The Children's Society’s Funding Unit offers exciting opportunities for grant fundraisers with a track record of success to raise high-level trust, central government and other restricted grants for our projects to help children at risk, with disabilities, in trouble and in need. The Children’s Society works directly with over 50,000 children around England every year, and also campaigns nationally on children’s issues like The Good Childhood Inquiry.

We have a post for an experienced Strategic Funding Officer to cover a period of maternity leave up to 1 year.

The role will be located in the Funding Unit at our London Headquarters, in an award-winning team aiming to maximise strategic and restricted grants for the charity.

You will be educated to degree level or equivalent with good communications skills, knowledge of spreadsheets, business plans, and complex funding applications as well as Institute of Fundraising membership are desirable.

You will have relevant experience of trusts, Big Lottery, or other restricted grant fundraising and will have a proven record of success.

Hours for this role are 35 per week.

Title:

Strategic Funding Officer – 1 Year Maternity Cover   end of July 08 to August 09

Job purpose:

To support operational management and research on restricted funding applications ensuring that they are co-ordinated, relate to need, goals and targets and conform to organisational standards and best practice.

Reporting to:

Head of Funding Unit

Reward Band:

XG: 4; £27,598- £35,713 plus £3182 Inner London Weighting

Key activities:

• To liase with operational management clearly communicating the overall funding strategy
• To support managers in making specific bids for trust, grant and service delivery funding, attending meetings with fund providers as necessary
• To be a source of expertise on restricted funding for operational managers and research areas
• To gather information on funding opportunities locally, nationally and internationally and contribute to the development of the organisation’s funding strategy.

Location:

Edward Rudolf House, Margery Street,  London WC1X 0JL

No of posts:

1 x f/t Maternity Cover

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will need to demonstrate that you already have:

• A degree at graduate level or equivalent
• Excellent ‘two-way’ communication skills which enable effective dialogue on significant funding issues.
• Experience in producing restricted funding applications.
• An understanding of restricted funding opportunities in the UK.
• An ability to constructively contribute to teams as both a member and a leader when required.
• IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets and email. The Children’s Society uses Microsoft Office applications.
  

Core Competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to

• Actively listen, acknowledge other people’s views and tailor funding proposals to the recipient, ensuring consistency with the organisation’s mission and objectives
• Understand the need to seek ideas from outside your own experience, taking action to ensure that recommendations are accepted and acted upon.
• Express views and proposals persuasively, being sensitive to other people’s needs and desires through dialogue, reflection and checking of understanding, adjusting funding proposals accordingly.
• State funding objectives clearly, evaluating conflicting priorities and identify and challenge where the organisation’s values are not being met.
• Take responsibility for outcomes, ownership of your workplan, always ensuring a follow up course of action and contingency plans
•  Build collaborative relationships with others, establishing high levels of trust, as witnessed through feedback.
  

Other Competencies:

• Co-operate well with manager and within team, responding positively to suggestions and feedback.
• Ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Some travel, normally restricted to England, visiting key funding bodies to ascertain funding opportunities.
• The Society covers the cost of work related travel.
• Some travel visiting clusters of work in order to gain first hand knowledge of the organisation’s work with children and young people.
• Some anti-social hours which arise from travel and the geographic spread of the Society’s work.
•  Attendance at external forums when required in order to ensure our external analysis on funding opportunities is up to date and our strategy informed by key events and developments.

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and in the Society, you will require:

• The ability to cope with demanding situations and tight deadlines
• Flexibility in your response to individuals and situations
• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to The Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice