Grants Officer Part Time

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) seeks a Grants Officer to coordinate and promote its grants programme. The Society’s grants provide an important source of funding for research and training in geography. The grants are wide-ranging and offer support to desk and field-based researchers, expedition teams, independent travellers and school teachers for work in the UK and overseas. This year, the Society has provided ca. £200,000 in grants (with individual grants ranging from £350 to £15,000) and supported more than 65 projects.

This appointment is likely to suit a geography graduate in their second post after graduation who has an interest in high quality field research and has had experience of office work with strong database and analytical skills.

The Society: Established in 1830 to promote ‘the advancement of geographical science’, today we are a dynamic world centre for geographical learning – supporting research, education, expeditions and fieldwork, as well as promoting and facilitating knowledge and exchange, and public engagement and informed enjoyment of our world. The Society is one of the largest, and regarded as the most active, scholarly geographical societies in the world. Applicants are strongly recommended to familiarise themselves with the current work of the Society set out on our website.

The Society is based in a listed building in its own grounds in Kensington opposite Hyde Park, and operates nine regional branches in the UK and two overseas. There are approximately 55 permanent full-time staff, together with part-time, temporary and volunteer staff.

Salary and application details

This is a permanent appointment subject to successful completion of a probationary period of three months. The salary range for this post is £28,175 to £30,753 per annum depending upon experience and qualifications.

Annual holidays are 25 days plus the period over which the Society is closed between Christmas and the New Year, and on Bank holidays.

The Society offers a personal pension scheme to which it currently contributes 7.5% of gross salary. The Society aims to be an equal opportunities employer.

Via Charity Jobs, please address the online application to Dr Catherine Souch or write to Dr Souch, Head of Research and Higher Education, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR, with a copy of your CV and covering letter explaining your suitability for the post and how you fulfil the selection criteria listed below. Please provide details of your current salary, and names and contact details for two referees (these will not be contacted without consultation).

Applications must be received by 19 September 2019. Interviews are due to be held the following week.

We regret that we are unable to respond to all applications.

Job description for the post of Grants Officer

Post: Grants Officer

Departments: Research and Higher Education

Responsible to: Head of Research and Higher Education

Persons reporting: None

Purpose of post – To coordinate and promote the Society’s grants programme

The Grants Officer reports directly to the Head of Research and Higher Education, but works across all divisions of the Society, encompassing research, education and outdoor learning. Full details of the Society’s grants can be found on the website.

Duties and responsibilities include:

Coordinating grants for the research, education and fieldwork communities and managing the grants programme.
Serving as the point of contact for all enquiries relating to grants.
Promoting the Society’s grants nationally and internationally through appropriate digital, print and event outlets.
Preparing and revising, with guidance, the application forms and guidelines for each grant.
Maintaining and updating the grants section of the Society’s website.
Receiving and processing all grant applications.
Maintaining and developing links with expert reviewers and screening panels and collating recommendations.
Organising interview days and meetings as appropriate.
Administering the payment of the grants through liaison with the Finance team.
Managing the budget and day-to-day finances of the grants programme.
Communicating with sponsors and donors of each grant and supporting their stewardship.
Maintaining grants databases of projects, recipients and grant screeners.
Maintaining contact with the grant winners, including requesting reports as and when necessary.
Organising award presentations.
Preparing grant reports for the appropriate Society committees.
Raising the profile of the grants programme and the grant funded projects with multiple audiences.
Keeping the Head of Research and Higher Education fully informed of all matters relating to the Society’s grants programme.
Other duties as required by the Head of Research and Higher Education relevant to the position

Selection criteria

The following are the essential requirements for the post. These are the criteria against which candidates will be short-listed and judged. Candidates are encouraged to outline how they meet the requirements in their application and to cite specific evidence.

A keen interest and knowledge of geography, environmental matters and the world in which we live.
Educated to degree level, with a strong preference for a degree in geography, with one to two years of relevant work or equivalent experience as a minimum.
A sound knowledge and experience of the grant giving process.
A well-organised and efficient approach to work, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a wide range of people under pressure to meet strict and multiple deadlines.
Strong organisational and administrative skills, ideally with experience in a busy office. This will include proven desktop computing and web skills.
The ability to manage all day-to-day aspects of the finances for the grants.
The ability to communicate very effectively, tactfully and discreetly, on the telephone, in person, and in writing/by email with those applying for grants, those evaluating grants, and sponsors and donors of the grants.
The ability to undertake data gathering and research tasks related to the development of the grants programme, and the ability to communicate the results in a concise written manner to committees and other staff.
Drive, enthusiasm, and initiative and an attention to detail.
Sense of humour and team playing spirit.