Head of Funding and Development

Unique opportunity to get involved in a conflict resolution and peace building organisation based in central London with responsibility for working to ensure that income meets the organisation’s needs, and in support of achieving the strategic objectives through the development and management of fundraising and donor relations.

The Funding and Development Manager plays a key role at DPI, working to ensure that income meets the organisation’s needs, and in support of achieving the strategic objectives through the development and management of fundraising and donor relations.

The Funding and Development Manager is responsible for identifying and pursuing diverse funding streams; writing applications, reporting back and progress letters to meet existing and future funders’ guidelines; monitoring the implementation of projects to ensure funders’ guidelines are met; and liaising with funders and other stakeholders. The Funding and Development Manager works closely with the Finance Officer to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to donors.

The Funding and Development Manager collaborates with Programmes  Officers with regards to expenditure across budget lines to ensure compliance with grant contracts and grants periods. Funding and Development Manager assists the Finance Manager with audit preparations of accounts at the end of the financial year and ensures the timely drafting of the Trustee report.

The Funding and Development Manager  works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Finance Manager in the preparation and presentation of the annual organisational budget.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Grants Administration

• Leads the development and delivery of short, medium and long-term fundraising strategies for DPI
• Identifies and nurtures the successful implementation of appropriate grant funding and contracting
• Researches and assesses DPI’s eligibility in line with DPI strategy and donor criteria
• Produces and submits grants proposals, expressions of interest and donor reports
• Oversees compliance with funding requirement to ensure that deadlines and criteria for donor reporting are met, including financial reporting in close collaboration with the Finance Manager

Donor Relations

• Manages and develops external relationships as a representative of DPI, attending meetings and public events where necessary
• Follows up with potential donors to open up new funding opportunities
• Conducts regular updates with current donors to maintain and strengthen relationships
• Prepares and oversees the dissemination of external materials such as the Quarterly Update and Trustee Report to all relevant contacts
• Prepares background information ahead of DPI meetings with donors and prospective donors
• Oversees donor communication history, ensuring that notes and information are logged and shared accordingly

Project Development and Monitoring and Evaluation

• Leads process and system improvements/developments to ensure that all DPI material shared externally is of good quality, in line with the strategy and structure of the organisation
• Reviews all programme activities in line with the external environment and donor requirements to ensure sustainability and identify growth opportunities
• Assists the CEO and Programmes team to develop organisational work plan to ensure that all activities and research comply with grant applications and donor obligation
• Develops M&E and risk assessment frameworks to carry out monitoring and evaluation of activities to measure outcomes and the impact in relation to our strategic aims, and acting to make improvements if required
• Establishes close working relationships and develop efficient systems with key individuals in the programmes, research and finance functions, to access knowledge and information needed for funding propositions and reporting
• Maintains close collaboration with DPI staff to ensure sound project management, including by ensuring regular M&E meetings with programmes team are conducted to ensure that donor requirements and output standards are met

Financial Management

• Helps to develop and implement the organisation’s financial planning, budgeting and reporting processes along with the Finance Manager and the CEO
• Collaborates with Programmes Officers with regards to the allocation of expenditure across budget lines and donors, to ensure compliance with grant contracts.
• Assists the Finance Manager in their work on audit preparations of accounts at the end of the financial year, and ensures the timely drafting of the Trustee report
• Works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Finance Manager  in the preparation and presentation of the annual organisational budget.
• Ensures that the Chief Executive Officer, and all members of staff, are kept aware of their obligations and opportunities in relation to donors

Administrative Tasks

• Maintains an accurate record of donor information
• Ensures an effective and clean S-drive structure for files relating to grants and fundraising, including financial reports

                                                                                   Person Specification
Essential
• The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years experience  in grant administration, ideally with a focus on governmental and intergovernmental funding with strong numerical skills and some budgeting experience
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including evidence of structured thinking and the ability to inspire confidence and enthusiasm in others
• Self-starter with the ability to initiate projects and see them through to successful completion
• Ability to work independently, but also as part of a small team, on different projects
• Ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Strong time management and organisational skills, ability to prioritise, pay attention to detail and attend to multiple assignments
• The flexibility, creativity, judgment and humour needed to work effectively in cross cultural settings
• Good interpersonal abilities for networking and interaction with high level stakeholders at DPI events
• Fluency in English
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), plus Outlook
• Ability to manage working relationships remotely

                                                                               Desirable

• Experience or interest in trust and government fundraising in relation to human rights, peace building and conflict resolution or similar fields
• Knowledge of the political situation in the areas of DPI’s current programmes
• An interest in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and transitional justice
• A sound and current knowledge of funding streams via the UK, EU and UN or similar

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with the final deadline set as the 15th August 2025.

                                                             Equal Opportunities  

DPI maintains employment policies which ensure that no one is unfairly discriminated against, whether directly or indirectly, on any grounds including race, ethnic origin, culture, gender, sexuality, disability, age or religion. These policies will apply in relation to all those involved in the work of the organisation including paid staff, trainees, consultants, interns, volunteers, those offering se