Grants and trusts officer jobs

• Hours: 37.5 per week 

• Salary: £57,000 per annum 

• Contract: Permanent 

• Location: Our office, Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB 

• Deadline for applications: Monday 15th June, 12 Noon 

• Job Interview Date: Monday 29th June 

The Director of Finance, Corporate Services & Income is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring Advonet is financially sustainable, well-run and resilient. The role provides strategic financial leadership, oversight of corporate services, and a significant focus on income generation and diversification.  

This role plays a critical part in strengthening Advonet’s long-term viability by improving financial decision‑making, embedding a culture of income awareness and diversification, and enabling managers and teams to contribute confidently to business development activity.  

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To find out more about this vacancy, please download our Recruitment Pack from our website. It has information on what the role involves, including key responsibilities and a person specification. There is also more about what working for Advonet is like, as well as information on our values and the benefits on offer.

To apply for this job we require a cover letter (max 500 words) and a CV diversity monitoring form. You can find more details about this in the Recruitment Pack.

For any questions about the role, please contact our office and ask to speak to Angela Ellis CEO.

We are seeking a Director of Operations to join ERA at a pivotal moment of growth. This is a senior, strategic hire  who will shape how ERA is structured, scaled, and sustained over the long term. In 2026, we are scaling to run two summer fellowships: an ERA:AI fellowship and an AIxBiosecurity fellowship, alongside at least two major conferences and a pipeline of new domain-specific programmes. We want to streamline our operations to match this scale.

Working closely with the Executive Director and Programme Director, you will take ownership of ERA's operational effectiveness, compliance, financial strategy, and team development. You will be the person who translates ERA's ambitious programme vision into the systems, structures, and culture that make it possible and who ensures that as we grow from a small core team to an organisation of 15–20+ people, we do not lose what makes us effective. This includes managing the visa and compliance infrastructure that underpins ERA's international fellowship model.

This is a high-trust, high-autonomy role. You will have real scope to shape the organisation's trajectory, building systems that stick, managing risk proactively, mentoring a growing operations team, and acting as a senior counsel to ERA's leadership. You will also be ERA's operational interface with our Board, including preparing materials, ensuring regulatory compliance, and flagging strategic risks.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Strategy & Scaling

• Set the strategic direction for ERA's operations function, ensuring it evolves alongside organisational growth

• Translate ERA's programme and organisational strategy into coherent operational frameworks and execution plans

• Lead ERA through its next phase of growth, from a small, generalist team to a larger, more structured organisation of 15–20+ staff managing the cultural and structural change this requires

• Design and implement systems, workflows, and processes that scale: robust, clear, and built to last beyond any individual

• Identify structural bottlenecks and scaling risks proactively, resolving them before they become crises

• Strengthen coordination between the operations, programmes, and research teams to ensure internal systems support high-quality external work

Financial Oversight

• Provide senior oversight of ERA's financial strategy, working closely with the (future) Finance Lead on multi-year planning, scenario modelling, and budgeting aligned with ERA's fundraising and growth plans

• Oversee financial reporting, controls, and compliance, maintaining standards appropriate to ERA's scale and funder expectations

• Manage stipend and reimbursement processing, grant financial reporting, and audit-readiness

• Integrate financial planning into organisational design and capacity decisions

Board Relations & Governance

• Prepare materials for Board meetings, ensuring ERA's leadership has clear, accurate information on operational and financial performance

• Ensure ERA meets all relevant legal and regulatory obligations — including charity law, data protection, employment law, and visa compliance

• Flag operational risks, resource constraints, and structural issues that require Board-level decisions

• Support ERA in developing governance structures appropriate to its growing scale and complexity

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, develop, and performance-manage ERA's operations team, building functional depth as the organisation grows

• Mentor junior operations staff, supporting their professional growth and expanding their capacity over time

• Help set the tone for ERA's culture and values as the organisation scales — modelling integrity, focus, and care for colleagues

• Coordinate across the senior team, acting as a thought partner and source of counsel for the Executive Director and leadership

Compliance, Risk & HR

• Oversee HR operations including employment contracts, visa and right-to-work compliance, onboarding, and staff policies

• Manage ERA's sponsor licence obligations, maintaining compliance with UKVI requirements and overseeing visa applications for a high volume of international fellows and staff -  a core and recurring operational responsibility given ERA's programme model

• Develop and maintain ERA's risk management frameworks, ensuring risks are identified, owned, and mitigated

• Ensure adherence to all relevant legal, regulatory, and institutional policies across ERA's operations

About You

We are looking for a senior operational leader who combines strategic clarity with a genuine bias for execution. You might be a strong fit if you:

• Have significant experience in operational leadership ideally at director level or equivalent, with responsibility for overall organisational performance across multiple functions

• Have led organisations or teams through periods of significant growth and change including managing the transition from a small, informal team to a structured, scalable organisation

• Think in systems you design processes and structures that work without you, and you take satisfaction in building infrastructure that outlasts any individual

• Are a proactive problem-solver you anticipate issues before they arise, move quickly when they do, and stay calm under pressure

• Have experience managing upwards including working with or preparing materials for a Board of Directors, and flagging risks at the right level of the organisation

• Are a strong people manager and mentor you invest in your team's development, hold people to high standards with care, and build culture through example

• Are excited by ERA's mission, you understand why mitigating catastrophic risks from frontier AI matters and want to build an organisation capable of doing it well

Essential

• Demonstrated experience in a senior operational or director-level role, with broad responsibility across multiple functions

• Financial literacy and oversight experience, including familiarity with budgeting, reporting, and financial controls

• Experience managing compliance across employment law, data protection, and/or charity 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills able to work effectively with technical researchers, programme teams, and external stakeholders

• Experience managing and mentoring a team

Desirable

• Track record of leading organisational change and scaling operations through periods of growth

• Experience working with a Board of Directors or governance body

• Background in nonprofit, research, or academic environments

• Familiarity with UK employment law and compliance requirements including visa sponsorship management

• Understanding of AI safety, governance, or a related field

Location & Working Arrangements

This role is based in Cambridge, UK. We encourage and expect in-person presence, particularly during ERA's fellowship periods and conferences. Outside of these periods, we offer flexibility around hybrid working.

In exceptional cases, we may consider candidates based overseas, provided they are able to be present in Cambridge during programme delivery.

ERA is able to support visa applications for this role. Eligibility for sponsorship will depend on individual circumstances and the applicable route; we encourage candidates to discuss this with us early in the process.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience 

• Professional development budget of £5,000

• Productivity budget of £2,000 

• Employer pension contribution of 10%

• Four weeks of PTO recommended per year

• Private health insurance including dental and vision

• Flexible and hybrid working outside of programme periods

• A mission-driven, tight-knit team working on one of the most important challenges of our time

• The start date is flexible, and we may be willing to wait for an extended period of time for the best candidate, though we’d prefer successful candidates to start as soon as possible after receiving an offer.

Application Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early applications. Our process typically includes:

• Initial application (CV + short questions)

• Screening call

• Interviews with ERA team

• Paid work trial (two days, remote/in-person) and reference checks

• Employment offer

We recognise that this is a demanding process. We offer compensated work trials, and we will work with candidates to accommodate scheduling constraints.

Community Fundraising Assistant - North 

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.​

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - North, to join our Community and Digital Fundraising team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in either Scotland, North East England, North West England or the East Midlands? 

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Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack which is included within this advert.​​​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

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We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

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Main Purpose of Role:

· Devise and implement a mixed programme of community fundraising activities, to generate a sustainable source of unrestricted income to meet agreed targets.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Launch, implement and run innovative income generating projects to maximise donations to SWA, to look after relationships with existing donors and build on relationships created to ensure fundraising potential is optimised.
• Set up and manage a volunteer community fundraising team
• Organise and manage community fundraising activities (including digital) and events to maximise all fundraising opportunities and work to raise the profile of the SWA.
• Keep abreast of developments in the third sector relating to fundraising and have an awareness of the local competition for donations.

General Responsibilities:

Responsible for the Health, Safety and welfare of yourself and your colleagues, ensuring the duties and responsibilities are clearly understood and that legislative requirements are adhered to.

• Respect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the course of duties, perform and refrain from disclosing such information without written consent from management, except where disclosure is required by order of a Court of law.

• Maintain professional competence by complying, at all times, with the training and competence procedures set down by the Organisation. Generally, keep abreast of developments affecting your duties and responsibilities.
• Be aware of the Organisation’s Equal Opportunities Policy regarding both employees and service users to assist in eliminating all areas of inequality and discrimination.
• Become familiar with the aims, ethics and aspirations of the Organisation and to sustain and promote them. Participate enthusiastically in the growth and prosperity of the Organisation.
• Undertake any other business development/funding duties, as directed that can reasonably be accommodated within the salary range for the job and your expertise.

Job Description and Review

The job description reflects the present requirements of the post.  The description will be reviewed in consultation of the job holder as and when the duties and responsibilities change.  Such review will normally also take place at the Annual Appraisal Meeting.

Desirable

• Charity fundraising qualification
• Membership of Institute of Fundraising or other relevant professional body.
• Ability to speak Welsh

Essential

Experience 

• Minimum of two years’ experience in community fundraising with a proven track record of achieving funding target
• Experience in planning, organising and delivering fundraising campaigns, events and activities
• Developing and evaluating new opportunities for partnerships and community fundraising
• Raising funds via social media activities/digital marketing
• Experience of managing or working with volunteers to support fundraising activities

Knowledge

• Charity community fundraising
• Donations
• Proven knowledge of online fundraising tools, digital marketing and social media
• Regulatory knowledge to include Gift Aid, general data protection regulations and fundraising best practices.

Skills/Personal Qualities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience with Customer Relationship Management software systems.
• Numerate and attentive to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records
• Good networking skills
• A proactive self -starter who is able to work on their own initiative, managing and prioritising their work to meet agreed deadlines and targets
• An excellent communicator, with persuasive, engaging and creative writing skills
• Understanding of, and enthusiasm for, SWA’s work, mission and values
• A passion to raise funds for SWA

Other

• Full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle
• Able to lift and transport equipment
• Willingness to travel locally and to work occasional evenings and weekends