Senior panel officer jobs in edinburgh

GrantScape is a national grant-making charity that funds community, environmental, and educational projects across the UK. Our grants make a meaningful impact—transforming lives, strengthening communities, and improving local environments in the areas we serve.

The Senior Grant Officer will play a key role in assessing and administering grant applications, and in coordinating meetings with local voluntary Advisory Panels who help prioritise funding decisions.

The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator, capable of navigating complex situations and identifying practical solutions. You’ll bring strong project management skills to oversee a diverse portfolio of funded projects, and be confident working independently while thriving as part of a collaborative team.

We’re seeking someone with at least one year of experience in project management or grant-making (ideally two), and a solid understanding of the Third Sector. A full UK driving licence and access to a car for business use is essential. Mileage is reimbursed at 45p per mile, and a hire car will be provided for journeys over 120 miles.

The post will be a home-based role located in the Northwest of England, with easy access to the M6 corridor. Preferred locations include Lancaster, Preston or Warrington. The successful candidate must remain based in this region throughout their employment to ensure accessibility to meetings for location-specific funds.

Occasional overnight stays will be required, along with travel to our Head Office in Milton Keynes for team meetings up to three times per year.

A full job description and person specification are available below.

To apply, please email your CV along with a covering letter (maximum one side of A4) explaining how your experience aligns with the role requirements.

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: 12pm, Friday 31 October
• First Interviews (Virtual): 11 November
• Second Interviews (In Person in the Northwest – venue TBC): 26 November

About the opportunity
As Head of Impact & Quality, you’ll lead the department that covers impact measurement, evaluation of our programmes, data management, curriculum development, training and quality of tutors and other initiatives that drive the evidence-based culture of Action Tutoring. With a strong understanding of the charity's theory of change, you’ll strengthen existing impact and quality processes and make strategic recommendations that develop these further. You’ll play a vital role in helping the Senior Management Team balance quality and quantity with sustainable business decisions. As well as leading the department, you’ll build external networks and represent the charity externally at relevant events, in person and online. As Action Tutoring begins planning for a new strategic cycle, you’ll design, evaluate and advise on the scale up of pilots in new ways of achieving our mission.

Closing date: Monday, 27th October 2025 at 9am
Interviews:Monday, 3 and Tuesday, 4 November 2025.  There may be a second round of interviews.
Start date: Ideally Monday, 1st December 2025
Contract and hours: Permanent. Full time. We offer flexible hours with 9.30-4 as core hours. A full working week is 37.5 hours.  We are open to 0.8 or 0.9 FTE for the right candidate.
Place of work:This role can be remote, with occasional travel required. Our London office address is: 8-10, Fivefields, Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH

Duties and responsibilities
 
People and Cultural Leadership 

• You’ll manage the workload distribution across the Impact & Quality department functions and teams, ensuring that projects are delivered according to strategic priorities. 
• You’ll line-manage a small team of managers who have responsibilities for curriculum, training, quality, insights and data management activities across the department.

 
Strategic and Senior Management 

• You’ll contribute to Senior Management Team discussions and decisions, representing the impact and quality functions, ensuring all decisions consider the implications on our evidence base, protecting the drivers of impact and maintaining our reputation as a sector-leading impact organisation.

Impact and quality oversight

• Leadership and oversight to ensure continued smooth implementation of a Randomised Control Trial lasting the first 6-9 months of this role. 
• You’ll be accountable for the development and implementation of the Impact Strategy of the organisation.

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found in the job description attached to the BreatheHR advert. 

Person specification
 
Qualifications criteria: 

• The right to work in the UK.
•  University degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field of quantitative or social research. 

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others:

• Excellent project management and project sponsor skills and experience, able to juggle multiple complex projects that are cross-organisational and manage external stakeholders. 
• Able to manage other experts and get the best from them drawing from an interdisciplinary approach to your work.
• Enjoys leading a team, supporting development of manager skills and capabilities. 
• Understands how a theory of change drives the development of delivery and is able to apply this to new modes of operations. 
• Strong logical reasoning, able to break processes into logical steps and understands how to maintain excellent data management practices. 
• A confident user of databases able to utilise the data it holds to generate insights for the SMT. Champion good data governance in collaboration with the Data Manager. 
• Experience of Salesforce CRM would be desirable but not essential. 
• Very familiar with the principles of evaluation and how to design evaluations to produce meaningful and reliable insights. This includes qualitative and quantitative activities. 
• Experience of working with external partners to evaluate work. Experience of developing pilots or start-up scale organisations would be desirable but is not essential. 
• Strong numerical skills, able to conduct diagnostic and predictive analysis of quantitative data sets. 
• Strong written communication and research skills, able to produce clear and jargon-free reports and summaries that synthesise qualitative trends. 
• Strong change management skills and experience, ensuring innovations are launched and embedded successfully. 
• Able to plan at a strategic level, factoring in external environment trends, financial limitations and scalable solutions. 
• In addition, the job holder is expected to substantially demonstrate the four competencies in our competencies framework at the ‘Head of ‘Level. 

You will be likely be more successful in this role if you have: 

• Experience working in the charity sector. 

JOB TITLE: Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications

LOCATION: Flexible, with regular travel to London

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive

DIRECT REPORTS: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, Marketing Manager, Fundraising Manager

HOURS OF WORK: Full time, 35 hours per week

DURATION: SALARY / GRADE: £65,000 to £75,000 (dependent on experience) plus benefits

TEAM SIZE: 6 FTE (with growth plans of up to 12 fte by 2030)

JOB PROFILE

ABOUT ADOPTION UK

Adoption UK is the leading national voice for adoptive families. We exist to ensure that every child and young person who cannot grow up with their birth parents gets the right support at the right time – from childhood into adulthood.

Every year, thousands of children in the UK are adopted – most having experienced trauma, loss, or neglect. Adoption transforms their futures, but it is rarely the end of the story. Adoptive families face unique challenges: children struggling to trust, thrive in school, or feel safe; parents battling to secure the right support; young people navigating identity and belonging. Without the right help, too many families reach breaking point. Adoption UK is there to change this. We are a lifeline for families – offering community, advice, advocacy, and practical support. We champion their voices with government and professionals, driving changes in policy and practice so that no adoptive family feels they are facing the journey alone.

With over 6,000 members, strong credibility with policymakers, and a powerful lived experience community, we are uniquely placed to influence change. Our mission is urgent and nationally significant: to ensure that every adoptive family can thrive, and every adopted child has the chance to fulfil their potential.

DIRECTORATE PURPOSE

The Fundraising, Marketing and Communications directorate is responsible for:

• Income generation across trusts and foundations, corporates, major donors, community fundraising, public donations, and legacies, alongside relationships with commissioners and public sector funders.

• Partnership development, engaging businesses, philanthropists, trusts, and volunteers.

• Marketing of services and membership to families, adoptees, commissioners, and professionals in health, education, and social care.

• Awareness raising and thought leadership, ensuring adoption and permanence issues have a strong voice nationally.

Currently a team of six, the directorate has strong ambitions to grow in size and scope, with scope to re-imagine its structure to meet future needs.

THE ROLE

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape the future of fundraising, marketing and communications at a charity of national importance.

As Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications you will:

• Build unrestricted income in a competitive funding environment

• Lead the transformation of Adoption UK’s income model, scaling from £500k to £2m+ contribution (by 2030) to organisational income growth from a £4.2m baseline.

• Develop and deliver a bold, integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy.

• Build Adoption UK’s brand and profile with families, adoptees, commissioners, policymakers, funders, and the wider public.

• Inspire, coach, and grow a talented team, embedding a culture of confidence, creativity, and innovation.

• Personally cultivate and steward high-value donor, corporate, and foundation relationships, working with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and ambassadors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the design and delivery of a multi-year fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities.

• Act as a cultural change leader, shifting from risk-averse to confident, outward-facing engagement.

• Contribute fully to the Senior Leadership Team, influencing strategy, governance, and financial planning.

Income Growth & Diversification

• Oversee all voluntary income streams – trusts, major donors, corporates, community/public fundraising, legacies – while also strengthening public sector and commissioning relationships.

• Oversee marketing and growth of membership as a core element of income and impact.

• Deliver long-term growth targets.

• Use and promote data-driven decision-making, supporter journeys, and digital fundraising/marketing effectively.

• Design and deliver a signature annual Showcase event, alongside new products such as a Giving Circle and Corporate Club, ensuring clear ROI and upgrade potential.

• Personally lead cultivation of transformational donor and partner relationships, supported by trustees, ambassadors, and patrons.

• Identify and test new funding streams and partnerships to diversify income and reduce risk.

Marketing & Communications

• Oversee a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy covering fundraising, membership, services, training, campaigns, and advocacy.

• Ensure a compelling and consistent case for support and brand identity across all channels.

• Raise Adoption UK’s national profile with media, commissioners, professionals, and the public.

• Lead digital transformation: CRM upgrade, supporter journeys, analytics, social media, and digital marketing.

• Manage media relations and reputation, including crisis communications alongside the CEO.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, inspire, and grow a team of talented and motivated individuals.

• Model authentic, adaptive, and inclusive leadership – balancing ambition with staff wellbeing.

• Act as a coach and mentor, supporting professional growth and building the next generation of leaders.

• Champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and embed values-led behaviours across the team and all external engagement.

• Foster cross-organisational collaboration so fundraising and marketing are understood and supported across Adoption UK.

Financial & Governance

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and ROI analysis for the directorate.

• Report regularly to CEO and Board of Trustees on progress, opportunities, and risks.

• Lead fundraising due-diligence and reputational risk processes, with regular reporting to Trustee-led committees (e.g. Finance & Risk).

• Ensure compliance with the Fundraising Code, GDPR, charity law, and safeguarding standards.

• Embed robust CRM, data, and analytics to support continuous improvement.

External Engagement

• Act as a visible ambassador for Adoption UK with donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, policymakers, and media.

• In collaboration with the CEO and Chair, direct ambassadors and patrons to open doors, advocate, and steward transformational relationships.

• Represent Adoption UK externally at events, forums, and national platforms.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Significant experience leading multi-stream fundraising, with success in at least two of: trusts, corporates, major donors, public fundraising.

• Experience developing marketing and communications strategies beyond fundraising – including brand, service promotion, membership, campaigns, and digital engagement.

• Track record of delivering growth, innovation, or transformation in income and/or organisational profile.

• Strong people leadership skills: ability to coach, inspire, and develop staff, including senior managers.

• Exceptional relationship-builder – credible with philanthropists, corporates, trustees, commissioners, and media.

• Strategic thinker with financial acumen (budgets, ROI, investment planning).

• Authentic communicator with excellent storytelling ability.

• Commitment to Adoption UK’s mission and values, with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style.

• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.

• Contributes to an open and honest culture

• Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.

• Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.

• Leads by example.

• Values transparency and consistency.

• Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.

• Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.

• Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities

• Shares skills and knowledge.

• Promotes Cross Functional team working.

• Offers outstanding service to members.

• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.

• Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.

• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.

• Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy

• Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.

• Takes pride in own development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.

• Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.

Desirable

• Experience in child welfare, family support, education, or adoption.

• Evidence of leading digital transformation in fundraising, marketing, or CRM.

• Existing networks in philanthropy, corporate CSR/ESG, or foundations relevant to Adoption UK’s mission.

This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.

Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

The Opportunity

This is more than a fundraising role — it is an opportunity to lead transformational change for a cause of national importance. You will:

• Shape and lead a directorate spanning fundraising, marketing, and communications.

• Deliver transformational income growth and secure Adoption UK’s sustainability.

• Build Adoption UK’s brand and reputation as the national champion for adoptive families.

• Market services, membership, and campaigns so more families and professionals engage with our work.

• Lead cultural change, inspiring a confident, outward-facing, and innovative fundraising and marketing function.

Few roles offer such scope to combine fundraising growth, brand leadership, and culture change in a mission of such national importance. This is your chance to make a lasting impact – on Adoption UK, on your career, and on thousands of children and families across the UK.

Timetable:

The closing date for this role is 20th October 2025. However, Adoption UK reserves the right to end the application period sooner so we would recommend you complete the application form as soon as possible.

Shortlisting will be carried out on 22 to 24 October 2025 and you should be notified of an outcome within fifteen working days of the closing date.

The panel will shortlist based on those applicants who best meet the criteria for the role.

The date(s) scheduled for first interviews will be 3rd November 2025. These dates may be subject to change and applications will be advised in advance should this happen.

Location: Remote with travel across the UK.

About the role  

It’s an exciting and important time for our charity as we work to help more people out of homelessness and poverty as part of an ambitious strategy. 

The newly created role of Federation Development Lead will sit within the Partnerships and Federation Development directorate, to support the delivery of key charity and federation-wide objectives, as part of our mission to empower people affected by homelessness and poverty to change their lives for the better while using our voice to achieve social change. 

The principal responsibility will be to support our ambition to become a best practice national body, responsible for leading on and supporting the development of key projects within Emmaus UK and the wider federation.

This will include providing leadership to support Emmaus communities across the UK to prepare and respond to the introduction of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act, you will require an understanding and commitment to best practice and legislative requirements related to the provision of supported housing, with the ability to translate regulatory requirements into user friendly support, training, guidance and policies and procedures

The role will also provide a critical role in the implementation and delivery of Emmaus UK’s ambitious plans to seek registration as a provider of social housing. You will provide the project management and technical skills required to support the successful delivery of the application process, ensuring that risk and regulatory requirements are considered and acted upon at each stage, maintaining strong communication with key stakeholders externally and across the federation.

As the Federation Development Lead, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the growth and development of the Emmaus movement within the UK, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement, and supporting the overall success of the federation. Your role will involve supporting the development and delivery of strategic plans, programme design and implementation, stakeholder management, and continuous evaluation and improvement of developed initiatives.

Working with the Director of Partnerships and Federation Development and wider Senior Leadership Team, the role will be central to the delivery of strategic objectives related to the development of the movement.

About Emmaus UK

We understand that a home is more than just a roof over your head; it’s somewhere to belong, where you feel part of a community, and that’s what Emmaus offers. 

Emmaus is a unique, secular organisation supporting homeless and socially excluded people by providing a home for as long as it is needed, meaningful work in a social enterprise and a sense of belonging. 

There are currently over 30 Emmaus communities across the UK, stretching from Glasgow to Dover and Norfolk to South Wales. Collectively the Emmaus federation supports more than 1,000 people with experience of homelessness. 

How To apply 

To apply for the role, please complete our application form and equal opportunities monitoring form and email us. The email address is in the Application Pack by 12pm on Monday 10th November 2025. 

Please ensure you download the job pack and refer to the job description and person specification when completing your application form.

Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview conducted via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 20th November 2025.

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please email us. Email address can be found in the Application Pack.

Sight Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity providing specialist care, education and research for people with vision impairment. The charity has been in existence for over 230 years, and offer a variety of services in the community as well as education, transcription into alternative formats and residential care for adults and children. Their vision is of an inclusive Scotland where people of all visual abilities have the opportunity to thrive.

The Digital and Social Media Creative is responsible for developing and creating engaging digital content and for managing Sight Scotland’s social media channels. This role requires a mix of creativity, digital storytelling and a passion for social media in the charity sector. The role will enhance Sight Scotland’s online presence and engage their audiences, inspiring people to donate, take part in sponsored events and online campaign actions as well as contacting the charities for support with sight loss.

It is important that the successful candidate for this role has existing experience of working within a charity/fundraising environment. In order to ensure the role is successful, an understanding of fundraising and how we can effectively apply digital tools and techniques to support income generation is vital. 

• Hybrid, with 2 days a week in Edinburgh office 

• 37 days leave pro-rata (inclusive of bank holidays) 

• Contributory pension scheme – up to 12% employer contribution 

• Closing midnight Tuesday 21st October

• Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday 29th October in person at Sight Scotland's HQ in Edinburgh. 

In order to progress your application, please download the Candidate Pack and make contact with THINK Recruitment for an informal screening call. Please ensure you reach out to arrange a call with enough time before the role closes as unfortunately we cannot progress candidates to longlist who haven't been screened.