Join Our Team

The Opportunity: Leading Our Global Expansion

This is a career-defining opportunity to lead the global evolution of a major, and private, family philanthropic foundation. This is not a traditional fundraising role, but one of strategic creation, focused on architecting our international future.

Building on our successful UK track record, the primary focus of this role is to design and lead the strategy for our global expansion. Your mission will be to build the international partnerships and co-investment architecture required to amplify the impact of our substantial endowment on a world stage. This will involve leveraging our capital to attract other major funders, effectively doubling or tripling the scale of our international grant-making and transforming our global reach.

While we have a history of success, the architecture for a leveraged, global development function is yet to be built. You will have the autonomy and resources to design this function, shaping the international identity of the Foundation and working with our existing team to take our proven impact to a truly global scale. This is a role for a builder who can see the potential in a well-resourced, established platform and has the vision to help transition it from a respected, under-the-radar entity into a recognised and influential force in global philanthropy.

*A significantly higher salary and bespoke package is available for a candidate with an exceptional track record of building and scaling global philanthropic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Global Strategy & Architecture: Design and build the Foundation’s global development strategy, focusing on leveraging and amplifying our endowment through international partnerships and co-investment.
• Strategic Alliances: Identify, cultivate, and secure multi-year, seven-figure financial partnerships with major international trusts, foundations, corporate philanthropies, and public sector bodies to match-fund our global programmes.
• Philanthropic Leadership: Act as a primary external representative of the Foundation in global philanthropic circles, shaping our international identity and building our reputation as a credible, influential, and collaborative partner.
• Major Philanthropic Engagement: Manage a select portfolio of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and philanthropists, securing transformative partnerships aligned with scaling specific international initiatives.
• Internal Collaboration: Work in close partnership with the Head of International Programmes to create compelling, investment-ready cases for support that attract strategic global funding partners.
• Board-Level Reporting: Provide expert advice and regular reporting on financial growth, pipeline development, and market opportunities for global expansion to the CEO and Board of Trustees.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience: A minimum of 8 years of experience in a senior development, philanthropy, or strategic partnership role, with a demonstrable track record of securing seven-figure+ funds through sophisticated, multi-partner agreements.
• Strategic Vision: Proven success in developing and executing strategies that go beyond traditional fundraising, such as securing co-investment, match-funding, or other leveraged financial models, preferably in an international context.
• Partnership Development: Experience working with endowed foundations, family offices, or directly with major philanthropists is essential, demonstrating an understanding of this unique and discreet environment.
• Strength in Scale: An entrepreneurial spirit and a proven ability to scale successful functions or initiatives for global reach.
• Relationship Management: Exceptional networking, negotiation, and relationship management skills, with the ability to operate with credibility and influence at the highest levels.
• Financial Flexibility: Sophisticated financial acumen combined with an innovative and strategic mindset.

Desirable

• Experience in helping a foundation or programme transition from a national to a global focus.
• An established global network of senior contacts across the philanthropic sector.
• Experience with social investment or venture philanthropy.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification, such as an MBA.

Role Overview

The Head of International Programmes is a senior strategic role responsible for expanding the Foundation’s mission and impact beyond the UK. You will lead the design and implementation of our global strategy, identifying new regions and opportunities for investment. This involves researching societal needs, sourcing and vetting high-impact international partners, and overseeing a portfolio of grants to ensure our funding empowers communities effectively and sustainably. This is a programmatic leadership role, not a fundraising position.

Key Responsibilities

• International Strategy: Develop and execute the Foundation's international strategy, identifying priority countries and thematic areas for expansion that align with our core mission.
• Programme Scoping & Design: Conduct in-depth research and landscape analysis to inform programme design. Work with local partners to co-create culturally relevant and impactful projects.
• Partnership Development: Identify, conduct due diligence on, and cultivate relationships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), social enterprises, and community-based organisations that can deliver our mission on the ground.
• Grant Portfolio Management: Oversee the entire international grant-making cycle, from initial assessment to final evaluation. Make funding recommendations to the CEO and Board of Trustees.
• Impact Measurement & Learning: Implement a robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework to measure the impact of our international portfolio and ensure continuous improvement.
• Risk Management: Assess and manage the financial, reputational, and operational risks associated with international grant-making and programming.
• Leadership & Representation: Act as a key spokesperson for the Foundation's international work and build a small, high-performing team as the portfolio grows.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience: A minimum of 7 years of senior-level experience in international programme design and management within a grant-making foundation, INGO, or a similar organisation.
• Strategic Vision: Proven ability to develop and implement programme strategies in new geographical or thematic areas.
• International Grant-making: Extensive experience in managing the full grant cycle in an international context, including remote due diligence and partner vetting.
• Partnership Skills: A demonstrable track record of identifying and building effective, equitable partnerships with organisations in the Global South.
• MEL Expertise: Strong understanding and practical application of monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks in an international development context.
• Communication: Exceptional cross-cultural communication and relationship-building skills.

Desirable

• Field-based experience working for an NGO or community organisation in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
• Experience working within a family foundation and reporting at a board level.
• Fluency in a second language such as French, Spanish, or Arabic.

Role Overview

The Lead Funding Officer (UK) will manage and develop a diverse portfolio of UK-based grants, focusing on our key areas of youth engagement and skills development. You will be responsible for the end-to-end grant management cycle, from assessing complex applications and conducting due diligence to building strong, supportive relationships with our partners. As a "Lead" officer, you will also mentor junior team members and contribute significantly to the evolution of our UK funding strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Grant Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of grants, acting as the primary relationship manager for grantees. Conduct thorough assessments of new applications, including analysis of financial health, governance, and potential for impact.
• Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with a diverse range of community organisations, providing guidance and support beyond funding.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Monitor the progress of funded projects through reports and site visits, working with partners to understand challenges, successes, and lessons learned.
• Strategic Input: Contribute to the ongoing development of the Foundation’s UK funding strategy by identifying funding gaps, researching social trends, and sharing insights from your portfolio.
• Team Mentorship: Provide guidance, support, and informal mentorship to Funding Officers and administrative staff, helping to develop talent within the team.
• Reporting: Prepare clear and concise assessment summaries and recommendations for the grants committee and Board of Trustees.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience: A minimum of 5 years of experience in a grant-making role within a foundation, trust, or statutory body. Direct experience assessing applications and managing a portfolio of grants is essential.
• Sector Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of the UK voluntary and community sector, particularly relating to youth services, employability, or community development.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess organisational capacity, financial stability, and the viability of proposed projects.
• Relationship Management: Proven ability to build and maintain effective and empathetic relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, from grassroots projects to senior leaders.
• Communication: Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into clear, persuasive reports and recommendations.

Desirable

• Experience in a "lead" or senior role with mentorship responsibilities.
• Direct, lived or professional experience in one of the Foundation’s key funding areas.
• Experience with participatory grant-making approaches.

Role Overview

The Application Support Officer is a vital member of the operations team, serving as the first point of contact for organisations seeking funding. You will be responsible for ensuring a smooth, efficient, and positive experience for all applicants. This role involves managing our grant management system, responding to enquiries, and providing essential administrative support to the funding team to ensure our grant-making process is robust and accessible.

Key Responsibilities

• First-Line Support: Manage the grants enquiry inbox and phone line, providing timely, clear, and helpful advice to potential applicants on funding criteria and application processes.
• System Administration: Maintain the online grant application portal (e.g., Flexi-Grant/Blackbaud), ensuring it is user-friendly and data is accurate. Support users with technical queries.
• Eligibility & Due Diligence: Conduct initial eligibility checks on all incoming applications, ensuring they meet the Foundation's criteria before passing them to Funding Officers for full assessment.
• Process Coordination: Prepare application papers for funding meetings, schedule assessment panels, and communicate outcomes to applicants in a sensitive and constructive manner.
• Data Management: Ensure all applicant and grantee data is recorded accurately and consistently in our CRM system, and assist in producing reports on application trends.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience: Proven experience in a busy administrative or customer support role, ideally within the non-profit or grant-making sector.
• IT Proficiency: High level of IT literacy, including advanced skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and experience using databases or CRM systems.
• Organisational Skills: Exceptional organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and a high volume of work with outstanding attention to detail.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a professional, empathetic, and patient demeanour.
• Teamwork: A proactive and collaborative team player, willing to support colleagues across the Foundation.

Desirable

• Direct experience using grant management software.
• Experience working in a charity or community organisation.
• An understanding of the basic principles of grant-making.