Grants Engagement Manager

Are you passionate about making a meaningful difference in local communities and shaping impactful, place-based giving?  This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in the future of a grant-making family charity, driving a new strategic direction and building strong relationships that deliver lasting positive impact.

About us

The Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust (DDCT) was created in 1949, and acts as a grant-making family charity providing assistance to charitable causes in Derbyshire, and close to Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, at Eastbourne in Sussex and at Lismore in Ireland as well as occasionally further afield in the UK.

The DDCT sits within the broader Devonshire Group structure, and benefits from shared expertise and resources, helping to support the effective delivery of its grant-making and wider activities.

About the role

As Grants Engagement Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day running of the Trust, ensuring that grants are effectively managed from initial contact through to award and evaluation. You will work closely with Trustees, preparing papers for meetings, providing updates, and supporting informed decision-making. A key part of the role will involve building and nurturing relationships with a wide range of partners, from community groups to charities and other stakeholders, acting as a trusted and supportive point of contact.

You will take a proactive approach to identifying new opportunities, researching potential partners and developing a strong pipeline of projects aligned to the Trust’s priorities. Through early conversations and ongoing collaboration, you will help shape ideas into deliverable projects, offering guidance and working in partnership to co-design initiatives that can deliver meaningful impact. You will also maintain contact with funded projects, to ensure they are supported and to measure and report on outcomes, helping to build a clear picture of the Trust’s impact and ensuring maximum effectiveness.

Alongside this, you will play a central role in ensuring the Trust operates to a high standard of governance and best practice. This includes keeping processes under review, supporting due diligence and risk management, and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the evolving grant-making landscape. You will also contribute to raising the profile of the Trust, both within the wider organisation and in local communities, acting as an ambassador for its work alongside trustees.

Hours

This is a permanent, part-time role working 2 days per week. We offer flexibility in how these hours are worked to support a positive work–life balance; however, there will be a need to align working days with key Trust activities, including trustee meetings and stakeholder engagement.

Occasional evening and weekend work will be required, for example to attend community events or meetings.

Given the nature of the role, some flexibility around working patterns and availability will be important, along with a willingness to travel within Derbyshire and occasionally further afield as required.

About you

We are looking for someone who combines strong organisational skills with excellent communication and relationship-building abilities. You will be comfortable working with a wide range of people, able to interpret complex information including financial details, and confident managing multiple priorities in a busy environment. Experience in grant-making, philanthropy, or a related field is important, alongside an understanding of charity governance and a genuine interest in supporting communities to thrive.

Knowledge of the Derbyshire landscape and its opportunities and challenges would be particularly valuable.

This role would suit a proactive and thoughtful individual who enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, brings creativity and curiosity to their work, and is motivated by the opportunity to shape and grow a charity’s impact.

In return

Our core values are Always Improving, Decency, and Being Inclusive. 

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and are dedicated to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

 Interviews will take place w/c 10th August 2026.

Please note a DBS and background checks will be a requirement for this role.