Job Opportunity: AAS Grants & Bids Manager

We are pleased to announce that we are looking for a grants & bids manager for Adopt a School. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the charity that has helped to deliver food education to thousands of primary school students up and down the country. Please see below for the job description and further details:

Job Title: Grants & Bids Manager

Salary: Actual Annual Salary £5,720 (five hours per week) FTE £45,760 p.a

Hours: Five hours per week

Employment: Part Time, 12-month rolling, three-month probation

Responsible to: CEO and Programme Manager

Job Location: Hybrid - Westminster Kingsway College, London, SW1P 2PD

Founded in 1990, the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Adopt a School Trust (AAS) is a national charity delivering food education in schools. The Adopt a School team, members of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA), and those in the hospitality industry trained by us, work with a local school with the aim of passing on their knowledge and expertise. Our vision is that every child learns about food in a holistic sense and has the confidence to eat well, be healthy and happy. Our programme helps children to develop healthy eating habits and encourages an enthusiasm and interest in food and cooking, as well as giving an insight into the hospitality industry.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and can be amended in conjunction with the post holder in the light of changing organisational needs.

Job Purpose

To secure new funding for the Adopt A School Programme, manage existing funding relationships and ongoing grants, and create reports for funders and benefactors.

Job Summary

Key Responsibilities:

• To work with the RACA CEO to identify innovative, yet sustainable forms of income, including individual donations.

• Work with the RACA CEO and AAS Programme Manager to develop a plan for multi-year income growth from grant funding.

• Create a plan for grants and trusts funding to establish a pipeline of high-value bids and a consistent, sustainable revenue stream.

• Identify fundraising sources and prepare fundraising and grant applications.

• Write compelling, high-quality bids, tenders, and applications to meet submission deadlines.

• Analyse all bid/tender requirements and service specifications, and address these in the writing of winning submissions

• Ensure that accurate research and scoping is completed and incorporated into bids.

• Prepare and oversee all reporting to funders, ensuring all reports are timely and to a high standard.

• Gather feedback from bids to drive improvements.

• Along with the RACA CEO, to prepare, implement and monitor the charity’s budget robustly to ensure the charity is sustainable and resources are being used appropriately.

• Build and nurture relationships with key trusts and foundation supporters and develop new relationships with prospective funders, including attending networking events.

• Develop and maintain a database of potential funders, grant giving organisations and commissioners.

• Help in the development of proposals, presentations, and briefings

• Ensure adherence to Adopt a School’s strategy, mission, and values

• Adhere to Adopt a School policies and procedures.

We are looking to appoint someone who is/has:

• Experience of grant writing and reporting, and successful funding bids for four, five and six figure sums.

• At least two years of demonstratable experience in successful proposal, bid and tender writing; or equivalent relevant experience

• A thorough understanding of the bidding process and ability to demonstrate creative writing skills

• Integrity in respect of confidential and commercially sensitive information, ensuring intellectual property and confidential information is protected.

• Ability to self-motivate, work on own initiative and be accountable for your own work

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage a complex workload and prioritise effectively, with a strong attention to detail

• Exceptional proof reading and editing skills

• Strong IT skills including Microsoft 365/Office (CRM experience is a plus)

• Ability to develop sustainable, close working relationships with key stakeholders

• A high standard of written and verbal English and strong presentation skills

• Enthusiasm and energy

• Ability to coordinate the input of others and work effectively with people from a range of professional disciplines and backgrounds

• A creative, flexible, and enthusiastic approach

• Previous experience of working in the charity sector is desirable

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent

• 2 years’ bid writing experience; or equivalent relevant experience

This is an opportunity for a motivated professional to join our well-established and respected charity as we continue to grow. You will contribute to increasing our income from a range of funding streams.

The successful applicant will have the ability to write clearly and concisely, adhere to tight deadlines, ensure we meet bid service specifications and take a systematic approach to their work, with a keen eye for detail.

The successful candidate will explore potential areas for funding and income growth and make recommendations and proposals to senior management on which opportunities and applications to progress or not.

You will help develop the internal systems and processes for tracking, delivering and monitoring tender, grant and bid submissions. You will co-ordinate the bid writing and tender process, engage with appropriate colleagues and teams to collate information, and write and submit high-quality applications within the required timescales.

The duties outlined above are not intended to be exhaustive and may change as the needs of the organisation alter in line with current agendas.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter to Lisa Jenkins at lisa@royalacademyofculinaryarts.org.uk by the 13th September. Interviews will be held on the 24 September 2024 at our office at Westminster Kingsway College, London. Your cover letter should highlight your interest in Adopt a School and your motivation for undertaking this job. Please detail your relevant experience, ensuring this is in line with the job description and person specification.

The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Adopt a School Trust is an equal opportunities employer and will not discriminate against any candidate based on any characteristic protected by the Equality Act 2010.