Meet the Team: Jordan McGregor

Winning new work rarely comes down to one document or one person. Behind every tender is a lot of coordination, careful checking and collaboration across the business to make sure the final submission is accurate, relevant and shows 4site at its best.

In this 4site spotlight, we introduce Jordan McGregor, Tender & Proposals Coordinator at 4site Consulting. Jordan works across the business to bring together everything needed for tender submissions, from technical information and pricing to case studies, policies and supporting documentation. Jordan also helps keep important company information and accreditations up to date, while supporting communication with existing clients.

With a varied background spanning operations, management and procurement, Jordan brings plenty of organisation, commercial awareness and personality to the role. In this article, Jordan shares more about what really goes on behind the scenes of a tender, why every submission needs its own approach, and why being part of a team full of different perspectives makes the job so enjoyable.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day can start with reviewing upcoming tender opportunities, checking deadlines and prioritising what needs to be progressed. From there, I coordinate with different teams across the business to gather the information needed for each submission, whether that’s technical information, pricing, case studies, company details, policies or supporting documentation. My role is often about bringing all of those different pieces together and making sure the final submission is accurate, compliant and presents the business in the best possible way.

Alongside formal public procurement tenders, I’m also involved in informal tender processes and opportunities outside of the traditional procurement route. This means adapting to different requirements and approaches depending on the client, while still making sure our responses are professional, accurate and submitted on time.

A big part of my role is also looking after our existing clients. I’m responsible for keeping current clients up to date with our insurance information, as well as communicating small tender awards and other relevant updates. Building and maintaining those relationships is just as important as winning new business, and I enjoy being one of the points of contact that helps keep clients informed.

I’m also responsible for keeping our central digital platform, including the Government portal, up to date with our company information. This involves making sure our records, accreditations, insurance details and other key information are current and ready to support future tender opportunities.

There’s definitely a lot of attention to detail involved. A missed question, incorrect document or outdated piece of information can make a big difference, so I spend a lot of time reviewing requirements, checking submissions and making sure everything is where it needs to be before a bid goes out.

For me it's much more than simply putting tenders together. It’s about coordinating people, managing information, maintaining client relationships, identifying opportunities and making sure the business is always ready to put its best foot forward when an opportunity comes along. And when all the work comes together and you find out that a tender has been successful, that’s definitely one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

What did you do before you worked at 4site?

Before joining 4site, I worked across a variety of roles and industries, which has given me a really broad range of experience. I’ve been a Contact Centre Manager, an Operations Supervisor within the energy industry and, at one point, a Debt Collection Supervisor for a veterinary corporation which definitely came with some very interesting stories!

Although the industries and job titles have varied, there has always been a common thread running through my career, procurement and working with suppliers, clients and commercial processes.

Each role has given me different skills that I now bring into my work at 4site, from managing teams and processes to problem-solving, communication and working to tight deadlines. Looking back, the variety of roles I’ve had has actually been a great foundation for what I do now, because no two tenders are the same and you never quite know what the next opportunity is going to bring!

What's one thing people might be surprised to learn about your job?

One thing people might be surprised to learn about my job is just how much goes on behind the scenes of a tender. It’s not simply a case of writing a proposal and submitting it.

A huge part of my role involves reading and understanding large volumes of tender documentation, often with detailed requirements, specifications and questions that all need to be carefully considered. Every tender is different, and one of the biggest misconceptions is that you can simply recycle a previous response. In reality, each submission needs to be tailored to the specific client, requirements and questions, so there’s a lot of time spent researching, coordinating information and making sure our response is relevant.

What's your favourite thing about working here?

My favourite thing about working at 4site is being part of a collective group of genuinely interesting people. Everyone brings something different to the table, whether that’s their experience, knowledge, personality or way of approaching a problem.

I think that variety is what makes the team so enjoyable to work with. There’s always someone with a different perspective, a new idea or a story to share, and you can learn something from almost everyone around you.

It’s also the fact that we’re a collective group. People have different roles and responsibilities, but there’s a real sense that everyone is working towards the same goal and supporting each other along the way. For me, having good people around you makes a huge difference to how much you enjoy coming to work, and that’s something I really value about being part of 4site.

Quick-fire fun

One piece of advice you live by?

Don’t take yourself too seriously but always take what you do seriously.

Work hard, do your best and take pride in what you do, but remember to enjoy the journey along the way. Things don’t always go to plan, deadlines get tight and sometimes you have to deal with situations you never expected being able to have a laugh, learn from things and move forward makes all the difference.

I also think you should never be afraid to ask questions or admit when you don’t know something. There’s always something new to learn, and some of the best lessons come from the situations you didn’t see coming.

Three words colleagues would use to describe you?

Energetic, Sympathetic, Goofy

Most-used phrase in the office?

“Would you like a picture of a cat?”