Director of Grant Making in Belfast

Salary: £63,837 - £67,435 (points 51 to 54), starting on point 51 (£63,837). It is our normal practice for new employees to start on the first point of the scale.

Hours per week: 35.00

Role Description

The Director of Grant Making is a senior leadership role responsible for leading the strategic development and oversight of the Community Foundations grant-making and donor care functions. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Grants Director will lead the Foundation's approach to effective, impactful and innovative grant-making, ensuring that grant funds and grants deliver meaningful outcomes for communities whilst meeting donor and funder priorities. The Grants Director will provide strategic leadership to the Grants and Donor Care Team, driving excellence in grant management, donor care, impact measurement and continuous improvement. The postholder will work closely and collaborate with the CEO, senior colleagues, donors, funders and key stakeholders to collectively help grow philanthropic investment in Northern Ireland and strengthen the Foundation's reputation as a trusted organisation. The Grants Director will play a key role in shaping organisational strategy, growing existing donors, informing policy discussions relevant to the community and voluntary sector and ensuring that the Foundation's grant-making remains responsive to emerging community needs.

About You

You will be an approachable, dynamic and strategic leader who is passionate about philanthropy, community impact and social change. You will be motivated and committed to our values, vision and mission and will play a key role in shaping and delivering the Foundation's grant-making strategy. You will have significant leadership experience and a proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams. You will be skilled at creating a positive and collaborative culture, empowering others to succeed and ensuring that services are delivered to the highest standards. You will bring substantial relevant experience, with the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational oversight. You will be able to identify opportunities for growth and innovation and demonstrate sound judgement in managing complex issues, competing priorities and organisational risk. You will be an excellent communicator with strong analytical and influencing skills. You will be confident building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, funders, community organisations, public sector partners and colleagues. You will be able to inspire trust and confidence, represent the Foundation externally and will work collaboratively across the organisation to bring increased investment in local communities. You will have a strong understanding of the community and voluntary sector and the challenges and opportunities facing communities across Northern Ireland. You will be committed to ensuring that the Foundation's grant-making remains responsive, impactful and informed by evidence and learning. You will be comfortable working both strategically and operationally, leading multiple priorities and managing change in a fast-paced environment. You will have excellent organisational skills, be highly proactive and able to plan and manage your workload effectively while supporting others to achieve their objectives. You will have strong IT skills and be highly competent in using Microsoft Office. You will have significant relevant experience of using databases and CRM systems to manage complex workflows and produce timely and relevant reports. We also expect that you will actively identify improvements and efficiencies that enhance our services, strengthen our impact and support our culture and values.

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
• Lead the development and implementation of the Foundation's grant-making strategy in line with organisational priorities.
• Contribute to the overall strategic leadership of the Foundation as a member of the Senior Management Team.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, growth and improvement across grant-making and donor care.
• Ensure grant-making activities align with community needs, donor intentions and organisational objectives.
• Lead the development of annual operational plans, budgets and performance measures for the Directorate.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to the CEO and Board on grant-making, philanthropy and community needs.
• Grant-Making, Impact and Learning
• Provide leadership and oversight of the Foundation's grant-making portfolio, ensuring fair, transparent, inclusive and effective processes.
• Lead the development of grant funding initiatives.
• Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and learning systems are in place to measure impact that can inform organisational development and future funding strategies.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement in grant-making practice.
• Monitor trends and developments within the community and voluntary sector and assess implications for grant-making.
• Collaborate with the Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Communications to identify policy issues arising from grant making and contribute to the Foundation's policy and influencing work.
• Donor and Stakeholder Engagement
• Work collaboratively with other Directorates to develop and maintain strategic relationships with major donors, funders and philanthropic partners.
• Work collaboratively with other Directorates to secure philanthropic investment and funding opportunities.
• Ensure high standards of donor care and reporting in the Directorate and to donors and stakeholders.
• Represent the Foundation across donor, funder, partnership and sector engagement opportunities.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 5 years experience in a senior leadership, director or management role, which includes:

• (i) demonstrable experience of leading, supporting and developing high-performing multi-disciplinary teams
• (ii) responsibility for managing a department, function, or organisation-wide service to deliver high-quality outcomes
• (iii) Strong understanding of grant-making, philanthropic investment, donor stewardship, and programme management.
• (iv) Experience of working directly with or reporting to a Board, Committee, or Senior Leadership Team.

Experience of building and maintaining strong strategic external relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, funders, partners, and senior sector leaders. Experience of working at a strategic level within a complex organisation, contributing to organisational planning, governance, or senior leadership decision-making. Experience of managing complex projects, budgets, or portfolios of work, ensuring effective delivery, compliance, and impact.

KNOWLEDGE/ SKILLS

Strong knowledge of the community and voluntary sector, including current issues, opportunities, and policy context in Northern Ireland. A high level of competence in strategic leadership, planning, and performance management, with the ability to translate organisational priorities into delivery. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively orally and in writing, and to produce high-quality reports for senior audiences. Excellent organisational and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, complex workloads, and deadlines. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data, evaluate impact, and draw out strategic and policy implications of grant programmes. Strong IT skills, with high competency in MS Office, including Excel, and significant, relevant experience of using CRM or database systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage complex workflows and reporting.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Committed to the Foundations vision, mission, values and behaviours. Committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and to working with diverse communities across Northern Ireland. Able to represent the Foundation at senior-level meetings, events, and external engagements, including occasional evening commitments. Ability to travel across Northern Ireland, Ireland and the rest of the UK as required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Available to work outside normal office hours, including evenings and weekends. Full driving licence and access to a form of transport. Consideration will be given to alternative travel proposals in respect of applicants who do not hold a license. We operate a hybrid working model whereby staff work both from home and the office. A large part of this role requires you to be working independently but reporting regularly into the wider team.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA EXPERIENCE

Experience working within a grant-making organisation, philanthropic body, trust, or foundation. Experience of influencing policy, strategy, or sector-wide change, particularly in relation to community investment or social impact. Experience of using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) at a strategic or reporting level to support decision-making and impact measurement.