Senior trusts and grants fundraising officer jobs in edinburgh, scotland
JOB PROFILE
JOB TITLE: Lead Trusts & Grants Officer
RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager
HOURS OF WORK: Full time 35 hours per week
LOCATION: Home working/ Hybrid
DURATION: Permanent
SALARY / GRADE: £32,330
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
• Senior Trusts & Grants Manager
• Trusts & Grants Officer
• Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications
• Chief Operating Officer
• Senior Leadership & Service Managers
• Grant making trusts and foundations
• Major Donors
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Lead Trusts & Grants Officer is responsible for developing and delivering income from mid-value grant making funders, notably trusts and foundations. The role involves managing a dedicated pipeline of opportunities, writing and submitting compelling applications, and stewarding funder relationships. This position works closely with service teams to understand project needs and create accurate budgets and impactful funding proposals. This role will also provide direct line management to the Trusts & Grants Officer, supporting their professional development and ensuring the team's overall success in meeting fundraising targets.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising and Grants Management
• Pipeline Management: Lead on prospecting, developing and managing the mid-value trusts and grants pipeline, focusing on bids around £20,000 - £70,000, including multiyear grants, ensuring a consistent flow of opportunities to meet team income targets. Developing the skills and ability to manage higher value and more complex strategic bids.
• Application Writing: Develop and submit compelling, high-quality grant applications and proposals for mid-value funders, working closely with service teams, ensuring accurate budgets and income against Adoption UK’s strategic priorities.
• Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with a portfolio of new and existing mid-value funders, providing timely and impactful reports to secure renewed funding, and developing relationships with key external contacts through excellent communication.
• Reporting: Oversee the accurate tracking of all applications, reports, and communications using team tracking methods, and the CRM database, providing regular progress updates to the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, the Trusts & Grants Officer, and service teams, to align fundraising activities with the organisation’s strategic priorities and annual income targets.
• Undertake other duties and projects as directed by the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager and Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications.
Team Management and Development
• Line Management: Provide line management and support to the Trusts & Grants Officer, including regular one-to-ones, appraisals, and professional development.
• Training and Mentoring: Guide the Trusts & Grants Officer on best practices for researching, writing, budgets, and stewarding of small-value grants.
Personal specification
Knowledge and experience
• Track record of successfully securing individual grant awards typically ranging between £10,000 and £50,000. (E)
• Knowledge of fundraising sector with specialist knowledge of grant making trusts and foundations, or similar grant/bid-writing experience (E)
• Experience in writing persuasive proposal documents and bids (E)
• Experience in developing and implementing fundraising policies and process to deliver strategic goals (E)
• Experience in supporting service teams to deliver complex projects on time and to budget (E)
• Experience in successfully stewarding multiple stakeholders including grant managers and major donors (D)
Qualifications and Education
• Graduate level or equivalent significant professional experience in fundraising/bid
Skills and abilities
• Ability to make decisions within area of responsibility, based on defined frameworks, policies, and procedures and/or based on knowledge of regulations and best practice (E)
• Shows good professional judgement (E)
• Can successfully operate matrix management of complex projects at a national level (E)
• Delivers high quality work with minimal supervision and direction (E)
• Able to communicate clearly and engage with stakeholders at all levels (E)
• Is successful in securing positive external relationships with stakeholders and supporters (E)
• Demonstrates personal credibility (E)
• Demonstrates experience and ability in impact reporting (D)
• Ability to research the sector to identify the best prospects (D)
• Has the capacity to deal with complex issues and is good at problem solving (D)
• An exceptional administrator with excellent organisational and writing skills (E)
• Self-starter, used to working to deadlines and delivering against KPIs (D)
Accountability
• Shows previous experience of achievement of income targets (E)
• Shows previous experience of excellent funder or similar relationship stewardship (E)
• Able to contribute to the development of income growth strategy and strategic goals (D)
Behaviours
• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values and mission in all interactions with external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.
• Contributes to an open and honest culture
• Encourages challenge and creativity, transparency and consistency.
• Leads by example.
• Offers outstanding service to members.
• Promotes cross-functional team working, sharing skills and knowledge
• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.
• Values the opinion of others. Treating colleagues and other stakeholders with respect.
• Takes pride in own development, committed to achieving high standards and agreed objectives.
Adoption UK is the leading charity for adopted and care experienced people and adoptive families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the role
You will be home based and will need to travel in the UK, Eire, Europe and further afield as the role develops.
You will need some storage space available for Charity materials.
If you are self-driven, motivated, and want to help others achieve something amazing in support of Histiocytosis UK, we would love to hear from you.
You are likely to be in a similar role at another charity or have the right experience and transferable skills from another sector. You’ll be confident, enthusiastic, and an exceptional influencer with great customer care and communication skills.
There will be ample opportunity to shape the role, lead on specific projects and put your ideas into action.
The role will be mainly remote working so your experience and motivation will be key in this role so that we can achieve tangible results.
Who we need?
You will be an excellent communicator, face to face, online, phone or email. You know the importance of listening, and you are the sort of person that brings focus and calm to difficult situations. Prioritising your workload is second nature. Perhaps most importantly of all, you’re energised and driven by a passion for learning and making life better for those with a long term and/or serious illness.
A degree is not essential, but a communication and fundraising skills qualification is desirable. It is important that you have a high standard of writing, and that you are on good terms with your computer, particularly MS office, email and maybe even Mailchimp, Zoom, Sage Accounting, Spreadsheets etc.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Corporate Partnerships Manager
Ready to use your fundraising experience to power real change for Scotland’s wildlife?
We are seeking a proactive Corporate Partnerships Manager to build strong, purposeful relationships with businesses that share our commitment to healthy, resilient ecosystems.
You’ll influence our fundraising strategy, develop engaging corporate offerings, guide ethical decision-making through due diligence and provide exceptional stewardship to attract and retain business support - both for our core work across the country as well as for inspiring place-based conservation projects.
Working closely with passionate and knowledgeable colleagues throughout the charity, you’ll help deliver sustainable income and support impactful conservation work across Scotland.
The Role:
The Corporate Partnerships Manager will lead on the identification, cultivation and stewardship of corporate supporters of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The position sits within the Development Team alongside colleagues focussing upon Individual Giving and Grants.
The candidate will ideally have:
- Minimum of 5 Highers including Maths and English
- Minimum of 3 years account management experience gained in charity corporate partnerships or a relevant account management role, as well as a proven track record of cultivating, securing and successfully managing corporate relationships
- Well-rounded general knowledge in the way that the not-for-profit sector operates
- Understanding of GDPR regulations and implications for fundraising communications and information management
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and familiar with online collaboration applications (Outlook, Teams, Sharepoint, Zoom)
Closing date for applications: Sunday 30th November (midnight)
Interviews will be held on: Friday 12th December 2025 (our preference would be in person).
The Trust is a passionate employer, proactive about creating a culture of diversity and inclusive workplace that promotes and values equal opportunities for all. We welcome individuals from all networks of life, backgrounds, and experiences.
About us
For more than 60 years, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has worked with its members, partners and supporters in pursuit of its vision of healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas.
The Trust successfully champions the cause of wildlife through policy and campaigning work, demonstrates best practice through practical conservation and innovative partnerships, and inspires people to take positive action through its education and engagement activities. The Trust manages a network of over 100 wildlife reserves across Scotland and is a member of the UK-wide Wildlife Trusts movement.
Our vision is for a network of healthy, resilient ecosystems on land and sea, supporting Scotland’s wildlife and people.


Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Over the last four years, the current Head of Funding & Partnerships has secured over £10m from trusts, foundations and housing associations to help HACT deliver its charitable purpose. In the next three years, our objective is to increase this amount. We want to hear from you if you believe you can support HACT deliver on our ambition.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Head of Funding and Partnershipsis a key member of HACT’s Leadership Team and leads the organisation’s business development, tendering and fundraising function. As part of the management tier, the role is responsible for scaling HACT’s impact across and beyond the housing sector through innovative commercial approaches, strategic fundraising, and exceptional customer relationships.
This position combines fundraising expertise, partnership building, developing and maintaining high-value relationships with funders, partners, and clients, as well as market intelligence. It identifies new opportunities for R&D development, pipeline growth, product sales and tender submissions while managing core business development activities that support HACT’s strategy.
The Head of Funding and Partnerships creates and executes annual fundraising and commercial plans, fosters collaborative relationships across the organisation, and embodies HACT’s values through transparent, supportive leadership. From time to time, the role presents to the Trustee Board and provides strategic advice and leadership to the executive team.
JOB PURPOSE
To lead HACT's fundraising, tendering and business development function, delivering ambitious fundraising targets while providing strategic market insights that drive organisational growth and innovation.
Responsibilities
Strategic fundraising leadership
- Create and deliver a fundraising strategy aligned with HACT's business strategy and ambitious growth target, with annual and multi-year targets
- ·Identify new funding opportunities through market research, relationship building, and strategic intelligence
- Lead the development of high-quality tender responses and proposals
- Maintain a register of frameworks and procurement opportunities aligned to HACT’s strategic priorities
- Oversee the production of high-quality client proposals within agreed deadlines, ensuring compelling cases for support
Partnership building:
- Develop and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, foundations, and other organisations to create mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Manage existing funder relationships to ensure satisfaction, retention, and growth of funding commitments
- Support cross-sector collaborations, innovation pilots and consortium funding bids.
Market intelligence & business development
- Contribute to organisational strategy development through participation in Leadership Team activities
- Proactively identify collaboration and innovation opportunities, supporting business growth and diversification
- Provide market insights that enable R&D development, supporting innovation and new service creation and market analysis to support pipeline growth in new markets and enhance existing product sales
- Collaborate with colleagues to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the housing and social value sectors
- Contribute to strategic decision-making through robust market intelligence and competitive analysis
Cross-functional collaboration
- Work closely with the Head of Communities and Projects to ensure project delivery meets funder expectations, leading on managing key grant funding relationships
- Work closely with the Head of Marketing to align fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum impact
- Work closely with the Head of Services to create proposals that maximise income opportunities
- Work closely with Head of Customer to identify commercial opportunities and enhance service delivery, using insights form Social Value Insight to strengthen funding propositions.
- Work with the Head of Business Functions to develop commercial pricing and funding models and ensure compliance with due diligence and funder requests.
- Support colleagues across the organisation by providing proposal support, market insights and funding intelligence
Team leadership & operational excellence
- Line manage and develop the Funding and Insights Officer, providing coaching, guidance, and performance management
- Develop and implement Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for proposals and grant applications to ensure consistency and quality
- Establish accessible, reliable management information systems to track performance and inform decision-making
- Ensure efficient processes and systems that support high-quality proposal development, tender submissions and relationship management
- Leverage AI tools and platforms to enhance business development processes
- Champion the adoption of AI-enabled solutions to improve productivity, personalise engagement strategies, and uncover new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
Strategic leadership & culture
- Actively model HACT's values and behaviours by consistently demonstrating supportive, transparent and collaborative leadership
- Contribute to an inclusive and respectful organisational culture through positive leadership and team engagement
- Lead by example as a key member of HACT's Leadership Team, embodying our values across all internal and external relationships
- Champion cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing to maximise organisational effectiveness
REQUIRED SKILLS
Experience & skills
- Proven track record in senior fundraising roles, with demonstrated success in securing and managing significant grants from charitable foundations, government, and other funding bodies
- Demonstrated success in proposal writing, developing tenders and commercial bids
- Strong background in business development and market research, ideally within the charitable or public sector
- Experience in relationship management with high-value stakeholders and complex funding organisations
- Strong communication, influencing and project management capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to create and deliver strategic fundraising plans aligned with organisational objectives
- Strategic thinking ability combined with practical execution and attention to detail
- Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic funding environment.
- Knowledge of the social housing sector (desirable).
- Ability to identify and apply AI-driven tools to enhance business development activities and using AI to streamline workflows, personalise engagement strategies and uncover new growth opportunities.
Knowledge & understanding
- Deep understanding of the UK funding landscape, including charitable foundations, government funding streams, public procurement frameworks and social investment
- Knowledge of the housing sector, social value, or community development preferred
- Understanding of R&D funding mechanisms and innovation support programmes
- Familiarity with grant management processes and funder compliance requirements
- Knowledge of market research methodologies and competitive intelligence gathering
Personal qualities
- Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills with ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
- Strategic mindset with ability to identify opportunities and translate them into actionable plans
- Strong communication and influencing skills, both written and verbal
- Collaborative leadership style that embodies transparency, respect, and inclusivity
- Excellent project management and prioritisation skills with ability to manage multiple complex workstreams
- Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic funding environment
- Passion for HACT's mission and commitment to social impact in the housing sector
Technical competencies
- Proficiency in CRM systems and database management for relationship tracking (ideally HubSpot or Salesforce)
- Advanced skills in proposal writing, bid development, and presentation creation
- Experience with project management tools and budget management systems
- Understanding of due diligence processes and compliance requirements
- Knowledge of social impact measurement and evaluation frameworks
Desirable requirements
- Professional qualifications in fundraising (IoF membership) or business development
- Experience working in or with housing associations, local authorities, or social housing sector
- Knowledge of social value frameworks and impact investment principles
- Experience in managing EU or international funding programmes
- Understanding of research and development processes in policy or practice areas
JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Leads the successful delivery of strategic fundraising and business development projects, ensuring high-quality outputs, stakeholder engagement, and funder satisfaction.
- Secures project funding through strategic relationship-building, proposal development, and targeted fundraising activities.
- Develops and maintains accessible management information systems to support .
- Implements service level agreements (SLAs) for proposals to ensure consistent quality and timely delivery across grant applications and business development outputs.
- Builds new relationships with charitable funders while sustaining and growing existing partnerships to diversify income streams.
- Embeds HACT’s values through inclusive leadership, fostering a collaborative culture and modelling best practice across the organisation.
Employees are also expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties that are consistent with the grade, responsibilities, and typical scope of the role. Any additional tasks should remain appropriate to the nature of the post and not extend into unrelated functions or specialisms.
All employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s values and behavioural standards, which include being supportive, transparent, respectful, kind, honest, and collaborative. This means fostering a culture of empathy, openness, integrity, and teamwork in all interactions, and contributing positively to the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.
ABOUT HACT
Innovation. Collaboration. Insights.
It’s what we’ve always done.
As the charity of the social housing sector, these are the core values that have driven the transformation and development of housing providers for over 60 years.
We believe the provision of housing is about more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about enhancing peoples’ lives.
By partnering with organisations across the housing sector, we drive value for residents and communities through insight-led products and services which encourage innovation and foster collaboration.
This position is currently based remotely with the occasional day in the London office and travel to UK based events as required.
To apply for this role, please share your CV with a one-page cover letter setting out why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experiences meet the key skills points in the job description.
Interviews expected to take place on week commencing the 15th December.
To apply for this role, please share your CV with a one-page cover letter setting out why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experiences meet the key skills points in the job description.
Interviews expected to take place week commencing 15th December.
To support the social housing sector to unlock the full potential of its social purpose, for the benefit of residents & local communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Executive Director has overall responsibility for TOLFA UK’s fundraising, financial management, marketing and communications, and personnel, to implement its mission of providing vital and preventative healthcare to India’s ownerless animals and those belonging to low-income owners, as well as educating communities in their welfare and value
Initially a salary of £19,000 per year for 24 hours per week; both the hours and salary could potentially increase based on the organisation’s income and financial assets
A minimum 18-month commitment is expected; longer is preferred
Reporting to the Board of Trustees
Responsibilities
• Proactively diversify and sustainably increase TOLFA UK’s fundraising, such as:
• Submitting grant proposals and reports to trusts and foundations
• Cultivating individual donors and major donors
• Using TOLFA UK’s donor database to raise funds more effectively
• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to develop the strategy of TOLFA UK, which will include becoming a more impactful organisation with increasing revenue and additional staff
• Provide the vision and leadership to ensure the implementation of TOLFA UK’s strategy
• Maintain excellent communication with the Board of Trustees, including providing monthly reports
• Lead, motivate, and evaluate other staff, freelancers or consultants of TOLFA UK
• Oversee TOLFA UK’s finances, collaborate with a bookkeeper to create and monitor budgets and ensure strong financial controls are in place, and promptly notify the Board of Trustees of any concerns. Lead on oversight of processes such as submission of year end accounts with third party accountancy partners.
• Liaise with TOLFA India, including to understand their funding needs and obtain content for communications and fundraising
• Manage TOLFA UK’s public communications, such as enquiries from the public and the media
• Fill other roles and complete additional tasks as needed
Person Specification
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UK Based
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Demonstrated leadership skills which are necessary to expand TOLFA UK
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Proven success in fundraising
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Proven success in leading fully remote teams
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Exceptional interpersonal skills with donors, trustees, staff, collaborators, and others
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Excellent administrative skills including organization and attention to detail
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Demonstrated efficiency, versatility, and ability to complete tasks within deadlines, when working independently and remotely. Strong ability to manage simultaneous ongoing tasks, projects or deadlines.
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Strong writing skills, including writing in diverse styles and for diverse audiences
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Demonstrated passion for animal welfare
Please note that early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close the advert if we find the right candidate before the closing date of 12th Dec.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Better Together for Healthy Bone Marrow is a three-year partnership programme of work (following a previous three-year funding period of collaboration) that supports people in England who are affected by a range of related rare bone marrow failures that are not caused by cancer.
Because of Better Together for Healthy Bone Marrow, people affected by these rare bone marrow failures will be better informed, less isolated, more connected, and more resilient.
Better Together for Healthy Bone Marrow builds on an existing collaboration between four small but mighty charities that support people living with related rare conditions that include bone marrow failure as a symptom.
The four partners in the Better Together for Healthy Bone Marrow project, are:
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The Aplastic Anaemia Trust – the grant holder and project lead
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DC Action
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Fanconi Hope
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SDS UK
About this role
This role is fully funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Partnerships programme to 31st August 2028. The role is 17.5 hours with flexible working to meet the needs of the right candidate.
Key Responsibilities
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Providing administrative support for the Steering Group, Delivery Team and Community Reference Group meeting cycles
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Providing administrative support for the partners and all aspects of project work
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Keeping the delivery plan up to date
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Managing day to day requirements of the partners and their volunteers, such as fundraising tools and volunteer recruitment information.
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Social media posts – supporting the creation and scheduling of posts
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Event support (online and in-person) - marketing, ticketing and responding to enquiries
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Answer general emails, and/or ensure they are answered by the right person from our team
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Provide basic website support for people making donations or using our fundraising pages and keep relevant areas of the website up to date
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Work with the Project Manager and team to plan communications to go to our supporters and think of new and interesting ways to engage them
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Maintain contact records in the database and keep them up to date
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Send occasional post
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Provide project management / logistical support on projects that support our community
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To attend and represent the Better Together partnership at events (occasional)
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Collect and record data using the CRM and project dashboard for monitoring and evaluation purposes
Person specification
Are you excellent at document management? Do you love a well-maintained project plan and spreadsheet? Are you looking for a way to develop your joy for completing tasks into a role with more senior experience?
We’re looking for someone who loves speaking to people, problem solving and working out how best to support them. This role will involve speaking to lots of different stakeholders and responding to their needs, alongside supporting the
Better Together for Healthy Bone Marrow Project Manager with the overall programme delivery.
We want someone with a creative eye, who understands how to make appealing social media posts, and write communications in a clear and engaging way.
You will bring experience of:
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Administrative project tasks
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Working multiple workstreams within a programme of work
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Helping support people on email and phone
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Writing and creating basic web and social media copy
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Marketing online events
We welcome applications from non-graduates.
What we can offer you
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Being part of a transformational multi-year project, which will have a huge impact on the lives of people living with very rare diseases.
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The chance to work alongside sector experts and ‘get stuck in’ to a wide range of activities within the project.
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Job security to August 2028 as part of a programme team at an ambitious organisation
Staff benefits
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Flexible, remote working
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A great team and team culture, including twice yearly staff meet ups in person
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Pension contributions
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Investment in training and development
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Annual leave allowance of 28 days of holiday, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time staff)
We welcome an informal chat with anyone who is interested in the role, get in touch with us via the email address on our website to arrange a call.