Bid Writer

About this role

International Facilities Services (IFS) is looking for a Bid Writer based in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal. You will write tender submissions that show IFS at its best in integrated facilities and remote-site services, including camp management, catering, housekeeping and maintenance.

The work supports IFS’s bids with mining, oil and gas and other clients across Sub-Saharan Africa.

What you’ll do

• Read tender documents and turn every requirement, scoring criterion, mandatory document and deadline into a compliance matrix.
• Plan each bid with the Commercial and Costing Manager, including the response plan and writing schedule.
• Gather input from specialists in operations, HSE, HR, procurement, finance and legal, and follow up on outstanding items.
• Design input templates, a bid calendar and checklists so contributors know what to provide and when.
• Research each client and competitor, and share insights with Business Development to support go/no-go and pricing decisions.
• Write the technical and qualitative sections of proposals, executive summaries and cover letters that answer the evaluation criteria.
• Check each submission for compliance, formatting, accuracy and consistency with the costing schedules, then coordinate final sign-off and packaging.
• Keep a reusable content library and record lessons learned after each award or loss.

What you need

• A degree or diploma in communications, journalism, business, marketing or a related field.
• 3 to 5 years of bid or proposal writing experience, preferably in facilities management, hospitality, mining services or another B2B services setting.
• Excellent business writing, editing and proofreading skills in English.
• A sound understanding of tender processes, evaluation methods and compliance matrices.
• Research skills and the ability to interpret client and competitor information.
• Advanced MS Office skills (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• Advantageous: an understanding of facilities management, catering or remote-site camp services, ideally in mining or oil and gas.
• Advantageous: working knowledge of HSE, quality and food safety standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000/HACCP.
• Advantageous: awareness of local content, ESG and socio-economic development requirements in African countries.
• Advantageous: familiarity with design or layout tools and e-procurement portals.

Is this job for you?

This job suits a skilled writer who enjoys structured, deadline-driven work. You should be comfortable asking people for information, turning technical detail into clear writing, and keeping commercial information confidential.

Tips before you apply

• Have certified copies of your degree or diploma ready, along with a current CV.
• Show your bid results in your CV, such as the types of tenders you worked on, the sectors covered and the outcomes where you can share them.
• Include one or two writing samples from past bids (with client names removed if needed) to show how you handle compliance and evaluation criteria.

”