Foundation Scotland puts people at the heart of its work. We rely on the expertise, trust and experience we’ve gained in the last 25 years working with communities, philanthropists and companies all over Scotland.

Our people are passionate experts in bringing lasting, positive change to Scotland’s communities. We take great pride in supporting local projects by taking a personal approach to every meeting and decision. We’re in a unique position to fully understand communities’ needs and fund solutions that will make a difference.

Our work is nationwide. We’re working with different industries, funding various projects from renewables to digital, through to arts and heritage. Our people are always challenged and have an opportunity to learn and grow. In short - no two days are the same. Ultimately, our work is highly rewarding, and the best part is seeing the real impact we can make within Scottish communities. If you share our passion for shaping Scotland’s communities' future, think about joining our team.

Background

Our Communities Team enables and empowers communities across Scotland to devise and implement their own strategies for local funds coming from a range of sources, notably renewables businesses. We provide fund governance, grant administration and related services for a range of commercial and community-sector clients, combined with a commitment to community-led approaches.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a Community Funds Manager to support the team delivering a portfolio of work in south and south-west Scotland.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated team player to strengthen and grow our community funds practice and impact. You will be an experienced people manager, have a demonstrable track record of working in a diverse range of community and funding contexts, excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills, the ability to learn and adapt quickly and a strong commitment to community-led approaches.

Reporting to the Head of Communities, this role will focus on managing a regional team and working alongside communities to design and implement a diverse range of community benefit arrangements of diverse values and scales.

The Veterans’ Foundation (VF) is an independent grant-making charitable foundation. It has established a substantial grants’ programme to support charities and organisations in the UK that provide charitable support to those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families. The charity has grown rapidly since inception in July 2016 and has to date (Oct 24) given away more than £25M to good causes and handed out around £1.6M to good causes each quarter for the past year.

Head of Grants will have the following responsibilities:

• Provide the lead for the Grants’ Department in the VF, managing relevant staff to best effect and shaping the Grant-Making Policy to suit the VF’s objects.
• Provide high quality policy, communications and strategic advice to the CEO and Trustees.
• Liaise with other organisations (eg Cobseo, AFCFT, OVA, other charities) to formulate policy and to enable smooth and effective operation of the VF’s Grant-Making Policy.
• Deliver the Grant-Making Policy approved by the Trustees.
• Suggest changes to the Grant-Making Policy to the Trustees when necessary, having identified impact and backed by research where possible.
• Ensure the quarterly and annual grant-making schedules are maintained, including arranging meetings and providing briefing packs for Trustees.
• Manage workloads to match staff employment contracts.
• Provide effective grant-making processes and identify improvements when necessary.
• Oversee the grant management aspects of Salesforce.
• Provide good coordination between the Grants Department and other departments in VF and with contractors.
• Promote the VF culture: cheerful, efficient and engaging effectiveness.
• Lead and manage the grants’ communications strategy.
• Overseeing the measurement of the impact of VF grants.
• Other duties and responsibilities as appropriate to the post and requested by the CEO.

Experience and Qualifications. Candidates should possess the following experiences, qualifications and skills:

Experience

• Proven experience and success in a relevant Third Sector grants’ management role.
• Good understanding and knowledge of the Armed Forces’ elements in the Third Sector.
• Experience of conducting due diligence into grantees.
• Understanding of business functions such as HR, finance and information security.
• Demonstrable competency in planning.
• Working knowledge of IT and comms systems, including Salesforces and MS 365.
• Excellent organisational and leadership abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent (Must)