Funding Policy and Practice Manager – Two permanent roles
The National Lottery Community Fund is seeking to build the capacity and capability of its Funding Policy and Practice team with several new Funding Policy and Practice Manager roles.
The Funding Policy and Practice Manager role is housed in the Funding Policy and Practice team within the Funding Strategy, Innovation and UK Directorate. The team is responsible for ensuring our Fund-wide funding policy and internal practice delivers our It Starts with Community strategy, enabling funding that makes the greatest possible difference to communities, whilst recognising the wider regulatory and strategic considerations associated with the distribution of public money.
Working with the Head of Funding Policy and Practice, you will play a key role in developing our Fund-wide funding policy and practice which supports five distinct funding portfolios: Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and the UK portfolio that spans the four countries.
You will work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that our funding policies, which set the direction on who we fund and what we fund are fit for purpose. You will also support developing our funding mechanisms, the how we fund, and deliver some aspects of regulatory compliance such as our Funding Controls Framework. The practice aspect of the role will see you developing guidance and supporting funding teams to turn policy considerations into practical realities for our funding colleagues, customers and the wider civil society sector.
You will help to ensure that our funding policy and practice is “for everyone”: we’re looking for someone who recognises that our commitment to equity and fairness in our grant making flows through all we do.
You will have an eye for identifying internal and external insight that has the potential to inform our policy and practice direction. You will connect with internal colleagues and hold some external relationships, collaborating to formulate well-considered policies that are aligned with our strategic ambitions. You will work with teams across the Fund to ensure these policies are established and effective in practice. From time to time you may develop broader policy and practice positions that affect the whole of The Fund.
The right person for this role flourishes in complexity and relishes the challenges of finding the best path through overlapping and often competing agendas. They are adept at managing a diverse and ever-changing workload, and setting their own priorities in response to insights from a wide variety of sources, including our grant-holders, colleagues, senior management team, and external stakeholders.
Key responsibilities may include:
* Revising existing or developing new funding policy and practice positions and guidance within governance frameworks.
* Managing policy and practice relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that our position and practice is robust and delivering our It Starts with Community strategy.
* Developing policy and practice around our funding mechanisms.
* Providing advice to colleagues to ensure they are operating within our policy and practice positions.
* Ensuring regulatory compliance such as through our Funding Control Framework.
* Representing the Fund at external meetings.
* Exploring developments in philanthropy and civil society to help improve The Fund’s grantmaking.
Interview date: 20th and 24th November, Virtual
Location: UK-wide - We have a hybrid approach to working. Work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Newtown.
We will be hosting a briefing session on: Thursday 23rd October 11am, to register or ask any questions please email us.
How to apply:
Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.
Essential Criteria
* Ability to quickly develop a good understanding of new and complex topics, including an understanding of the internal and external funding environment and the implications for your work
* Strong management skills, including ability to set direction on the projects you own, while balancing cross Fund sensitivities and priorities
* Ability to balance complex and competing perspectives, manage risk and deliver a practical solution which aligns a position to operational realities
* Good understanding of when to escalate questions and challenges to senior colleagues
* Strong engagement and collaboration skills, able to work with a range of people and employ transparent ways of working to shape and deliver your projects
* Good analytical skills, able to draw on data and qualitative evidence internally and externally to inform your work
* An understanding of the funding environment for civil society organisations and ability to understand the implications of developments in the wider environment for your work.
Desirable Criteria:
* Understanding of the implications of the Fund’s status as a public body for funding policy and practice
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).