Proposal Writer And Grant Manager Jobs in Birmingham, West Midlands

Salary: up to £50,000 per annum DOE

Location: Hybrid - working in Tyseley, Birmingham & home working

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 36.5 Monday - Friday

Introduction to the role

This role will ensure that we are developing partnerships and applying for new funding in line with our business objective and values. We need to ensure that we are maximising our future income potential for new business as well as securing income to continue existing business. This role will work closely with the CEO and other business development colleagues to ensure that TAWS optimises opportunities nationally and regionally as well as across the breadth of the current and future delivery range. You will lead, plan and secure new business in these areas as well as provide line management for a small team of bid writers based nationally.

You will report into the CEO and work closely with senior colleagues across the organisation. You will work in close contact with internal colleagues such as CEO/ business development colleagues/ comms colleagues/ and delivery teams in West Midlands and Essex. Your role will work very closely with head of finance in establishing a clear and reliable pipeline for business opportunities and funding sources going forward.

The main purpose of the role will be to coordinate bids that are effective, well costed, realistic and in line business needs and values, and that we are suitably placed to participate effectively in key partnerships nationally, regionally and locally to ensure that we are able to embed in business areas and build effective partnerships for collaborative larger bids.

Main duties

1. Undertake horizon scanning with the leads of the business development areas to ensure we understand key opportunities and are embedded in key partnerships at a national and local level.
2. Work with colleagues on a joined up business development approach to secure new business and contracts 
3. Increase the number, range, and value of contracts secured in line with our strategic objectives
4.  Build and maintain a range of relevant partnerships to support the winning of new business
5. Maintain up to date market and academic research available on the CRM and other systems within the team
6. Develop and conduct effective business pitches to key decision makers and ensure that they are kept relevant by relevant reviews and updates
7. Manage the bid writing team, oversee and strengthen our current funding operations 
8. Build on the existing portfolio of funding, which includes statutory and commercial tenders, as well as grant funding 
9. Ensure existing funding relationships are positively maintained, and relationships with commissioners are effectively managed, undertaking high-level representation when required 
10. Lead on the preparation of major funding proposals 
11. Track and report on external fundraising trends and help teams match opportunities with strategic priorities 
12. Proactively manage the organisational funding pipeline of opportunities and rolling submissions, as a tool for planning and decision-making 
13. Ensure funding perspectives are integrated into programme-level strategic plans 
14. Support the organisation to realise its income targets 
15. Inspire and manage the bid writing team so that they are motivated, flexible and collaborative in their approach
16. Cultivate relationships with programme leads and support them to develop new projects and services with appropriate funding strategies; Achieve quality proposal submissions, including sign-off responsibility 
17. Ensure effective grant management 
18. To provide overall strategic guidance and leadership of approaches to the development of new business across a range of stakeholders internally and externally. Ensuring that staff working in these business development areas are aware of our values and principles about this work and linked into best practice groups that help them to develop their skills, both internally and externally.
19. Ensure evaluation and insight is used effectively in reporting internally, to funders, partners and to stakeholders
20. Maintain an in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of the key policy areas relevant to our work, including work across all of our delivery areas and ensure an up to date knowledge of funding issues, patterns and opportunities.

Knowledge,skills and experience

1. Ability to research and do horizon scanning
2. Extensive experience as a leader in a fundraising environment with strong managerial and leadership skills
3. Track record of raising both unrestricted and restricted funds, and achieving high value contracts and grants
4. Track record of successfully supporting, motivating, mentoring and managing colleagues
5. Experience of developing and delivering on fundraising strategies
6. record in confidently developing networks, building alliances, nurturing ideas and relationships with individuals, new collaborators and funders – including avenues for income generation
7. Involvement in at least one of the following: public sector commissioning, institutional/statutory grants, trusts and foundations or commercial bids.
8. Experience of planning and managing budgets
9. Must be able to work collaboratively internally and externally within the business setting
10. Must have clear understanding of the challenges of this business sector
11. Previous experience of developing new business opportunities- including partnerships; collaborations and networking; horizon scanning; strategic positioning; developing collaborations; managing new business to inception;
12. Experience of overseeing the analysis and further development of existing business
13. Project management experience, including design and development, planning, resource allocation, time, budget and risk management and evaluation of impact and outcomes.
14. Previous experience of working in community development and previous experience of delivering high quality interventions, ideally in deprived community settings.
15. Experience of line- managing and developing teams to deliver against programme objectives and to achieve their full potential, preferably in the field of community development work.
16. Experience of influencing and matrix management would be preferable
17. Leadership ability, with the confidence and skill to influence and persuade others across multiple disciplines and arenas.
18. Experience encouraging diverse communities to come together - building trust and participation. 
19. Experience of working with a range of stakeholders with the ability to influence and persuade others
20. Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast paced and challenging environment and able to prioritise work under pressure and adapt to new models of working
21. Excellent communicator, track record of establishing and developing strong partnerships with external organisations including statutory, charity and voluntary.

Staff benefits

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

• Annual Leave – 25 days FTE (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days.
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
•  Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
• Life Assurance – x4 your salary paid to beneficiary.
• Flexible working.
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

Application details

Please submit a Cover Letter and CV addressing the experience you have had relevant to the 'Main Duties' and the 'Knowledge & Skills' sections of the advert, but as a minimum please address how you meet the the following criteria which will be weighted highly in the first sift of shortlisting:

1. Track record of raising both unrestricted and restricted funds, and achieving high value contracts and grants
2. Extensive experience as a leader in a fundraising environment with strong managerial and leadership skills
3. Record in confidently developing networks, building alliances, nurturing ideas and relationships with individuals, new collaborators and funders – including avenues for income generation
4. Involvement in at least one of the following: public sector commissioning, institutional/statutory grants, trusts and foundations or commercial bids.
5. Experience of overseeing the analysis and further development of existing business

Closing date: Friday 29th March 2024 at midnight

Interview date: 1st Interview 4th April 2024

2nd Interview: 12th April 2024

Due to the high numbers of applications we received for our job vacancies, we may close application windows early, so we would encourage you to submit your application ASAP

We will provide all applicants with an outcome on your application, this will usually be within 1 week of the application window closing.

Successful applicants will be required to be DBS checked prior to starting.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we, in recruiting for our team we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring. The Active Wellbeing Society is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we recruit based upon capability and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. At The Active Wellbeing Society we are searching for people who share the passion for what we do with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, collectively making a difference.

If there is anything we can do to assist you in your application or preparations to be interviewed for one of our job vacancies please let us know and we can ensure you have a positive and comfortable experience.

Thank you for your interest in working for The Active Wellbeing Society, we look forward to receiving your application.