Meet the Team - Katie Willis

While the commercial team often works behind the scenes, its impact on the business is undeniable. This team creates the vital industry connections that drive progress and open doors. Katie offers her unique perspective, insights and learnings on the essential role she plays with North Star’s commercial team, highlighting the value this work brings to the company and its future.

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What is your name and job title at North Star? ‍

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Katie-Jane Willis, Tender Associate for just short of 2years.

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What inspired you to become a tendering associate? 

When approached about the role with North Star I was drawn to the chance to contribute to North Star’s reputation. They already had a great reputation within the industry with the Dogger Bank Windfarm project and I wanted to be a part of that. Their commitment to innovation and quality in their projects made this role an exciting step for me. 

What kind of training/ experience is required to become a tendering associate? ‍

You'll need a combination of industry knowledge and experience with the bid and proposal process. Understanding market trends, competitors, and client needs can give you an edge in preparing winning bids and often involves strict timelines, multiple stakeholders, and complex requirements, so experience in project coordination or management can be helpful.  

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Can you walk us through a typical day in your role? What are your main tasks and responsibilities? 

My role revolves around managing tenders, with a primary focus on Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Service Operation Vessel (SOV) projects.My main tasks include developing and coordinating bid proposals, ensuring compliance with client requirements, and working closely with internal teams. Between building tenders, I also dedicate time to meeting clients, attending industry events, and networking to strengthen relationships and stay updated on market trends and client needs. In between tendering I also try my best to get out amongst the fleet to meet the crew which I enjoy a lot!  

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What advice would you give to someone aspiring to do your role? 

Building connections with industry professionals, clients, and colleagues will help you stay in the loop and learn from others. Attend industry events, join relevant organisations such as the cluster groups in your region, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice from more experienced people in the industry. 

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What is the one aspect of your role that people outside of your team might not fully understand but is crucial to the success of your work? 

One crucial aspect of my role that people outside the team might not fully understand is the extensive research and strategic analysis that goes into creating each tender. While it may seem that the role is mainly about document preparation and submission, a significant part of my work involves deeply understanding client needs, analysing market trends, and assessing competitor offerings. This analysis helps shape our approach, enabling us to highlight our unique value and propose competitive pricing while still meeting all technical and regulatory requirements. 

This background work is essential because the tender document is not just a proposal—it’s a strategic representation of our company’s strengths, tailored to address the client’s specific challenges.  

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If you could swap roles for one day with a co-worker, who would it be and why?

I’d choose to work alongside a crew member on one of our SOVs. Even though I tend to get seasick, I think experiencing life on board would be incredibly valuable. I’m planning to spend a few days on vessel to really understand the crew's day-to-day operations and gain a firsthand perspective on the work we support from shore.  

Do you have a favourite vessel in our fleet and if so why? 

Although she’s not actually built yet, it’s definitely the Grampian TBN that will be working on EA3. This is set to operate in and out of the Lowestoft Port that is situated right outside my office window and I can’t wait to be able to get on board and show her off to my local industry peers! 

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What excites you the most about the future of our industry and where its heading? 

The collaboration within the industry is something that excites me—the way stakeholders, from developers and suppliers to governments, are coming together to solve complex challenges and drive progress. Being part of an industry that is not only innovating but also contributing to a more sustainable future is incredibly inspiring, and I’m eager to see how it continues to evolve and shape! 

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If you could give your younger self (before starting work) one piece of advice about your career, what would it be? 

I would remind myself to be patient and not to worry if you don’t know what career it is you want to take up! Careers take time to develop, and building expertise often happens through hands-on experience, learning from others, and tackling challenges. Don’t rush; focus on growing your skills and your network, and the bigger picture will come together in time.

And finally, what do you like to do outside of work? 

In my spare time, I enjoy being sociable, spending time with friends and family. I love going on long dog walks, having coffee dates with friends, and indulging in a little shopping—I'm definitely a shopaholic!

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