Chief Officer for Children in Salford

JOB BAND: SL

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time

DEPARTMENT: BBC Children in Need

LOCATION: Flexible but with regular travel to Children in Need HQ in Salford and other BBC/Children in Need sites as required

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This is a key Chief Officer level role for BBC Children in Need (CIN), leading on all matters affecting Children and Families. Responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation's impact and grant making strategy, ensuring funding is strategically targeted, evidence led and aligned to the organisational priorities. The role oversees the effective stewardship and impact of c.£50m of annual grant funding.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & IMPACT
  • Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s Change for Children strategy, ensuring funding is focused, evidence‑led and aligned to strategic priorities.
  • Lead strategic choices about where the organisation focuses its funding, enabling and communications activity to maximise impact for children and young people.
  • Ensure the organisation’s funding, enabling and communications activity work together to create joined‑up and sustainable impact for children and young people.
  • Ensure evidence, insight and learning inform organisational priorities, funding approaches and strategic decision‑making.
  • Ensure learning, insight and practical tools are used to support organisations, practitioners and partners to strengthen outcomes for children and young people.
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of the organisation’s overall strategy as a member of the Executive Team.
• GRANT MAKING & FUNDING IMPACT
  • Hold overall accountability for the organisation’s grant making approach, funding strategy and impact.
  • Oversee the effective stewardship and distribution of c.£50m annual grant funding, ensuring funding is distributed fairly, effectively and in line with organisational priorities, values and governance requirements.
  • Ensure learning from funded work is captured and used to strengthen future funding decisions and organisational impact.
  • Work closely with the Director of Grant making to ensure excellent delivery, strong governance and continuous improvement across all grant making activity.
• EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT, ENABLING & PARTNERSHIPS
  • Lead the organisation’s external engagement and strategic relationships across government, sector partners and academia.
  • Use evidence, insight and learning from funded work to help improve practice, shape public understanding and inspire action on the issues affecting children and young people.
  • Lead the development of a pipeline of strategic partnerships with funders, government and other organisations to maximise the organisation’s funding power and impact for children and young people.
  • With the Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer, identify opportunities where the organisation can use its platform, partnerships and voice to drive change for children.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Significant senior leadership experience in the charitable, public or related sectors.
• Strong experience of leading strategic grant making, impact or related functions at a senior level.
• Experience of overseeing significant funding budgets and ensuring strong impact, governance and value for money.
• Strong understanding of the issues affecting children and young people across the UK.
• Experience of using evidence, insight and learning to shape strategy, prioritisation and decision making.
• Experience of leading organisational strategy and change within complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong experience of leading and developing high‑performing teams and organisational culture.
• Experience of working effectively with Boards, Committees and senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating strategically while also working in a hands‑on and collaborative way within a relatively small organisation.

DESIRABLE

• Understanding of the UK funding and grant making landscape.
• Experience of working within or alongside media, communications or public engagement organisations.
• Knowledge of policy and public affairs relating to children and young people across the UK.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Contracts of Employment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.