2 Insight manager jobs in Manchester, Greater Manchester

About the role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join UK Community Foundations (UKCF) and help deliver partnerships that amplify community voice, grow place-based philanthropy and transform grant making across the UK. 

The Partnerships and Insight team develops and delivers UKCF’s UK-wide funding partnerships, working with funders, community foundations and partners to bring resources and support into local communities. We provide a unique national/local model: community foundations deliver local funding programmes alongside their deep local intelligence and context, and UKCF provides national insight, learning, co-ordination, convening and advocacy.

We’re recruiting for three roles in the team: two Partnerships and Insight Managers (this role) and a Data and Insight Manager, who will work closely together. 

In this role, you will turn partnerships into progressive, inclusive onward grant-making programmes, supporting delivery from initial design through to reporting, learning and relationship management. 

You will manage a varied portfolio, making sure partnerships are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard. You will work closely with funders, sector experts, community foundations and colleagues across UKCF, overseeing partnership delivery, reporting, financial administration, learning and insight activity, and relationship management. At UKCF we don’t usually award funds directly to community groups – our community foundations do that – so you don’t need to be an expert in grant making or funding – but you should be an excellent project manager and great at building and maintaining relationships. 

A particular focus of this role will be supporting funding partnerships with a funder plus element, and/or partnerships focused on children and young people. We are especially interested in hearing from people who have designed and delivered these types of programmes, but this is not essential. 

What you’ll be doing 

• championing place-based approaches and community foundations in everything you do 

• managing partnership programmes from implementation through to reporting 

• embedding inclusive and progressive grant making approaches 

• building strong relationships with funders, community foundations and delivery partners 

• managing project plans, timelines, budgets, key milestones and delivery across a portfolio of programmes 

• supporting new partnership development, programme design and co-design activity 

• overseeing data, impact, learning and reporting activity across your programmes 

• maintaining strong governance, data management and UK GDPR-compliant processes 

• monitoring programme budgets, tracking programme finances and supporting grant distribution processes 

• supporting UKCF events, workshops and convening activity 

• representing UKCF with funders, partners and external stakeholders 

The role combines programme management, relationship management, supporting and developing colleagues, and strategic contribution. It would suit someone who enjoys balancing detail, deadlines and people-focused work across a varied portfolio. 

What we’re looking for 

We’re interested in people who bring strong programme management, relationship-building and delivery skills, alongside experience of working in the voluntary, community, grant-making or funding sectors. 

A commitment to positioning and describing communities, and community work, by focusing on the strengths of communities and how to utilise them (asset based) and by acknowledging their central role in creating local change (agency centred) is essential. 

You might recognise yourself in some or all the following: 

• experience of managing complex programmes or projects involving multiple stakeholders in the voluntary and community sector 

• experience embedding proportionate progressive practices in grant making 

• experience embedding inclusive design in any charitable context 

• experience of grant making, place-based giving, or adjacent fields 

• strong relationship management skills and confidence working with funders, community foundations and partners 

• experience of using data, learning and insight to inform programme delivery and reporting 

• strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines and deadlines 

• comfort working from broad briefs, identifying what is needed and taking the initiative to move work forward 

• excellent written and verbal communication skills, adapted for different audiences 

• confidence using CRM systems, Microsoft 365 and AI tools to support effective ways of working 

You might not meet every requirement but bring valuable experience, perspectives and potential to the role, especially where that experience has traditionally been underrepresented in the funding, grant making and voluntary and community sector. If that sounds like you, we encourage you to apply and tell us about your transferable experience.

About UKCF 

UK Community Foundations brings together 47 independent and accredited community foundations across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Together, community foundations cover every local authority area and connect donors, funders and partners with the communities they care about. 

In 2024 to 2025, community foundations distributed £183 million through more than 38,000 grants and stewarded a combined endowment of £881 million. 

Inclusion statement 

UK Community Foundations is committed to building an inclusive organisation and a diverse field. We welcome applications from people from minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and people who are underrepresented in the charity and philanthropy sector.