Programme Manager (Sustainable Future)

Closing date: Monday 6 January

Location: Hybrid / York

Salary: £72,810

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is looking for a programme manager to manage and develop the Sustainable Future grant programme and related initiatives. 

We are looking for a grantmaking professional who understands the complexity of the work the Trust funds, and has a personal commitment to the mission and values of the Trust. They will bring at least five years’ experience in the voluntary sector, with at least three years’ experience in grantmaking, and knowledge of issues relevant to JRCT’s Sustainable Future programme.

To apply for this role, please download the job pack for full details.

  • About the Sustainable Future programme

    Since 2014 the Sustainable Future programme has been supporting work which builds support for, and understanding of, alternative forms of organising economies and societies which allow people and the planet to thrive. Sustainable Future spend £2.3 million in grant funds per year.

    We fund a wide range of groups and organisations across the UK, with a small number of European grants. Over half of the grants we make are to non-charities. The majority of our grantees have annual income of under £1 million. Our grants are listed on our website. We fund various approaches to social change, including movement-building, policy and advocacy, imagining and demonstrating alternatives, campaigning and research.

  • About the role

    The programme manager has overall responsibility for the management of the Sustainable Future grant programme (and other grants as agreed by line manager) within the strategy agreed by the programme committees.

    You will manage all aspects of the grant cycle, including support for applicants, assessment of applications, presenting and discussing applications with the trustees and communicating decisions to applicants. You will also provide support to grantees, where appropriate offering advice and guidance on priorities, strategies and maximising impact.

    This role reports to the head of programmes, and is responsible for two part time grant officers. Part of this role includes carrying out support for, and, management, supervision, appraisal and development of staff.

    You will also work collaboratively with other staff throughout JRCT, strengthening our impact.

    For a full list of responsibilities for this role, download the job pack.

  • About you

    We are looking for skills required for, and experience of managing, supporting and developing colleagues within small, but committed teams, and building collaborative, respectful working relationships, which allow people to thrive at work.

    The successful applicant will have excellent oral and written communication skills, including handling sensitive and complex information. They will be comfortable working on their own and as part of a small team - including working with volunteer trustees. They will enjoy building relationships with a wide range of people and organisations.

    You are likely to have:

    • at least five years’ experience of working in the voluntary sector or other social change organisations 

    • at least three years’ experience of working in grantmaking 

    • experience of working with (or as part of) a voluntary committee, preferably a charity trustee body 

    • experience of providing line management to paid staff 

    • recent experience in and / or knowledge of a field relevant to JRCT’s sustainable future programme (better economics, beyond consumerism, new voices). 

    Key skills required for this role include:

    • The ability to mentor, support and encourage colleagues for whom you have line management responsibility  

    • the ability to read quickly and analyse a range of written material and to summarise and present complex information clearly to internal and external audiences

    • the ability to think strategically, for example to support the trustees in the development of grant policies in response to the changing external context  

    • the ability to offer through dialogue an appropriate combination of constructive challenge and support, for example in liaising with funded groups  

    • a friendly and open approach to networking, and the ability to foster useful external working relationships

    • willingness to engage collaboratively with formal and informal teams, and to contribute to team decision-making based on consensus 

    • planning, prioritising and project management skills, including commissioning and managing contractors or consultants 

    • the ability to maintain information systems to a high standard, with close attention to the required detail.

    For a full list of required skills and experience, download the job pack.

  • How to apply

    To apply for this role, please download the job pack for full details.

    Closing date for applications: Monday 6 January

    Equality and Diversity: We welcome all applicants and are keen to enhance our team to reflect the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve.  We would like to encourage applications from disabled people, those from LGBTQIA+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those experiencing other forms of marginalisation, as they are underrepresented at this level. 

    Accessible recruitment: JRCT is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all. If you are an applicant with a disability and/or have any specific needs or adjustments that you would like us to make, at application, interview or appointment stage, please contact recruitment@jrct.org.uk 

    Queries: If you require further information or wish to raise any matters with regard the appointment process, please contact recruitment@jrct.org.uk 

 

Grants officer (Power and Accountability)

Closing date: 9.30am, Monday 13 January 2025

Location: Hybrid / York

Salary: £44,462 FTE

This role is for 4 days a week for a fixed term of 2 years.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is seeking a grants officer to support the management, administration and development of the Power & Accountability grant programme.

For full details about this role and how to apply, please download the job pack.

  • About the Power and Accountability programme

    JRCT is a grant-making Quaker Trust that supports people who are passionate about making a positive difference; whether they are advocating for some of the most vulnerable people in our society, promoting nonviolent responses to conflict, or taking steps towards an environmentally sustainable future.

    As a grants officer at JRCT, you will be responsible for supporting the management, administration and development of the Power and Accountability Programme, including managing a small number of grants and supporting learning and convening work. This programme makes grants on Democracy, Corporate Accountability and Responsible Media.

  • About the role

    This role can be undertaken remotely, or based at our York office. We are open to flexible working patterns, including job share arrangements.  We try to schedule meetings to accommodate caring responsibilities. Someone working remotely would be required to come to the York office for at least four days per month and also to travel to committee meetings, with occasional overnight stays.

    Key responsibilities include:

    • Working with the Programme Manager to maintain and develop the current grant portfolio, identifying new organisations to connect with
    • Being responsible for overseeing the work of a subset of the programme’s grantees, supporting them and offering guidance and advice where necessary
    • Providing support during the grant cycles, including with applicant enquiries, assessing applications, writing meeting notes, presenting and discussing applications with the grant committee and informing applicants of the outcome
    • Contributing to the design and delivery of networking, convening or learning initiatives for grantees, including organising events
    • Providing reports and statistics using the grant administration database.

    For a full list of responsibilities for this role, download the job pack.

  • About you

    We seek a committed and dynamic individual, with demonstrable commitment to working in the voluntary sector, who is capable of working in a small team and of managing relationships with a wide range of people. The successful applicants will have an enquiring and analytical mind, an ability to grasp issues quickly, strong written and oral skills, and excellent administrative skills.

    They will have an interest in the fields in which the Trust funds, and strong personal commitment to the Quaker values of the Trust.

    You are likely to be:

    • A highly organised individual with the ability to manage a variety of ongoing tasks  
    • Interested in power and accountability issues relating to democracy, corporations and the media and possibly with some related work experience
    • A person who can build relationships with a diverse variety of people and organisations  
    • Someone with empathy who can show care and understanding towards those we fund
    • Someone with strong communication skills interpersonally and in writing
    • Interested in and possibly with some experience of working in philanthropy
    • Someone with a good understanding of campaigning, advocacy, social movements or how change happens
    • Someone who has first-hand experience of the voluntary sector, whether in a paid or unpaid capacity

    For a full list of required skills and experience, download the job pack.

  • How to apply

    For full details about this role and how to apply, please download the job pack.

    If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and supporting statement (maximum of 4 sides of A4) to recruitment@jrct.org.uk

    Please ensure that you complete your application by the closing date.

    Closing date: Monday 13th January 2025, 9.30am.

    Interviews: Wednesday 29th January.

    Accessibility: JRCT is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all.  If you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements for the application, interview or appointment stage, please contact recruitment@jrct.org.uk

    Queries: If you require further information or wish to raise any matters with regard to the appointment process, please contact recruitment@jrct.org.uk

    If you would like to find out more about the job, Katharine Knox, Programme Manager will be available to respond to emails in the week beginning 6th January 2025 – on Katharine.knox@jrct.org.uk