Funding Officer

We are recruiting two permanent Funding Officers one will predominantly support our work across Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset & Dorset, and the other will mainly work in the Devon & Cornwall patch. You ll be part of our wider South West team, supporting across the region and working day-to-day in a team of fellow Funding Officers, supported by a Funding Manager.

Ideally you will live in or near one of the patches and have excellent knowledge of the area. This role is classed as mobile working which means you will be expected to work from and visit various locations across the area, including your home. The ability to drive and have access to a vehicle is therefore beneficial, although not essential.

• You will assess applications for funding and manage grants using local knowledge, best practice and thematic expertise and you will harness the experience of customers and stakeholders to improve our grant making and inform our decision making.
  
• Being responsible for supporting local people and communities, you will have a strong understanding of our vision, our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and our funding products.
  
• Being responsible for a pipeline of projects you will need to understand and respond to the different needs of our customers by providing advice and considered feedback, and be willing to have challenging but constructive conversations.
  
• You will also ensure that both grant management and assessment play an effective part in contributing to the Fund s knowledge and learning as a grant maker. You will manage your own caseload, liaise with grant recipients, undertake project visits, identify and manage risk, support organisations to deliver their projects and measure their impact.

The role will support our transition to our new Strategy, It Starts With Community, and you will need to work within the Fund s policies and procedures and the necessary legislation, in a way that is in line with our vision and principles.

You will represent the Fund, including at funding fairs and external meetings, creating opportunities for people to come together. You will share learning from your role with other colleagues so that we can maximise our impact.

Interview Dates: 17th & 18th March 2025 Face to Face in Exeter

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. Exeter is the regional Office

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential criteria

• Communication skills: Strong listening, written and verbal communication with an emphasis on written communication for assessment purposes.
• Analytical skills: Ability to assess a high volume of applications, make good judgements, challenge when appropriate and manage risk.
• Relational skills: Ability to build, develop and promote effective relationships with colleagues, community organisations and other external agencies with a strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Organisational skills: An ability to use your initiative and manage your own workload and time, meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Values driven and passionate about the Fund s purpose.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrable sound IT skills, in particular Microsoft Office products and the ability to learn detailed processes quickly and accurately.
• Lived experience or working knowledge of the needs and priorities of communities in and across the SW, especially under-represented groups plus an understanding of the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
• Understanding of financial planning and business plans, ability to analyse accounts and numerical data.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)