VAER has an exciting opportunity for a Partnership and Policy Manager to join our amazing team and lead its partnership and policy work as part of the Third Sector Interface role for East Renfrewshire.

The post holder will be responsible for VAER’s Third Sector Interface role in Community Planning, which seeks to facilitate effective Third Sector participation and representation across partnership and planning forums. Bringing excellent facilitative leadership approaches, you will support effective Third Sector partnerships and networks to develop and build the capacity of the third sector to lead positive change in their communities.

You will have good knowledge of public sector policy and the reform landscape in Scotland and of the issues and opportunities affecting the Third Sector. You will be able to bring forward a range of views with confidence and diplomacy and have experience of working with third sector in Community Planning environments.

Working as part of the senior management team of VAER, you will be supported by our Third Sector capacity, Volunteer Development, and wider community engagement staff team to develop a mature Third Sector Forum that will take a lead role in Policy development and Service Design in East Renfrewshire.

Overview

We are seeking a part-time (28 – 35 hours per week to be worked flexibly as agreed with successful candidate) Finance & Administration Officer to join our friendly team and support the charity’s finance and administration functions. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years’ experience in a similar role. This role requires excellent Excel skills and experience in producing high-quality financial information. They will have working knowledge and be super users of a range of Microsoft software, Xero accounting software (or similar equivalent) and familiarity with online banking systems.

The administration management aspects of this role will require the postholder to support the Chief Executive to deliver a variety of objectives including HR, Health & Safety and IT to ensure that there are efficient and effective systems, processes and policies in place to support our people and projects. The ideal candidate will be highly organised and methodical in their approach. They will have excellent time management and prioritisation skills, with the flexibility to respond to changing needs in a dynamic working environment. The role requires excellent communication skills, with the ideal candidate having the ability to both communicate confidently with a wide range of people and to build positive relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.

To contribute to the delivery of a successful Supported Employment Service focussed on supporting people aged 16 years to retirement with learning disabilities and/or autism, sourcing employment of 16 hours per week or more.

The successful candidate will work with the Triple E-supported employment team and local employers to assist individuals in developing their desires to find meaningful and sustainable employment. This post is funded through East Renfrewshire Council

Where the role fits in our organisation

Our Resources and Development Group are responsible for many of our organisational services and policies, including finance, income, governance, legal, people and performance, as well as managing our Fund Management portfolio of investment to our sector. The team includes Lead Officers, Development Officers, Support Officers, Coordinators and professional advisors working together to build a high performing, effective organisation and a great place to work.

What You'll Do

We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about the impact and potential of our third sector, who thrives on building strategic partnerships and relationships with an eye for detail to oversee investments to our sector and secure our own income. With a good understanding of third sector funding, the successful candidate will be the policy lead for Fair Funding across Dumfries and Galloway, as well as leading a small team to secure investment in our sector and to design and deliver on our long-term income priorities to ensure our sustainability.

• Oversee the development of our long-term funding pipeline in line with our Prospectus, ambitions and outcomes, supported by a dedicated Development Officer and wider team.
• Build positive relationships with funding partners with a view to securing investment in our capacity building and development priorities in line with Fair Funding.
• As policy lead for Fair Funding, work with our Community Planning Partners to develop an adoption plan for Fair Funding and provide advice in line with Fair Funding principles and CPIB national guidance.
• Oversee advice to the sector on Fair Funding and securing investment, supported by Development and Locality teams.
• Represent the third sector/TSDG at appropriate partnership meetings.
• Provide effective leadership and support to colleagues within the direct team and across the organisation, leading with compassion and integrity.

More about you

• You will be able to show your experience of leading programmes in the third sector
• You will be able to demonstrate good understanding of third sector funding and grants
• You will be able to show your approach to effective and compassionate leadership of people, achieving outcomes and demonstrating impact.
• You will bring a keen interest in building and sharing knowledge, particularly in relation to good practice and to new policy.
• You will be able to show examples of effective application of key skills, including organisation and planning, problem solving and communications.
• You will have had experience of building effective professional relationships inside and outside of your organisation.
• You may have had experience of facilitating or leading effective collaborative programmes across sectors.
• You may have previously designed and managed third sector grant programmes, or worked in a funding or income role.

Read more about working with us

More on our ways of working and benefits here

Find out more about our recruitment and selection process

If you’d like to talk to us about this opportunity to join us, get in touch…….