***THIS JOB VACANCY HAS NOW CLOSED***
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is a new grant making charity which from 1 April 2018 will have £10 million each year to support the Armed Forces Covenant by funding projects which address specific priorities.
The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the government and the armed forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to current and former members of the armed forces and their families, and it sets out how they should expect to be treated.
The Covenant Fund has 4 broad funding themes now and in future years. They are: removing barriers to family life; extra support after service for those that need help; measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the armed forces community to participate as citizens; and non-core healthcare services for veterans. The Covenant Fund has been managed within the Ministry of Defence but from spring 2018 it will become an independent Trust with some of the current team transferring to the new arrangements. We are now recruiting additional staff and we would like to appoint an experienced individual as Senior Grants Manager to start, ideally, in March 2018.
The Strategic Grants Manager will be responsible for all aspects of grant management for large grants (c £100K – £1M) within the team’s portfolio of funds, which includes those made from the Covenant Fund, the Treasury’s Libor Fund and the Aged Veterans Fund. They will be responsible for developing relationships with grant holders and creating the context for learning and knowledge sharing from individual projects and from funding programmes.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a new charity as it establishes its position as a major funder of the armed forces sector, and continues the work begun in-house at the MOD of becoming an intelligent funder, which is committed to learning from and sharing the achievements of its grant holders and impact of its funding programme. The successful candidate will have several years’ experience of grant making either in a charitable trust or foundation or in a public sector grant making organisation, and have undertaken all aspects of grant assessment and monitoring for large scale, multi-year revenue and capital grants. They will be confident in presenting reports to trustees and speaking at public events on behalf of the organisation and have the credibility to negotiate and liaise with senior management in large charities, local government and statuary organisations.
The Strategic Grants Manager will work as part of a small team in the Trust’s new offices not far from Victoria Station in London, with the opportunity to work from home regularly by arrangement. The Trust is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and to providing development and training opportunities.
Salary £42-50,000 dependent on experience
How to apply: applications should take the form of a letter (no more than two pages of A4) providing evidence of how you meet the person specification, and your CV – both attached to an email addressed to Melloney Poole, Chief Executive, at melloneypoole@btinternet.com giving the contact details for two professional referees, and how you know them. Please indicate if you would not wish us to contact them until the final stage of the selection process. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an initial interview from which some candidates may be selected for a further interview.
Timetable:
Closing date –06 March
Interview date- 13 March
Strategic Grants Manager
Role description
Reporting to: Director of Grants
Summary of role: Responsible for all aspects of grant management for large grants (c £100K – £1M) within the team’s portfolio of funds, including developing relationships with grant holders and creating the context for learning and knowledge sharing from individual projects and from funding programmes.
Salary £42-50,000 dependent on experience
Full-time role with opportunity for some home-working. Requirement for regular travel to visit grant holders across the UK.
Main duties
- Undertake all aspects of grant making for designated grant programmes within the team’s portfolio of funds
- Lead on all aspects of post award grant management for the Fund’s larger grants, developing relationships with key grant holders, exercising judgement about where variances, changes or problems can be agreed or need further consideration or authorisation to ensure deliverables are achieved.
- Develop and undertake regular reporting to trustees on project and programme progress, identifying risks and best practice
- Contribute to the development of all aspects of new funding programmes and to the creation of application, assessment, and post award management materials
- Develop networks and communications between grant holders to share best practice and spread knowledge and learning
- Work with the Director of Policy on research and evaluation grants and commissions, and on dissemination of findings
- Make public presentations on behalf of the Trust
- With colleagues, ensure that all data held in respect to grants and grant holding organisations is well managed
- Continually review procedures and systems and recommend improvements to contribute to the team’s efficiency and effectiveness and provide a quality service to stakeholders.
- Initiate ideas and collaborate with colleagues to undertake appropriate work to promote the Fund, build relationships with a range of stakeholders and pursue ways to add value to the Fund’s grant making.
- Contribute to the Fund’s development by being alert to, and developing a good understanding of relevant issues relating to the Covenant, the voluntary sector and grant making
- Manage own workloads, and collaborate with colleagues on shared tasks and projects, to ensure milestones and targets are met.
Person Specification
Essential
- At least four years’ grant making experience in a similar role
- Experience of managing large (over £500,000), multi-year revenue and capital grants from assessment through to monitoring and final reporting
- Some knowledge about, and experience of working with charities in the health, welfare or education sectors
- Ability to analyse financial information including interpreting accounts
- Understanding and experience of working with risk and fraud controls
- Experience of working with grant management systems
- Experience in working with contentious grants and managing complex grant variations
- Confident in making public presentations on behalf of the Trust
- Experience in developing funding programmes through using research and consultation
- Excellent MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
- Ability to multitask, work in a dynamic environment, and to remain calm under pressure.
- Ability to deal with sensitive and/or confidential information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently, as well as in a team
Desirable
- Experience of commissioning research and evaluation and managing research grants
- Previous experience of working with military charities or the armed forces
- Evidence of interest in and commitment to the work of the Trust
- Project management, grant making, finance or management qualifications
