Join the official charity of NHS Highland in the new role of Grants Officer

Are you passionate about making a difference through effective grant-making? This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting NHS Highland’s official charity, helping to fund projects that improve experiences for patients, staff, and communities across the Highlands.

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Grants Officer to join NHS Highland’s charity team, supporting the work of the Highland Health Board Endowment Fund Charity, SC016791. The charity exists to enhance the physical and mental health of patients, social care service users, NHS Highland staff, and the wider community by funding projects that make a lasting impact.

As Grants Officer, you will be the main point of contact for grant enquiries, providing advice and guidance to a wide range of stakeholders but working primarily with internal applicants from within the NHS Highland workforce. You will oversee the full grant-making process, from initial enquiry and assessment, through to award, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring that funding decisions are fair, transparent, and deliver maximum benefit.

You will support the presentation of applications to the Charity Committee when needed, as well as supporting robust financial reporting and compliance with NHS Highland policies and OSCR regulations.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you’ll help shape the delivery of impactful charitable projects across NHS Highland.

What we are looking for

We’re seeking someone with:

• Demonstrable, relevant experience in grant-making and project management, preferably within a charitable or public sector setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to advise, train, and support applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and to present effectively to committees and groups. You will have highly developed written communication skills and will confidently manage situations where applicants are unsuccessful, requiring resilience, diplomacy, and the ability to decline requests with professionalism and tact.
• Excellent analytical and organisational abilities, with a meticulous eye for detail and the capacity to manage competing priorities.
• Confidence in financial processes, including monitoring budgets, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with statutory and governance requirements.
• IT proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and ideally experience with grant management or CRM systems. The skills and knowledge to provide meaningful input to quality and process improvement tasks is vital.
• A proactive and flexible approach, able to work both independently and as part of a team, with a strong sense of personal accountability.

This role will suit someone who enjoys balancing detail with big-picture impact, who can combine sound governance with compassion, and who is motivated by helping charitable funds achieve their greatest potential for our NHS and the communities we serve.

This role is based within the NHS Highland region, with the office base at Assynt House, Inverness. Hybrid working is supported, though you will be expected to regularly attend the office and face-to-face meetings at Assynt House and other NHS Highland sites as required.

Role Purpose

To lead on the strategic use of data, insights, analysis, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems across SCAA, ensuring robust data governance, GDPR compliance and technical optimisation to inform fundraising, supporter engagement and organisational performance. This role is critical to embedding a culture of data-driven decision making, using insight and analysis to support future fundraising growth. The role will also provide leadership on data protection and organisational Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Data Leadership and Governance

• Develop, introduce and then monitor the charity’s Data and Insights Strategy, aligning with organisational priorities, fundraising objectives and supporter engagement goals.
• Lead on the charity’s data governance and GDPR compliance, including data protection policies, DPIAs, SARs, PECR and risk management, with a view to adopting organisational DPO responsibilities in time.
• Oversee development, implementation and review of data governance policies, ROPA documentation, data security protocols, and internal staff training.
• Provide assurance to the charity Executive team and Board of Trustees on data compliance, reporting risks and delivering mitigating actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in data management practices, data integrations and strategic data effectiveness.

As Community Engagement Officer (Scotland), you will help grow Dogs for Good’s impact across the central belt, building strong relationships with communities, partners and volunteers. You’ll support the delivery and promotion of high-quality animal assisted interventions and activities, helping more people with disabilities benefit from the life-changing power of the human–dog bond.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract with the intention to extend, subject to funding.

While this is a remote role, there will be regular travel across the central belt. Occasional travel to our Banbury HQ is required. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

About You

• You’re a confident and approachable relationship-builder who is motivated by supporting people, communities and volunteers to make a positive difference.
• You value the vital role volunteers play and enjoy recruiting, motivating and supporting them to feel confident, informed and appreciated in their role.
• You’re passionate about inclusion and understand the impact animal assisted interventions can have for people with complex health and social care needs.
• You’re comfortable working across communities and professional settings, building strong partnerships with health, social care and third-sector organisations to help grow opportunities for volunteer-led delivery.
• You bring a collaborative, organised and outcomes-focused approach, balancing hands-on engagement with planning, coordination and promotion.
• You’re open to new ideas, confident in representing the charity and committed to helping shape and expand Dogs for Good’s presence in Scotland.
• Above all, you believe in the power of the human–dog bond and the difference that well-supported volunteers can make in changing lives.

Skills & Experience

We are looking for someone with the following key skills and experience:

• Community Engagement: Building connections with local public, voluntary, and community sector organisations, especially in Bristol
• Volunteer Management: Recruiting, training, developing, and managing volunteers
• Project Assessment: Objectively assessing and reporting on project progress, issues, and risks
• Communication: Excellent skills in communicating with clients, families, professional service providers, and the public
• Welcoming Environment: Creating a warm and inclusive community
• Client Support: Experience in supporting a diverse range of clients, with a focus on listening to their needs
• Health and Social Care Knowledge: Understanding the support landscape, particularly in Bristol
• Project Adaptability: Comfortable handling change, reporting progress, and adapting as new information arises
• Organisational Skills: Highly organised, experienced in data collection and input, using data to inform decisions
• Time Management: Ability to manage and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
• Innovation: Open to new ideas and confident in suggesting improvements to colleagues
• Teamwork: Self-motivated and effective in a dynamic team with diverse skills and experience
• IT Proficiency: Skilled in using technology to support service delivery and ensure easy access to data and records

Other knowledge and experience that would be beneficial in this role includes:

• Understanding of the services of Dogs for Good.
• Occupational therapy or social care related skills and experience

Other Requirements

• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You must have the right to live and work in the UK.
• You must be comfortable working around dogs.
• This job will involve regular travel so a UK driving license and use of your own car is preferable. However, we will work with the chosen candidate to find alternative solutions in those instances where reasonable adjustments are required.
• As you will be working with vulnerable people, you will be required to undergo a PVG (Disclosure Scotland) check. This will be renewed every 5 years.
• You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of safeguarding issues and how they should be applied to the work of the charity and its partner organisations. Full training on this will be provided during your induction.
• Flexible working hours will be required in some instances to facilitate the effective delivery of services.
• You may occasionally be required to work and stay away from home for short periods of time.

Join Our Board – Make an Impact

Help shape Scotland’s future. As a Board Director at the ALLIANCE, you’ll influence policy, guide strategy, and champion our vision: A Scotland where everyone has a strong voice and lives well with dignity and respect.

Why Join Us?

• Drive change at a national level
• Develop strategic leadership skills
• Expand your professional network
• Make a lasting impact on people’s lives

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking passionate leaders with expertise in:

• Business development and innovation strategy
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cyber security
• Influencing change
• Charity finance
• Governance, charity law and compliance
• Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights

Your Commitment

• 4 Board meetings per year (2.5 hrs each) – hybrid option
• 4 Finance, Audit and Risk committee meetings per year (2 hrs each) – hybrid option
• 1 development day plus occasional events (AGM, annual conference, self management awards).

Term

• Up to 6 years (renewable)
• Nomination required by an ALLIANCE standard member organisation.

Board Directors will be elected by our membership at our AGM on 23 March 2026.

PVG Scheme membership is required for this post.

Board Directors are unpaid but reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be paid.

Full induction will be provided.

For more information about the ALLIANCE please visit our website.