Community Investment and Grants Officer

Purpose of Role
To support the broad range of activities that make up the Community Investment and Grants programme which aims to create strong, well-served and equal communities across Southwark. This involves grants administration and monitoring, community engagement and outreach, marketing and organization of events. Also to contribute to the wider charity’s communications and marketing activities.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Grants Administration and Monitoring
• Plan and launch grants programmes
• Support in assessing grant applications and carrying out due diligence on applicants
• Authorise and track grants payments, working closely with the Finance Manager
• Track and collate monitoring information
• Regularly update the grants management system (FlexiGrant) and liaise with system managers as necessary
• Carry out visits and assessments of potential partners and existing partners
Grants Management
• Lead on the Small Grants Programme, ensuring that this is delivered in line with budget
• Take part in collaborative grants programmes (in partnership with other organisations and funders), as and when the opportunities arise
Outreach, Relationship-building and Intelligence Gathering
• Identify and build relationships with groups across Southwark whose work could further the aims of the Community Investment (CI) programme
• Attend meetings and events as relevant
• Identify local needs, trends and opportunities relevant to the programme

Information and Support to Local Groups
• Provide advice and support to groups applying for funding
• Collect and disseminate information to partners and others (for example, updating the UStSC funding guide, sending out information about funding or other opportunities)
• Contribute to other programmes and activities within the CI programme
Communication and Events
• Promote and publicise the grants programmes
• Support the organization of connecting events and meetings
• Regularly update the website and provide regular social posts in line with our communications policy and wider communications plan
Other
• Organise meetings and take minutes for the CI committee
• Attend training or other events to develop knowledge and build relationships.
• Undertake other duties in line with the level of the post, as relevant and appropriate.

Someone who is:
• Knowledgeable about Southwark and its diverse communities
• Passionate about social change and improving lives
• Self-motivated and organised
• Able to work collaboratively and flexibly in our small but growing team
Ideally, we want someone who brings the following:
• Experience of working or volunteering in the community or charity sector
• Good planning and administration skills
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Strong digital, numeracy and literacy skills
• Knowledge of grant-making would be useful but not essential

What We Can Offer
• A supportive workplace environment
• The opportunity for you to join and contribute to our exciting journey – and make a real difference to lives in Southwark
• Training and learning opportunities

We're particularly keen to attract candidates who are representative of Southwark's diverse communities. We offer a supportive, nurturing and inclusive working environment.

United St Saviour’s Charity (UStSC) has a 500-year history in Southwark but a very progressive outlook and big ambitions for the future. We are one of the largest independent funders in Southwark and have provided nearly £5m in grants to organisations working in Southwark over the past 5 years through our Community Investment programme. We’ve also responded to a number of urgent local issues for the benefit of Southwark; in 2017 we set up the Borough Market Traders’ Fund, awarding £400k to traders and local businesses in the wake of the terrorist attacks and in 2020 we led a collaboration of local funders to run the Southwark Community Response Fund which awarded over £700k to help local people through the pandemic.
The aim of our Community Investment and Grants programme is to build strong communities, create a more equal Southwark and improve quality of life for older people in the borough. We are also hosting the ‘One Southwark’ programme, the aim of which is to level the playing field for young people in the borough.
This recruitment follows a recent internal promotion.