Overview Our StoryOur small Canadian-born business was founded in 1978 and has become a global organization that now spans 120 locations across 20 countries. Our expansion has been rapid, but what matters most is the common belief that drives all 5,000 of our people to be a different type of real estate organization. We believe that the places in which we live, work and play have the power to make us happier and healthier, and we are united by a shared sense of purpose, to have a positive impact on people’s lives. In short, we are a global commercial real estate advisory firm with a simple aim: for real estate to play a leading role in creating vibrant buildings, cities and places that deliver long-lasting social value and economic impact. Why Work for Us:We believe that our industry is changing, and we want our business to be a melting pot of curious minds, passionate hearts and strategic intelligence. Your gender, religion and race are all highly respected, but are less important to us than your ability to step up and change the game. We provide you with a place where you can do just that, with like-minded people. Collaboration is embedded in the way we work – our people have the autonomy to collaborate on client relationships, engage teams across the business, lead operations, work collectively on projects, participate in strategy and are ultimately responsible for our growth. Our distinctive Principal-led, privately-owned model puts us in the enviable position of being able to offer every employee the opportunity to own a share of our business and inspires and allows anyone to become a Principal. This role carries voting rights, so our people have a very real say in the future direction and operation of our business. This means that we are able to attract, engage and retain the best talent from the industry. The Role As a Bid Manager at Avison Young, you will play a pivotal role in driving our growth and success by leading the development and delivery of winning Tier 1 and 2 bids and proposals. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure that our proposals are strategically aligned, compelling, and tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients. In this role, you will work on a variety of high-profile pursuits, both in the public and private sectors, across all business groups at Avison Young, gaining exposure to working with senior leaders to drive successful outcomes and achieve strategic objectives. This maternity cover role is critical in maintaining continuity across our strategic bids and supporting key commercial pursuits over the next 12 months. Responsibilities In this role, the successful candidate will:Bid & Proposal Management: Lead the end‑to‑end development of high‑quality Tier 1 and Tier 2 bids and proposals — from opportunity identification through to final submission — ensuring clarity, consistency, strategic alignment, and adherence to deadlines and quality standards.Strategy & Pipeline Development: Work closely with Client Development, the wider Client Solutions team, and Business Groups to develop winning bid strategies that differentiate Avison Young in the marketplace, while establishing and maintaining a clear bid pipeline. This includes identifying target contracts and renewal opportunities, proactively engaging with Business Groups to understand upcoming needs, anticipating opportunities, and developing positioning strategies to secure new and renewed contracts.Content Management: Work closely with Business Services and Content Management teams to continuously contribute to a repository of best-in-class bid content, including methodologies, case studies, and other relevant materials, to support the development of compelling proposals for future bids and self-serve purposes.Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including senior leadership, to gather input, and ensure alignment on bid strategies and messaging.Feedback and Performance Analysis: Conduct post-bid reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of bid strategies and identify opportunities for improvement, sharing insights and best practices across the organisation.Continuous Improvement & Bid Training: Proactively identify opportunities to streamline and enhance the bid management process - including best‑practice tools and self‑serve infrastructure - and contribute to the development and delivery of training materials, workshops, and ongoing guidance to help fee‑earning teams build capability and improve success rates on self‑serve pursuits.Coaching and Preparation for Client Pitches: Coach and prepare teams for client pitches, including conducting rehearsals to ensure teams are ready and prepared to deliver compelling presentations and responses during client engagements. Qualifications At least 5 years proven experience in bid management or proposal development within the professional services sector, with a track record of successfully securing new business.Background in the Public and Private Sector bidding environment.Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, manage deadlines, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail and the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and persuasively.Strategic mindset, with the ability to think analytically, anticipate client needs, and develop compelling value propositions.Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, bid management, and CRM software/tools.Excellent influencing, strong communication, and facilitation skills to be credible and challenge management and senior directors effectively.Proactive with a positive can-do approach.Self-starter able to work effectively as a member of a team.Ability to form networks with partners and staff at all levels.Emotional intelligence and an ability to flex style to the situation. Equal Opportunities At Avison Young, we’ve always put people at the heart of what we do.
In the last few years, we’ve increased the diversity at our board, leadership and Principal levels. Avison Young stands out for our commitment to empowering women. In addition to increasing the number of women on our board and in our leadership ranks, our internal Women’s Network of more than 500 members come together for networking and learning, and advise the business on strategies for promoting access, opportunity and inclusion in our industry.
Our global DEI steering committee shapes our strategy to continue to increase industry access for underrepresented groups and accelerating initiatives led by our employee resource groups, including our Women’s Network, Black Professionals and LGBTQ+ groups. In addition to leading global initiatives, the steering committee’s work examines our policies and practices, creating accountability for results and communicating progress to our executive leadership, our clients and our communities.
Our culture is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion, and well-being. We are committed to building an inclusive culture that:empowers all our employees to thrive,reflects all backgrounds and talents,allows individuals to be successful and feel a sense of belonging,and foster a workplace that is supported, inclusive and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.Avison Young is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all its employees and job applicants equitably. This includes implementing deliberate strategies that advance underrepresented communities in commercial real estate careers.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to removing any obstacles to inclusion. If you need any adjustments to support your application or any part of the recruitment process, such as information in alternative formats or special requirements to access our buildings, or you are eligible under the Disability Confident Scheme please contact us at
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