Senior Grants Officer

Job Title: Senior Grants Officer  

Department: Foundation  

Reporting to: Foundation Director 

Contract: Full-time or Part-time (minimum of four days)  

Working pattern: Onsite or Hybrid (minimum three days in the office) 

Salary: £40,000 (full-time salary)

 

ABOUT THE GOLDSMITHS’ FOUNDATION

The Goldsmiths’ Foundation is the charitable foundation of the Goldsmiths’ Company. The Foundation’s mission is to transform life-chances by supporting technical and vocational education through grant-making. With a focus on goldsmithing, silversmithing, jewellery and allied trades, it also supports skills and training in the creative industries and other fields, as well as general charitable endeavours.

A contemporary company with deep roots in the past, the Goldsmiths’ Company is one of the Great Twelve City of London Livery Companies. Founded in 1327 and now with a 1600-strong membership, the Company has contributed to national life for seven centuries. It advances the trade and craft of silversmithing and jewellery through training, exhibitions and public engagement. It also operates the London Assay Office, which protects trade and consumers by testing and hallmarking precious metals.
This is an exciting moment to join the Goldsmiths’ Foundation. Philanthropy has been at the heart of the Company’s work since 1327; the current Goldsmiths’ Company Charity was founded in the 19th century. Today, supported by its endowment, it makes grants of c. £3.5 million each year.

The Goldsmiths’ Company (the sole member of the Foundation) is now reinvigorating its philanthropic mission with refreshed charitable objects, a renewed focus on craft and skills, and a new Board of Trustees drawn from across the Company’s membership and chaired by Dame Lynne Brindley.

Job Purpose  

Working in a team of three and reporting to the Foundation Director, you will support the effective and efficient grant making of the Goldsmiths' Foundation by managing its Proactive Grant Programmes and administering the Foundation's restricted funds. Proactive grants are closed to open application but are solicited for either regular or one-off grants. This role requires a strong understanding of vocational and technical skills in the jewellery-making, silversmithing and allied trade sector. 

 

Delivery of Proactive Grant Programmes 

 

• Support the Foundation Director and colleagues to implement and deliver Proactive Grants Programmes, aligned with the 2025-2030 Strategy. 

• Support the Foundation Director in implementing learning goals for the Programmes, collecting data and working with commissioned learning partners. 

• Manage relationships with charitable partners who regularly receive grants from the Foundation, particularly those working in the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trade sectors. 

• Manage one-off grants that are solicited by Foundation Trustees due to their strong alignment to Foundation Objects. 

• Support The Goldsmiths' Foundation Trustees and Advisory Group and administering its decisions. 

 

Management of Restricted Funds 

 

• Administer the Foundation's restricted funds including the Aiden Threlfall Charitable Trust, the Brian Wood Memorial Travel Scholarship, the Miller Fund/Binney Medal (including event administration of the annual Binney Lunch), the Martin Bowes Charitable Fund and The Silver Trust. 

• Manage grant applications and awards from these restricted funds in accordance with their specific terms and conditions. 

• Maintain accurate records and reporting on restricted fund activities. 

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and legal obligations for each restricted fund. 

 

Management and Governance of Proactive Grant Programmes 

 

• Day-to-day management of regular grantees, ensuring effective communication and support. 

• Support the development of appropriate reporting and relationship requirements with regular grantees. 

• Prepare recommendations and reports for the Proactive Grant Programmes. 

• Manage and collate the reporting from charitable partners. 

• Prepare materials to support the Foundation Director in their work with The Goldsmiths' Foundation Trustees and Advisory Group with a goal to: i. commission the most relevant grants to meet the Foundations' Objects ii. drive greater Goldsmiths' Company Member engagement with The Goldsmiths' Foundation 

• Support the continued management of existing Proactive Programmes initiated before 2026. 

 

Communications and Networks 

• Support the Foundation Director to maintain a network of peer funders working in overlapping or related areas, particularly those focused on vocational and technical skills development.  

• Contribute to collaborations (including with other funders) to increase the reach and impact of our proactive grant making.  

• Support the development of content for web-based stories and social media posts. 

 

Community Engagement 

• Work with colleagues to identify opportunities for grant recipients to contribute to broader programmes and the promotion of charitable activities.  

• Support the identification and development of initiatives that enable the Foundation to deliver against its charitable purpose, particularly those supporting vocational and technical skills in the jewellery-making, silversmithing and allied trade sector. 

• Contribute to developing opportunities related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, focusing on access routes into the trade and craft. 

 

Other Duties 

• Work with colleagues within The Goldsmiths' Group as required to enable our mutual aims. 

• Work with the Foundation Director and colleagues to develop The Foundation's culture in line with its values. 

• Support other parts of The Foundation's grant making as required, including our Open Grants Programmes at times and any other duties as the Director requires. 

 

Person Specification 

 

Essential Experience  

• Understanding of vocational and technical skills development in the jewellery-making, silversmithing and allied trade sector  

• Experience of working with or supporting charities and grant recipients  

• Experience of preparing reports and recommendations for committees or senior stakeholders  

 

Desirable Experience  

• Experience of grant making or charitable funding administration, managing grant case loads and maintaining accurate records  

• Experience of relationship-based grant making and stakeholder engagement  

• Experience of administering restricted or designated funds  

• Experience of trust-based grant making  

• Experience of collaborative funding and partnership development 

 

 

Essential Skills & Knowledge  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  

• Excellent attention to detail  

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds  

• IT proficiency in MS Office applications 

 

Desirable Skills & Knowledge  

• Experience of Beacon CRM or other grant making database or similar database management systems  

• Knowledge of relevant research, policy and networks related to the development of vocational and technical skills in the jewellery and silversmithing sectors.  

• Awareness of evaluation methodologies for funded work. 

• Willingness to adopt and utilise AI tools to support grant management, research, and reporting, and an openness to exploring how emerging technologies can enhance the Foundation's work. 

 

Personal Characteristics  

• Commitment to our values as a grant-making foundation  

• Curious about, and committed to, the work of grant-making Foundations, charities, and the social needs they are trying to meet  

• Able to work with charity leaders with a supportive and professional approach  

• Able to organise and manage your own workload including varied caseloads  

• Able to work to deadlines  

• Flexible and collegiate attitude to working across teams and supporting colleagues where needed 

• Commitment to E,D,I 

 

 Please apply with a CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the role.

The deadline for applications is 9am, Friday 24 April 2026.