Trussell Trust job description: ‘More than Food’ Project Manager

Department: Foodbank Network

Responsible to: Foodbank Network Director

Salary: £29,000 per annum

Full-time | Permanent

Role outline: accountable for the delivery of the Trussell Trust’s ‘More than Food’ project.Pulling together a project team from the Trust’s Foodbank Network department, the wider network, and our strategic and corporate partners, you will be responsible for the UK-wide implementation of a programme to improve the service we provide to foodbank clients.

Specific Responsibilities

  • Map out the financial services around the six trial foodbanks and gain a picture of client needs, services already running, and services available but not yet part of the foodbank; identify gaps where no services are available.
  • Devise a detailed plan which identifies and sequences all project activities: include a critical path analysis highlighting potential blockages and developclear approaches to overcoming these.
  • Provide clear, accurate, and up-to-date planning and project information and schedules, enabling foodbanks to fulfil their responsibilities effectively and on time.
  • Deliver and review the project schedule,amending as required, and set objectives and milestones accordingly.
  • Provide regular project progress reports to the Trussell Trust’s executive and operational teams and network members.
  • Manage supporting partnerships and provide a UK-wide service map to foodbanks.
  • Organise national and regional conferences to communicate with stakeholders, including financial service providers, foodbanks, corporate supporters, venues, and funders.

Marketing

  • Together with the Fundraising and Marketing teams, develop short-, mid- and long-term ‘More than Food’ marketing strategies.
  • Manage internal and external ‘More than Food’ communication.
  • Liaise regularly with the Press Officer responsible for social media, ensuring a positive and proactive social mediacampaign.
  • Maintain awareness of developing media interest and ensure thatthe Trust and Foodbank Network are engaged in new developmentsin the ‘More than Food’ idea.
  • Maintain the Trust’s ‘More than Food’ webpage, posting regular news items and liaising with the website content manager to ensure that the site is up-to-date with projects, latest news, blogs, recruitment, etc.

Finance and Fundraising

  • Liaise with the CEO, Network Director, and Finance Manager to maintain, update, and efficiently manage the ‘More Than Food’ budget.
  • Update the Head of Fundraising on potential financial shortfalls, projectedinvestments, and CSR requirements for the ‘More than Food’ project.
  • Research and identify potential grant and fundraising opportunities for ‘More than Food’ for the Trust and the foodbank network.

Evaluation

  • Gather statistics for evaluation purposes from participating foodbanks, foodbank referral agents, community representatives, CSR partners, ‘More than Food’ partners, and clients.
  • Carry out research for use in external reports for press, funders and other potential supporters.

Advocacy

  • Attend events, conferences, meetings, performances and community projects to raise the profile of the project and its aims and objectives.
  • Maintain existing relationships with funders, partners, venues, commissioners and other related organisations.

Personal Specification

  • Demonstrable seniorproject managementexperience
  • Confident communication and presentation skills
  • Empathy for, and ability to work with, people from disadvantaged, marginalised, or socially-excluded backgrounds
  • Demonstrable interest in poverty - especially food poverty
  • Demonstrable experience in financial accountability and budget management
  • Ability to work alongside local authorities, schools, colleges, and service providers and engage with communities to deliver projects
  • Experience of working with volunteers in the third sector an advantage
  • Competent and proficient use of IT

Personal attributes

  • Full driving licence preferred
  • Knowledge of the foodbank model a distinct advantage

Note to applicants: This is a new position which will evolve over time, attracting relevant duties and responsibilities as they arise, and the prospective candidate should be prepared for additions and amendments to this provisional job description.

The Trussell Trust is a charity founded on Christian principles and motivated by Matthew 25: 35-36. Not every member of the team is a Christian, but we all subscribe to the same values and hope that new team members will too.