Address
Form of work
SalaryThis post sits in the Development Team, which is responsible for delivering income to sustain and grow The Reader’s work and developing the relationships that can help make that work happen. You’ll be working in a small, fast-paced team that needs to be flexible to opportunities as they arise. This role will work across income streams, developing funding bids, cultivating and stewarding funders and partners and actively supporting the work of the Development Managers.
Key Responsibilities
Knowledge and Skills
• To shape service delivery models and assemble appropriate and accurate budgets and project plans in collaboration with wider teams.
• To shape, design and write high quality and compelling bids and proposals to secure funding for a range of audiences, including from Trusts and Foundations, public sector organisations through contracts or commissions and in the development of packages for potential partner organisations.
• To shape, design and write high quality, well-informed funder reports, using information drawn from across the organisation and including both qualitative and quantitative data.
• To support the team to put together draft, project-specific budgets for sign off where appropriate or required.
• To lead the team to respond quickly and efficiently to matters relating to lead responsibilities, including making decisions that impact high level funder relationships (e.g., Arts Council England) and large and growing areas of work (e.g., Children and Young People).
• To support the team in responding quickly and efficiently to reactive funding opportunities, designing budgets and bespoke proposals where required.
• Support the team to refine internal processes, by participating in ongoing consultation, testing and review.
• To manage and lead on Development related decision making with regard the Children and Young People area of work, which is of significant contract value. Including managing the Development team’s relationship with the CYP team; coordinating monthly meetings; maintaining an understanding of projects, plans and fundraising needs; deciding on and building project budgets; identifying funders; packaging, developing and writing fundraising bids including budgets for funders; building products and drafting quotes for commissioners; managing commissioning contracts; drafting quarterly reports for this area of work for the Board.
• Working closely with the Head of Monitoring & Evaluation and across the organisation to manage the successful completion of annual and interim reporting to Arts Council England, as a National Portfolio Organisation – this requires effective managing up to support and steer senior managers across the organisation in order to fulfil the requirements of this contract.
Communication
• To input into briefs for the Communications team to identify promotional opportunities related to funded areas of activity, liaising with the funder to ensure all permissions are secured.
• Work across the organisation to obtain the necessary information for bids, proposals and reports coordinating the process and managing up when appropriate in order to make sure deadlines are met.
• Coordinate key contracts of work, being clear on funder expectations and communicating those to others by preparing agendas for staff meetings, providing further briefs where required whilst ensuring teams are operating in accordance with funder requirements.
Planning and Organising
• Proactively identify and research prospective funders and partners to drive pipeline growth, qualify leads and prioritise and appropriately respond to opportunities as they arise.
• Support the implementation of the development and partnership pipeline, ensuring that information is kept up to date and actions completed.
• To keep up to date records on the CRM and record all arising actions.
• To contribute to the writing of quarterly board reports, providing updates on progress towards funding targets, work completed and work underway.
Person Specification:
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities.
• A team player with a positive and flexible attitude with a willingness and ability to learn on the job and work collaboratively with colleagues.
• An effective influencer and negotiator with a demonstrable ability to sell concepts in a clear and engaging way.
• Strong IT skills with experience of or willingness to be trained on our CRM system and ability to process data and run reports.
• Highly motivated with the ability to work independently and use initiative.
• Experience of researching, collating and presenting information in a clear format.
• Experience of working in either a fundraising, account management, business development or marketing/sales role.
• Experience of working for a voluntary, arts or social enterprise role.
• Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the wider work of The Reader.
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