaches and securing successful outcomes.

· Driving team performance against quality and growth targets, using insight and learning to continuously improve results.

· Owning and improve bid processes, tools and use of technology to increase efficiency, consistency and effectiveness.

· Building strong internal relationships and support development of external partnerships that strengthen our bids and market position.

Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced team leader who combines high expectations with a supportive, inclusive culture where people can thrive. You will bring:

· Recent experience managing a team within a business development or income generation environment.

· At least three years' end-to-end bid management experience, with a track record securing large-scale (>£1-million) public sector contracts and grant funding.

· Strong understanding of public sector procurement, commissioning processes and the grant funding landscape.

· Strong commercial acumen, with experience in service design, financial and volumes modelling, and translating operational expertise into competitive, deliverable solutions.

· Strong project management skills, supported by a degree or project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2), or equivalent professional experience.

· Strong bid governance and quality assurance experience, with the ability to develop, review and improve high-scoring responses against specifications and evaluation criteria.

· Experience managing complex stakeholder environments, including securing internal senior buy-in and developing external partnerships that strengthen bid outcomes.

· Knowledge of one or more of Catch22's core service areas.

· Willingness to travel UK-wide, as required.

Additional Information

Flexibility: Fully remote role (UK based), or with access to our central London office
Application Deadline:  Wednesday 26th August 2026
Interviews: Thursday 10th and Friday 11th September

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

We aim to review applications as quickly as possible. However, due to the volume of interest we receive, we may not be able to contact all applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful this time.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Catch22, please do not hesitate to apply. 

Salary: £40,000 per annum
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
Start Date: September 2026

About The Skill Mill

The Skill Mill is a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for young people with criminal convictions. Through paid work in environmental projects, horticulture and grounds maintenance, we help young people develop skills, confidence and positive futures while creating benefits for local communities and the environment.

Our programmes bring together Supervisors, Youth Justice Services, employers, Pathways Advisors and local partners to support young people into sustainable education, training and employment.

The Role

This is an opportunity to help shape and strengthen the delivery of The Skill Mill across the South.

As Regional Operations Manager, you will ensure young people receive a high-quality and consistent experience throughout their time with The Skill Mill. Working closely with Supervisors, Youth Justice Services, Pathways Advisors and the Commercial Sales Manager, you will oversee day-to-day operations, support programme delivery and ensure projects run safely, effectively and to a high standard.

You will play a key role in creating the conditions for young people to succeed by supporting frontline teams, building strong partnerships and ensuring programmes deliver positive outcomes for the young people and communities we serve.

What You'll Do

Support High-Quality Programme Delivery By:

• Managing the day-to-day operation of The Skill Mill programmes across the South.
• Supporting Supervisors to deliver safe, effective and impactful work programmes.
• Monitoring programme activity and resolving operational challenges.
• Ensuring compliance with organisational policies, procedures and health and safety requirements.
• Maintaining high standards of delivery across all sites and projects.

Build Strong Partnerships By:

• Working closely with Youth Justice Services, Pathways Advisors and local partners.
• Supporting collaboration between operational teams and commercial projects.
• Acting as a key point of contact for stakeholders across the region.
• Representing The Skill Mill at partnership meetings and local events.
• Strengthening relationships that create opportunities for young people.

Monitor Performance and Impact By:

• Tracking programme delivery and performance against agreed targets.
• Monitoring progress towards social impact and employment outcomes.
• Preparing reports and updates for the Senior Management Team.
• Supporting the development of systems that measure quality, efficiency and impact.
• Using data and feedback to improve programme performance.

Support and Develop Teams By:

• Providing guidance, support and mentoring to Supervisors.
• Identifying training and development opportunities.
• Promoting a positive, collaborative and accountable culture.
• Supporting teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for young people.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who can bring people together, support high-quality delivery and help create opportunities for young people to thrive.

You'll have:

• Experience in operational, service or project management.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience coordinating multiple workstreams, teams or projects.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and working with vulnerable or disadvantaged young people.
• Strong IT and reporting skills.
• A commitment to The Skill Mill's mission and values.

Desirable:

• Experience in social enterprises, youth justice, employability or community-based services.
• Experience managing commercial contracts or operational delivery programmes.
• Understanding of outcomes-based commissioning.
• Health and Safety qualification or relevant practical experience.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to help shape services that improve outcomes for young people.
• A supportive and committed leadership team.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• The chance to contribute to a growing social enterprise with a proven track record of creating social and environmental impact.

Why Join The Skill Mill?

Every day, you'll help ensure young people have access to meaningful employment, skills development and progression opportunities. By supporting the teams that work directly with young people, you'll play an important role in helping them build brighter futures while creating positive change in local communities.

Strategic Partnerships Manager

Location: London

Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week)

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'. We achieve this in two ways. First we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Job Description

As Strategic Partnerships Manager, you will help shape Catch22's future growth by building influential relationships with commissioners, funders and strategic partners. You will lead our approach to stakeholder engagement, ensuring market intelligence, trusted relationships and early opportunity insight are translated into sustainable growth opportunities.

Working closely with senior leaders, you will raise Catch22's profile across key markets, influence future services and funding opportunities, and play a pivotal role in securing the partnerships that enable us to deliver lasting impact for people and communities.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering a structured, agile stakeholder engagement strategy and delivery plan for Catch22.
• Overseeing Catch22's commissioner and funder engagement activity, coordinating and influencing engagement across senior colleagues to ensure activity is strategic, aligned and supports sustainable growth.
• Building and managing senior relationships across local government, strategic authorities, trusts, foundations and lottery funders, creating opportunities to understand, anticipate and respond to future commissioning and funding priorities.
• Leading Catch22's place-based engagement approach, coordinating local engagement activity and strengthening relationships across priority markets and emerging devolved structures.
• Generating and sharing commissioner, funder and market intelligence, acting as a trusted advisor to operational and business development leaders and informing growth priorities, service development and pipeline decisions.
• Owning and continuously improving stakeholder engagement processes, systems and reporting, effectively using data and technology, while ensuring effective governance, compliance and risk management.

Qualifications

We are looking for a credible and thoughtful relationship-builder who earns trust, navigates complexity with sound judgement and responds confidently and pragmatically to emerging opportunities and challenges.

You will bring to the role:

· A strong track record of building influential relationships with commissioners, funders, government departments, trusts, foundations, strategic partners and other senior stakeholders.

· Experience developing and delivering stakeholder engagement strategies that have supported organisational growth and strengthened market position.

· Exceptional influencing, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with credibility at executive, political and system-leader level, and experience aligning senior colleagues around a strategic approach to stakeholder engagement.

· Strong understanding of public sector commissioning, procurement and grant funding, including local government, integrated care systems and the evolving devolution landscape.

· Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to influence diverse audiences and translate complex information into clear, compelling messages.

· Experience of stakeholder mapping, engagement planning and measuring relationship effectiveness.

· Digitally confident and data-driven, with experience using CRM systems and market intelligence tools to inform decision-making.

· Willingness to travel nationally, as required.

Additional Information

Flexibility: Fully remote role (UK based), or with access to our central London office
Application Deadline:  Wednesday 26th August 2026
Interviews: Thursday 10th and Friday 11th September

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

We aim to review applications as quickly as possible. However, due to the volume of interest we receive, we may not be able to contact all applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful this time.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Catch22, please do not hesitate to apply.