Fundraising/ Grants Officer (12 Month Fixed Term Contract Initially)

Job Vacancy

Fundraising/ Grants Officer (12 month fixed term contract initially)

This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional individual with proven experience to join our small, award-winning charity, and generate much-needed new income forour work. You will have excellent communication skills, a strong track record of grant income generation and a commitment to Unlock’s mission. You will need to be self-motivated, able to work with minimal supervision and committed to working as part of a small and friendly team of five staff (six including you) and team of volunteers based at our office in Maidstone, Kent.

Salary & Hours

12 month fixed term contract (initially).

£25,440 pro rata (£15,264) per annum.

3 days (22.5 hours) per week, 9am to 5pm.

Unlock’s Mission

To help people overcome the long-term disadvantages caused by their criminal convictions, and work with government, employers and others to enable people to move on positively in their lives.

Interested?

Download the full job vacancy pack from

Email call 01622 230705 if you have any queries.

Closing date for applications is 31 March, 2016

Interviews will be held in Maidstone on 21 April, 2016

Job description

Job TitleFundraising / Grants Officer

Contract 12 month fixed term (initially); 3 days per week

Salary£25,440 pro rata (£15,264)

Location Maidstone Community Support Centre, 39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone,

Kent ME14 1HH

Responsible to Co-Director (Julie Harmsworth)

Purpose of the post

Unlock, the national charity for people with convictions, provides information, advice and support to individuals dealing with the ongoing effects of criminal convictions. Our knowledge and insight helps us to work with government, employers and others, to change policies and practices to create a fairer and more inclusive society so that people with convictions can move on in their lives.

Working closely with the Co-Director, the holder of this post will be responsible for developing and delivering Unlock’s fundraising activities, with particular focuson producing exceptional grant funding applications from trusts and foundations. This is a role that requires excellent analytical and writing skills, as well as an ability to work under pressure and demanding deadlines.

Responsibilities

To lead on the development and delivery of grant applications across the organisation’s areas of expertise outlined in our current Strategic Plan. This will include supporting decisions around strategic funding and priorities.
Oversee and develop donor and other voluntary income directly and through Unlock’s websites including our ‘Friends of Unlock’.
Conduct research and analysis to inform grant applications, using Unlock’s own data as well as external sources.
To research and identify the most promising potential funding programmes and opportunities.
To ensure that accurate and appropriate budgets are included in applications.
To maintain efficient administrative systems including a central record of applications being developed with deadlines, those sent, progress checked, funding received and reports due.
To ensure that the conditions of any funding received are recorded, monitored and met in liaison with the relevant project manager.
To ensure that the good relations and communications are maintained with funders, and donors.
To prepare and present regular progress reports to the Co-Director and Board.
To take an active role in the planning process and contribute to future strategy around communications and fundraising.
To take part in training, events and seminars as appropriate
Engage fully in regular meetings and activities internally to support the broader development of the charity.
Undertake other duties as necessary commensurate with the role.

Terms of employment

Contract: 12 month fixed term contract initially, with aim for extension (subject to funding)
Salary:£25,440 pro rata (£15,264)
Hours:22.5 hours per week over 3 days. Core hours are 9am to 5pm. Occasional work outside these hours may be necessary
Holidays: 20 days (pro-rata) + public holidays + discretionary days between Christmas and New Year
Pension: You will become eligible to join our auto-enrolment pension scheme from November 2016 and if the post is extended beyond the initial12 month contract, Unlock will guarantee to pay a 6% contribution to the scheme.
Probationary period:Three months
Level of disclosure/check: This position is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Only unspent offences need to be disclosed on the self-disclosure form. A basic disclosure will be carried out on appointment. See our ‘Applicants with a criminal record’ policy for more information.

Person specification: Fundraising/ Grants Officer

Essential

Experience of developing and writing high quality and effective funding applications from trusts and foundations
Experience of researching and prioritising potential funding opportunities
Managing a wide range of funder and donor relationships
Ability to set and achieve agreed targets and deadlines
Excellentwrittenandverbalcommunicationskills
ExcellentICT skills
Ability to network and develop effective working relationships with trusts, foundations and other external stakeholders.
Reporting back to funders and donors and providing monitoring information
Ability to use own initiative to develop innovative solutions to problems
Self-administering
Understanding and interpreting budgets
Commitment to the values of Unlock
Commitment to detail, ensuring all work is accurate, concise and understandable.
Willing to work flexibly within their role
Willing to work outside normal office hours on occasion

Desirable

Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification
Experience of donor income generation (personal, major and/ or corporate)
Experience of generating income from other fundraising activities such as online
Experience of working for a charity
Existing relationships and networks with trusts and foundations

Apply

Please send a completed job application form to the address below with a concise covering letter telling us why you are suitable for this role.

Send your applications by:

Email to: , (with the subject line ‘Fundraising/ Grants Officer Vacancy’), or
Post to: Fundraising / Grants Officer Vacancy, Unlock, MCSC, 39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1HH.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 31 March, 2016

Interviews will take place on Thursday 21 March, 2016

All applications received by email will be acknowledged to confirm receipt.

Please note, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted about their application.