Assistant grants officer jobs

Harris Hill – Charity Recruitment Specialists is excited to be partnering with a purpose-driven organisation to recruit an Executive Assistant, who will play a central role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of their operations.

This is a maternity-cover position, a 13-month fixed-term contract offered on a full-time or part-time basis (five or four days per week). While primarily home-based, the successful candidate will be required to work on a hybrid basis for the initial months (1-2 times a week in the office in Farnham, Surrey).

Our client manages a portfolio of charitable grants on behalf of a private, anonymous Trust. Their work spans continents and a diverse range of issues, from education and health to humanitarian relief and sustainable development, always with a focus on long-term impact. At the heart of their mission is a commitment to building an equitable, sustainable world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and live a healthy life. The Trust wishes to remain as anonymous and low-profile as possible to give humbly and keep focus on those who are working to alleviate suffering.

Although high-level executive support is a key component of this role, it is far more than diary management. The Executive Assistant will become a trusted member of our client’s small team, helping to develop and maintain streamlined administrative systems, supporting the setup and oversight of grants, coordinating meetings and hybrid events across different time zones, and liaising with a wide range of stakeholders. From managing expense claims and grant documentation to planning international gatherings and ensuring follow-through on action points, this is a varied and essential role.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience as an Executive Assistant, supporting a CEO and senior management team, ideally within a charity, trust, or foundation. They will bring significant experience in diary management, event coordination, and committee servicing, and will be a confident and efficient minute taker. Highly organised, proactive, and adaptable, the post holder will have the ability to plan well, build relationships, and be comfortable in taking the initiative. The post holder will be comfortable using a wide range of digital tools and platforms (including MS Word and Excel, CRM databases, SharePoint, MS Teams, Zoom, and project management applications). They will thrive in a remote-first environment and be confident juggling multiple priorities while working both independently and collaboratively.

To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV by the 24th June at 23:59. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide a tailored cover letter.

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As a leading charity recruitment specialist and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

You’ll carry out key administrative tasks, growing the support and development function of the Charity. This is an exciting opportunity to help Cambridge City Foodbank realise its vision of ending the need for foodbanks, through an ambitious strategy operating through networks of affordable food clubs, foodbank welcome centres, holistic support projects, and campaigning to change current systems which contribute to food insecurity.

Your tasks will include stewardship communications with individual donors and creating assets for community supporters to generate food and financial resources. You will assist the securing of income from grant giving trusts and foundations, and will undertake key executive assistant duties on behalf of the Development Director and CEO.

Main Duties:

● Develop strong individual donor relations through regular stewardship communications and powerful fundraising appeals, alongside establishing the associated data and systems;

● Create community development assets, which enables community groups to engage with and provide resources for the Charity, such as for charitable fundraising / food donation events.

● Together with the Development Director and CEO, secure income from, and maintain relations with grant giving trusts and foundations.

● Together with the Development Director and CEO, develop a team of volunteers who can support the work of the Charity’s development function.

● Support the Development Director and CEO, in their communication with supporters and corporate partners, to build good relations, gain and maintain corporate partner support.

● Liaise with colleagues across the Trussell Trust network; sharing best practice and participating in learning opportunities, to further the work of Cambridge City Foodbank.

● Other administrative activities may be requested from time to time by the CEO and Development Director, consistent with the needs of the Charity and role of Executive Assistant.

Personal Specification:

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

● Strong administrative experience, highly organised, and able to effectively juggle multiple administrative tasks at the same time!

● Competent in the use of Zoom/Teams and MS Office software. Training will be provided to upskill in the use of Canva, Mailchimp, donor databases and social media (such as LinkedIn and Instagram).

● Excellent written and verbal communication and relationship management skills, you will inspire and motivate existing and prospective supporters, providing excellent stewardship and crafting compelling donor updates, applications and appeals.

NB. Experience of charitable fundraising is not essential when demonstrating the strong transferable skills above. Training will be provided.

Behaviours and competencies:

● Friendly, trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality.

● Able to demonstrate empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially-excluded backgrounds.

● Be committed to the vision, respect the ethos and uphold the values of Cambridge City Foodbank and Trussell Trust.

Our Vision, Ethos & Values:

Our Vision is to end the need for UK food banks. Each day we meet the need for emergency and affordable food, and tackle the causes of poverty, by harnessing the power of the community. We are an independent local charity and member of the Trussell Trust network.

We value dignity, justice, compassion, community and impact, in all that we do. We serve local people regardless of background, inspired by our Christian ethos and values.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity actively encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions and those with a lived experience of poverty as well as any other under-represented group in our workforce. We are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of our employees from all forms of harm.

In 2026: our team of over 200 volunteers, will provide 250,000 meals to people across Cambridge through our network of Foodbank Welcome Centres and Fairbite Food Clubs.

Help us achieve our vision that fewer people die by suicide.

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We’re looking for an experienced Project Officer to play a key role in delivering and reporting on a major multi-year funding programme supporting Samaritans’ work across our London region.

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You will lead the coordination, administration, and reporting of activity funded through a significant seven-year partnership with City Bridge Foundation. Working closely with senior staff, volunteers, London branches, and external partners and our funder, you’ll ensure projects are effectively delivered, tracked, and evidenced.

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This is a highly collaborative role where you’ll bring together data, insights, and updates into clear, compelling reports, while helping shape how Samaritans’ work is delivered and improved collaboratively across London.

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Contract Terms

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• £34,000-£37,000 per annum plus benefits
• Full time (35 hours per week)
• Permanent
• We are passionate about flexible working—talk to us about your preferences
• Hybrid working with travel to Ewell office and occasional travel to branches and other locations related to the role
• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We ask you to work in person around 2 days or more per month.
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

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What You’ll Be doing

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• Set up and manage project management processes, tools, and templates to support delivery of funded activities
• Coordinate quarterly reporting cycles, gathering accurate and timely data from branches and partners
• Produce high-quality quarterly reports, combining insights from across Samaritans into clear updates for City Bridge Foundation
• Monitor progress, identify risks or issues, and escalate where necessary to senior stakeholders
• Maintain accurate financial records, documentation, and audit trails for grant funding
• Act as a key point of contact for London branches and third-party partners, ensuring engagement and alignment
• Organise and facilitate meetings, including agendas, minutes, and follow-up actions
• Support evidence gathering and sharing of learning to inform future service delivery and outreach development
• Collaborate with internal teams (research, communications, policy, and people teams) to support wider organisational goals
• Contribute to developing London-focused plans, activities, and future funding bids

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What You’ll Bring

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• Proven experience supporting complex, multi-stream projects, including planning, tracking, and reporting
• Strong report writing skills, with attention to detail and the ability to clearly communicate activities, outcomes, and impact
• Experience coordinating meetings and working with a wide range of stakeholders, including volunteers and external partners
• Proactive approach in identifying challenges and solutions, and passion for making a meaningful impact
• Strong organisation skills, with excellent attention to detail and strong IT skills (Microsoft Office, Teams/Zoom)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships and influence across different groups
• Discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information
• A bonus if you have experience in the charity sector, working with grant funding, or community-based initiatives

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Full Job Description and Person Specification below.

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Why Samaritans?

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At Samaritans, you’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission. You’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.

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We offer flexible hybrid working, great benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland. To find out more about Samaritans, please read our recruitment brochure.

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We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the people we support and who support us. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels seen, heard and supported, at all levels of the organisation.

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Apply now

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If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love for you to apply. You will be asked to answer some short application questions and to upload your CV and cover letter. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do. 

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team. 

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through. We recognise that some candidates may use assistive technology or tools to help with accessibility, structure or grammar. 

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​ Applications close: midnight on Friday 3rd July

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1st stage interviews (online): Thursday 16th July

2nd stage interviews (in person KT17 2AF): Wednesday 22nd July