2 Contract, Charity / Voluntary jobs in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire

The Robertson Trust are looking for a 12-month fixed term Funding Officer, based in Robertson House, to assess applications to Our Funds, provide support to grantholders and collaborate on our project work. If you would like to be part of one of Scotland’s biggest independent funders, with the clear aim of tackling poverty and trauma, this role could be for you.

We want to see a Scotland where everyone is valued and able to flourish. Over the next decade, we have committed to use all our tools and resources, including our sites at Robertson House, Glasgow and The Barracks, Stirling, to work with others to reduce poverty and trauma across four themes:

·      Education Pathways

·      Nurturing Relationships

·      Financial Security

·      Work Pathways

The fixed term Funding Officer will maximise the impact and effectiveness of the Trust’s funding by ensuring we are supporting projects and activities which are closely aligned to one or more of the Trust’s four identified Primary Themes.

The key focus of the role is the assessment of applications to Our Funds, provide appropriate levels of support to grantholders during the period of funding to ensure payments are released on a timely basis, and collaborating on thematic or process related project work.

Key responsibilities:

• To undertake full and thorough assessment of funding requests to Our Funds, carrying out a range of in person and online meetings and tasks to ensure that detailed recommendations are written-up and presented for consideration within agreed lead times as defined within the annual schedule of Decision Meetings. 
• To work closely with colleagues, helping to ensure that payments to current grant holders are released on a timely basis and within the context of agreed protocols and procedures.
• To assist with broader provision of information and guidance at the point of application and through attendance at funding/networking events.
• To undertake additional project work when required, to increase the Trust’s understanding of key issues in the third sector, including the preparation of relevant reports.
• To manage relationships with our Grantholders as defined by current policies and procedures. This includes working with grantholders to support them in resolving any issues raised during the period of funding.
• To attend and contribute to external events which help to remove barriers and improve access to our Funds.
• To participate in relevant Cross-Theme groups and activities, examples of which include Theme Teams, Partners in Change, EDPR and Climate.

A full job description is available on our website.

The Person

We are looking for someone with knowledge of the Trust’s mission on poverty and trauma, the funding landscape and current challenges faced by our grantholders and the wider voluntary sector. You should understand what makes charities resilient (including their good governance) and have the ability to respond creatively to risks and opportunities, along with an understanding of the impact charities are seeking to make, diverse ways of working and the contribution an independent funder can make towards their success. You should be an excellent communicator with a wide range of audiences and stakeholders and can influence and negotiate using a range of strategies. You should be inquisitive with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail to be able to make good judgements and manage risks. Working effectively as part of a collaborative team environment, being adaptable to change and taking the initiative in responding to the needs of our partners and colleagues/the Trust is important in this role.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer. We want to encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds to work with us. We believe that greater diversity of experience, skills and ways of thinking will challenge our thinking and practice on poverty and trauma and broaden our collective knowledge and networks. We encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates from all parts of the community, regardless of age, disability, race, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief or socio-economic background. We also encourage applications from those with experience or knowledge of how poverty or trauma impact on people’s lives.

Benefits

• Salary £39,906 FTE
• 35 days holiday per calendar year, inclusive of public holidays, which can be taken on a flexible basis apart from the Christmas and New Yer holiday when the Trust closes. 
• Pension - 10% employer contribution or 14% if employee contribution is 7%
• Additional employee benefits – an attractive benefits package on offer, which is currently under review.

The Robertson Trust is committed to hybrid and other forms of flexible working. The Trust is open to reasonable adaptations to overcome barriers. We are a Living Wage employer accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.

How to apply

To apply please email your CV and covering letter explaining why you want to work for The Robertson Trust and how you are suited to each point on the person specification for this role along with a completed equality monitoring form (found on our website). The equality monitoring form will be treated with the strictest confidence and will not be used to make any decisions within the recruitment process. The closing date for applications is 21st April 2025. First interviews will be held Tuesday 6th May 2025. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.