Grants Operations and Evaluation Officer

Grants Operations and Evaluation Officer

Job Description

Job titleGrants Operations and Evaluation Officer

Reports toGrants Programme Manager

DepartmentPhilanthropy

______

Job Purpose

To work with the Philanthropy team to develop and implement grant making and management systems and processes, which are appropriate to the range of philanthropic approaches within the Mercers’ portfolio, with a high degree of synergy and consistency. This post holder will provide an excellent service to both internal and external users of our systems, including grant applicant organisations. They will be key to ‘go to’ person for developing the database to its full potential and for making, monitoring and managing grants, from application to completion, with user friendly reporting and analysis, and providing an effective interface with other key stakeholders internally

NB TheMercers’ team uses the Gifts classic grants database and is in the process of upgrading to Gifts Online

______

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the Research, development and implementation, in collaboration with the Philanthropy team, grant making and management systems and processes, to help deliver quality and efficiencies across all strands of activity, with harmonised approaches wherever possible.

• Work with colleagues to establish and maintain effective information and record-keeping systems, including through use of the Gifts database and develop skills at an enhanced level in order to support other colleagues.

• Work closely with other colleagues across the Company’s philanthropy to share and build knowledge and expertise to improve the quality and effectiveness of our processes and practice.

• To work in collaboration with the team to develop the Grants database and its use within the department to help all team members deliver their objectives well; including in monitoring, evaluation/learning.

• To be the expert ‘go to’ person on all grants systems and processes to ensure high quality and consistency of delivery.
• Provide technical expertise in use of the Grants Database, support the team in with training in the system when required.

• Provide a positive interface with grant applicants or funded organisations on non-programmatic issues, where technical support is needed.

• Respond to enquiries from potential applicants and advise them on the appropriate grants guidelines and processes.

• Log and process initial grants applications, ensuring all required information is received and prepared for assessment and follow up outstanding information and reports.

• Administer grants payments, acknowledgements, and monitoring and reporting information, recording, reviewing and summarising these as required.

• Support effective on-going communication and information sharing within the team to support good grant makingand monitoring, collaborative learning and programme evaluation.

• Work with others to develop a range of methods and approaches for philanthropy and assist in implementing appropriate systems to support those methods and approaches.

• To develop the relationship with external suppliers and contribute actively to relevant user groups.

• Assist in preparing information on grants and programmesfor use in the Company’s and Team’s communications, including on websites and social media, and in briefings and annual reports

• Provide other administrative and logistical support as required to support the effective delivery of key grant programmes and activities

• Work closely with the Philanthropy Team Administrator to ensure general admin for the team is covered

• Assist with other Company activities as may be reasonably required

Person Specification: Experience, Skills and Aptitudes

• Strongexperience from grant making, project or systems management and/or service delivery in charities or sectors that resonate with Mercers’ priorities/interest)

• Excellent Experience and aptitude in using databases ideally Gifts grants management system and a willingness to enhance skills in this area

• Demonstrable experience of working to ensure meaningful engagement of key stakeholders in project development, delivery and improvement

• An ability to analyse and synthesise complex information, with good analytical and writing skills

• Numerate and confident in building effective relationships

• Able to deliver high quality work with real attention to detail

• Experience of developing effective relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders
• Able to work well with a variety of people, specifically within a membership organisation with a strong culture and values, based on family and friendship networks

• Experience of supporting or managing projects and able to deliver to deadlines

• Ability and willingness to represent the Company in external funder networks particularly on systems and monitoring evaluation and learning
• Strong attention to detail, high quality ‘customer care’ and stakeholder relationships

• Administration experience; using databases, payment processing, record management

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook

• Pro-active and positive approach to work and someone who takes initiative

• Demonstrable experience in supporting the teams in monitoring, evaluation, learning and provides a first point of call for grant applicants or funded organisations on non-programmatic issues