Progressio has made a significant contribution to international development and human rights for more than seventy years. We support poor and marginalised people, especially women, to empower themselves – People Powered Development – by placing development workers to share skills in nine countries, and through our international policy, advocacy and campaigning. Progressio has Catholic roots and works with people of all faiths and none.
Programme Funding Officer (Maternity Cover)
Status Fixed term contract (ending on 12 August 2016), full-time (35 hours per week)
Salary £28,434 gross pa pro rata (plus other benefits), Grade C
Reports to Programme Funding Manager
Based Brixton, London
Travel Occasional overseas travel
The post holder will support the International Programmes team, including Progressio’s in-country offices, to secure significant grant income for our overseas programmatic work and international policy and advocacy work. S/he will coordinate the development of proposals to institutional donors, and build and maintain strong relationships with new and current donors, including taking a lead contact role with UK and EU-based donors. The post holder will also ensure high quality, consistent grant management for a portfolio of donor funded work, and maintain information systems.
ABOUT PROGRESSIO AND OUR APPROACH
Progressio is a UK-based charity working internationally to enable people in developing countries to challenge and change the situations that keep them poor. We currently work in nine countries and have a long history of working in fragile, post-conflict and authoritarian states.
We develop long-term partnerships with local organisations and community groups in the global South, providing practical support through development workers (DWs), mostly from the global South, who share skills, know-how and training. We also send committed young adults from the UK to engage in community development work for 10 weeks - this programme is called Progressio ICS. Both DWs and Progressio ICS placements contribute towards improving the lives of thousands of people in poor communities.
Because poverty is about unequal power relations and a lack of human rights, we work with a wide range of people who are poor and marginalised to change the structures that keep them in poverty. We support them in their calls for policy change. With our supporters, we stand alongside them in demanding that decision-makers around the world sit up and listen to them.
Inspired by our Catholic roots, we believe that experiencing ‘life in all its fullness’ includes freedom and control over one’s life and future. It means challenging inequalities and power imbalances. We see every person as sacred, having inherent dignity, so we stand in solidarity with poor and marginalised people in achieving their rights. We call this people powered development.
GOVERNANCE
As a UK registered charity, Progressio has a Board of Trustees that is responsible for the overall strategic vision of the organisation. The Board has two sub-committees and a working group. The Chief Executive is directly accountable to the Board and managed by the Chair of Trustees.
PROGRESSIO STAFF AND SUPPORTERS AROUND THE WORLD
The Progressio family includes our office in London; our regional and country offices; and Progressio Latina, which raises funds for and oversees our work in Central America except ICS.
Progressio works in Central America (El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua); Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti); Somaliland; Southern Africa (Malawi and Zimbabwe) and Yemen. We have a sub-regional office in Tegucigalpa that oversees our work in Central America, with smaller offices in Nicaragua and El Salvador. A sub-regional office in Harare oversees our work in Southern Africa, with a smaller office in Malawi. In Santo Domingo, a sub-regional office oversees our work in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, where Progressio works in strong collaboration with Christian Aid. We also have country offices in Somaliland and Yemen. Our country teams in El Salvador, Honduras, Malawi, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe are also responsible for the running of Progressio ICS in these countries.
Progressio has five teams:
The International Programmes team oversees Progressio’s development worker programmes. The team includes in-country staff, comprising Sub-Regional Managers, Country Representatives and support staff, and the UK-based Head of Programmes, Programmes Officer and Programme Funding and Learning sub-teams, and works closely with all other teams. The Learning team is responsible for reporting on impact learning, monitoring and evaluation across the organisation. The Programme Funding team is made up of London-based staff and regionally-based Funding Officers, and secures grant funding from institutions.
The Finance and Administration team is responsible for financial management, recruitment, selection and training, Progressio Central America/Progressio Latina and general administrative, HR and IT support to Progressio.
The International Citizen Service team oversees our young adult volunteering programme, Progressio ICS, working closely with in-country staff on planning and delivery.
The Policy team works closely with partners, development workers, youth volunteers and UK-policy-makers to influence and bring about change in policy at national, regional and international levels. The team seeks to provide a platform for Southern voices through its policy work.
The Public Engagement team is a new integrated department combining campaigns, communications and UK supporter staff, who also work closely with the Policy and ICS teams. The integrated team will deliver our new public engagement strategy. The team works to secure funds from priority UK audiences. Progressio is a membership organisation and we have a supporter and campaigning base of approximately 5,000 people. Active engagement with our supporters, to inform and mobilise them, is a vital part of our mandate.
More detailed information about our work, thematic areas and overseas programmes is available on our website: www.progressio.org.uk
PROGRESSIO’S FUNDING
Progressio’s funding comes from a range of institutional donors including the UK Department for International Development (DFID), European Commission, the Big Lottery Fund, Comic Relief, other British development agencies, trusts and foundations and individual donations from members of the public.[1]
PURPOSE OF THE POST
The post holder will:
§ Contribute to securing significant grant income meeting organisational income targets.
§ Coordinate the development of proposals to institutional donors, contributing to a sustained increase in funding for Progressio’s programmatic work overseas and international policy and advocacy work led from the UK.
§ Build and maintain strong relationships with new and current donors and to ensure high quality, consistent grant management for a portfolio of donor funded work.
The post is part of the International Programmes team and is line managed by the Programme Funding Manager. The post holder will be in regular contact with Programmes and Programme Funding staff based in our overseas offices.
- Duties and responsibilities
Fundraising
1. Participate in the development and implementation of the Programme Funding Strategy, in collaboration with relevant teams.
2. Coordinate the development of high quality proposals and budgets to institutional donors in collaboration with Progressio colleagues and overseas partner organisations, employing a full cost recovery approach and supporting the integration of planned policy and advocacy work into proposal development.
3. Keep the International Programmes team and other relevant staff informed of progress on funding bids/reports submitted.
4. Research new funding sources (UK and continental Europe) regularly monitoring for opportunities, sharing with relevant teams and helping to plan approaches to them, in coordination with relevant teams.
5. Undertake networking activities in order to keep up-to-date with developments in funding practice and sources, and take opportunities to raise the profile of Progressio’s work with key targets.
6. Support the Programme Funding Manager and programme teams to prepare for meetings with donors.
7. Develop and maintain relations with existing and potential funders.
Grant Management
1. Prepare high quality reports for UK/EU donors, ensuring a timely approach to gathering information from colleagues.
2. Ensure that UK and overseas colleagues are aware of donor compliance rules and requirements for specific institutional donors, with the possibility of travel to overseas programmes to support the set-up and management of systems for efficient monitoring, evaluation and grant management.
3. Take on a lead contact role for a portfolio of specific UK/EU based donors.
4. Assist in maintaining information systems that provide a reliable supply of funding and grant information for the Programme Funding Manager and other staff, using databases and other systems as appropriate.
Other
1. Take opportunities to internally share and promote best practice approaches to the cycle of building donor relationships, developing applications and managing grants.
2. Participate in meetings of the International Programmes and Policy and other teams, as appropriate, to keep informed about programme developments and inform others of relevant current funding work.
3. All Progressio posts are self-servicing and the post holder will be expected to do her/his own typing, administration and filing.
4. The post holder will be required to comply with Progressio’s organisational policies, especially with regards to health and safety, equal opportunities and diversity, and other relevant policies as advised.
The balance of these tasks will be determined by the requirements of Progressio at any particular time and determined by the Programme Funding Manager. Since Progressio is a small organisation, staff may be asked to share, from time to time, in central service functions. Therefore there may be times when the post holder is asked to take part in work not specifically indicated in their job description.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
This section outlines the skills and requirements we seek for this post, please read it carefully and ensure that your application addresses each of these requirements (giving clear examples).
Specification / Essential / Desirable /Education and
training / 1. Degree in any relevant discipline, or equivalent experience / 16. Fundraising qualification and/or membership of the Institute of Fundraising
Experience / 2. Demonstrable track record of successful fundraising from a variety of statutory and/or trust sources, such as DFID, the European Commission, Big Lottery Fund and/or Comic Relief, in the excess of £100,000
3. Proven experience of researching, and writing successful high quality funding proposals and/or donor reports
4. Previous experience of engaging and building donor relationships / 17. Experience of writing funding proposals with a full cost recovery approach
18. Experience of using donor databases (e.g. Raiser’s Edge)
19. Experience of working with people in remote sites/at a distance
Skills and
knowledge / 5. Good knowledge of current funding trends and sources
6. Great attention to detail and the ability to assimilate and analyse written information quickly
7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
8. Sound numeracy skills, including the ability to develop budgets in line with full cost recovery principles and interpret basic financial information
9. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate/work effectively with donors, in-country staff, London-based staff and other key stakeholders, and enhance effective work relationships
10. Sound organisational and time management skills, with the ability to work on own initiative, be self-motivated and prioritise effectively in order to meet deadlines
11. An entrepreneurial, results-orientated and dynamic approach
12. Computer literacy (particularly word processing, spreadsheets, databases, email and internet) / 20. Knowledge of one or more of Progressio’s areas of work (e.g. governance, environment, HIV and AIDS)
21. Knowledge of one or more of the countries in which Progressio works
Other
/ 13. Commitment to, sympathy and respect for Progressio’s purpose, vision and values14. Cultural awareness and sensitivity in an inter-faith setting
15. Active interest in international development issues
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
§ Fixed term contract - ending on 12 August 2016 (subject to three-month probationary period. If this period is successfully completed the post holder will be confirmed for the remainder of the contract).
§ Full time, 35 hours per week, with time off in lieu for overtime worked.
§ Salary of £28,434 gross pa pro rata, Grade C.
§ 25 days annual holiday (pro rata), plus working days between Christmas and the New Year, and statutory holidays.
§ Voluntary contributory pension scheme with generous employer contributions after completing probationary period.
Progressio operates flexible working patterns (not flexi-time) and is willing to consider job-share applications. Such applications must be made together. Progressio is unable to appoint part job-shares.
- Trade Union Membership
Progressio staff members are free to join an appropriate trade union if they wish. Membership is available through the shop stewards.
HOW TO APPLY
It is essential that you complete an application form in full, as very specific information is required and will be used to decide whether or not you will be short-listed for interview. Please note that CVs/resumes will not be considered.For further information and an application form visit: www.progressio.org.uk/jobs
Closing Date: 31 August Interviews: Week of 7 September
Please return the completed application form to:
Follow Progressio on LinkedIn to receive regular updates on our latest vacancies.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Progressio promotes diversity and equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from people regardless of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, age and religion or belief.
Progressio is committed to making every reasonable adjustment to the workplace in order to accommodate people with disabilities.
Due to UK law, Progressio is only able to employ people with employment rights in the UK/EEA.
- Progressio is the working name of the Catholic Institute for International Relations -
Charity registration number: 294329
July 2015
1
[1] For a breakdown of our donors (Financial Year 2012/13) please see www.progressio.org.uk/content/how-we-are-funded