diff --git a/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/ApplicationsClient.tsx b/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/ApplicationsClient.tsx
index 6eaf199..2f4508f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/ApplicationsClient.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/ApplicationsClient.tsx
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 import { PageContainer } from '@/components/PageContainer'
 
 import { useMemo, useState } from 'react'
-import { Loader2, Search, List, Columns } from 'lucide-react'
-import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Search, List, Columns } from 'lucide-react'
 import {
   Select,
   SelectContent,
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ import { pickDefaultCycleId, useCycles } from '@/lib/queries/cycles'
 import { useQuestionsByCycleRoles } from '@/lib/queries/questions'
 import { useCurrentUser } from '@/lib/queries/users'
 import { ROLE_COLUMNS, ROLE_LABEL } from '@/lib/roles'
-import { ORDERED_STAGES, stageLabel } from './constants'
+import { BulkActionBar } from './BulkActionBar'
 import {
   AVAILABILITY_DAY_OPTIONS,
   availabilityOptionsFor,
@@ -218,6 +217,14 @@ export function ApplicationsClient() {
     })
   }
 
+  // Dropping the selection also drops the bar's transient state, so a failure
+  // notice from a previous batch can't linger into the next one.
+  function clearSelection() {
+    setSelectedIds(new Set())
+    setBulkStage('')
+    setBulkFailed(0)
+  }
+
   async function applyBulkStage() {
     if (!bulkStage || selectedIds.size === 0) return
     setApplyingBulk(true)
@@ -352,49 +359,6 @@ export function ApplicationsClient() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {view === 'table' && isChief && (
-        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 rounded-xl border border-gray-100 bg-white p-4">
-          <span className="text-text-faint text-sm">
-            {selectedIds.size} selected
-          </span>
-          {bulkFailed > 0 && (
-            <span className="text-destructive text-sm">
-              {bulkFailed} update{bulkFailed === 1 ? '' : 's'} failed
-            </span>
-          )}
-          <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
-            <Select
-              value={bulkStage}
-              onValueChange={(val) => setBulkStage(val as ApplicationStage)}
-            >
-              <SelectTrigger className="w-48">
-                <SelectValue placeholder="Move to stage…" />
-              </SelectTrigger>
-              <SelectContent>
-                {ORDERED_STAGES.map((stage) => (
-                  <SelectItem key={stage} value={stage}>
-                    {stageLabel[stage]}
-                  </SelectItem>
-                ))}
-              </SelectContent>
-            </Select>
-            <Button
-              onClick={applyBulkStage}
-              disabled={!bulkStage || selectedIds.size === 0 || applyingBulk}
-            >
-              {applyingBulk ? (
-                <>
-                  <Loader2 className="animate-spin" size={14} />
-                  Updating…
-                </>
-              ) : (
-                `Move ${selectedIds.size || ''} selected`
-              )}
-            </Button>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-      )}
-
       <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col">
         {view === 'table' ? (
           <TableView
@@ -422,6 +386,19 @@ export function ApplicationsClient() {
                 )
               }
             }}
+            bulkBar={
+              isChief && selectedIds.size > 0 ? (
+                <BulkActionBar
+                  selectedCount={selectedIds.size}
+                  stage={bulkStage}
+                  onStageChange={setBulkStage}
+                  onApply={applyBulkStage}
+                  onClear={clearSelection}
+                  applying={applyingBulk}
+                  failedCount={bulkFailed}
+                />
+              ) : undefined
+            }
           />
         ) : (
           <KanbanView
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/BulkActionBar.tsx b/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/BulkActionBar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eab5ee3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/BulkActionBar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+'use client'
+
+import { Loader2, X } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue,
+} from '@/components/ui/select'
+import type { ApplicationStage } from '@/lib/api/types'
+import { ORDERED_STAGES, stageLabel } from './constants'
+
+// Takes over the table's filter row while rows are selected, so bulk actions
+// appear where the selection was made instead of as a permanently docked bar
+// that reads "0 selected" most of the time. Sized to match the filter chips it
+// replaces so the row doesn't jump on the swap.
+export function BulkActionBar({
+  selectedCount,
+  stage,
+  onStageChange,
+  onApply,
+  onClear,
+  applying,
+  failedCount,
+}: {
+  selectedCount: number
+  stage: ApplicationStage | ''
+  onStageChange: (stage: ApplicationStage) => void
+  onApply: () => void
+  onClear: () => void
+  applying: boolean
+  failedCount: number
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="flex min-h-7 flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+      <span className="text-text-default text-sm font-medium">
+        {selectedCount} selected
+      </span>
+      <button
+        onClick={onClear}
+        className="text-text-muted hover:text-text-default inline-flex h-7 items-center gap-1 rounded-md px-1.5 text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-gray-100"
+      >
+        <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        Clear
+      </button>
+      {failedCount > 0 && (
+        <span className="text-destructive text-sm">
+          {failedCount} update{failedCount === 1 ? '' : 's'} failed
+        </span>
+      )}
+      <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
+        <Select
+          value={stage}
+          onValueChange={(val) => onStageChange(val as ApplicationStage)}
+        >
+          <SelectTrigger className="h-7 w-44 rounded-md px-2 text-sm">
+            <SelectValue placeholder="Move to stage…" />
+          </SelectTrigger>
+          <SelectContent>
+            {ORDERED_STAGES.map((s) => (
+              <SelectItem key={s} value={s}>
+                {stageLabel[s]}
+              </SelectItem>
+            ))}
+          </SelectContent>
+        </Select>
+        <Button size="sm" onClick={onApply} disabled={!stage || applying}>
+          {applying ? (
+            <>
+              <Loader2 className="animate-spin" size={14} />
+              Updating…
+            </>
+          ) : (
+            `Move ${selectedCount}`
+          )}
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/TableView.tsx b/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/TableView.tsx
index b4b2e31..e1eafd0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/TableView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/(portal)/reviewer/applications/components/TableView.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export function TableView({
   onSelectApplication,
   filters,
   onFilterChange,
+  bulkBar,
 }: {
   applicants: ApplicantApplication[]
   allApplicants: ApplicantApplication[]
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ export function TableView({
     filter: AnswerFilter | null,
     action: 'add' | 'remove'
   ) => void
+  // Rendered in the filter row's place while a selection is active. Owned by
+  // the parent, which holds the selection and the bulk mutation.
+  bulkBar?: React.ReactNode
 }) {
   const countByStage = (stage: ApplicationStage | 'all') =>
     stage === 'all'
@@ -72,11 +76,13 @@ export function TableView({
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col rounded-lg border border-gray-200 bg-white">
       <div className="space-y-3 border-b border-gray-100 px-4 py-3">
-        <FilterChips
-          filters={filters}
-          columns={columns}
-          onFilterChange={onFilterChange}
-        />
+        {bulkBar ?? (
+          <FilterChips
+            filters={filters}
+            columns={columns}
+            onFilterChange={onFilterChange}
+          />
+        )}
         <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1 overflow-x-auto">
           {FILTER_STAGES.map(({ label, value }) => (
             <button