I didn’t plan to work in bids, but here I am
We caught up with Jess Philips, Bid Coordinator at Archus, to hear about her career journey into a more specialised role, and with her manager, Lucy, Bid Manager, to understand how the right support, trust and opportunity helped make that transition possible.
At Archus, we put people at the heart of what we do, and that includes how we support learning and development. That means giving people real responsibility early, backing them to take ownership, and supporting them to grow in role rather than waiting for the next one.
Making the transition
When did you first start thinking about moving into a bid‑focused role?
I didn’t originally set out to move into a bid-focused role, but I kept finding myself pulled towards it. The more I supported on bids, the more I enjoyed the coordination side, managing timelines, keeping everything on track, and working closely with the team to bring everything together. I also liked the pace of it and the challenge of balancing multiple deadlines.
Over time, it became clear that this was the part of my role I was most drawn to, and where I wanted to develop further. What made the biggest difference during that transition was Lucy’s support. She trusted me to take on real responsibility early on, while always being there to sense-check decisions when I needed it. That balance gave me the confidence to step up quickly without feeling like I was on my own.
How has your confidence changed since stepping into your new role?
Since moving into the role, my confidence has grown naturally through experience, especially by taking ownership of bids and seeing them through from start to finish. ’ve also realised that I enjoy working under pressure and bringing structure to what can be quite a fast-moving process. Coordinating multiple deadlines and keeping people aligned really plays to my strengths.
What are you enjoying most about your role as a Bid Coordinator now?
What I enjoy most now is being at the centre of the bid process. I can plan ahead, spot potential issues early, and support colleagues so they can focus on their specialist input. It’s rewarding to know that the work I’m doing makes a visible difference, helping bids run more smoothly and strengthening the final submission.
Creating space to grow
From your perspective, how important is it to create space for people to try new things, learn, and build confidence?
It’s essential. People learn much faster when they’re trusted with real responsibility and given the space to get stuck in. That’s where confidence builds properly, through doing the job, not just observing it.
Supporting the transition
How did you approach supporting Jess as she stepped into a more specialised role?
It was about gradually increasing responsibility, rather than waiting for a formal step change, while making sure support was always there when needed. Jess now leads the coordination of several regional bids, which shows how well that approach can work in practice.
