The policy team is part of Customer Improvement and Customer Services playing a key role in driving the development of the organisation and its strategic partnerships.  The team provides a strategic planning and development resource, with individual officers taking lead responsibilities for specialist areas such as support to the voluntary and community sector.

About the role

You will play a key role in the Council’s funding support to the voluntary and community sector and in the Council’s delivery Government funded programmes.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop both formal and informal networks in RBC and Reading-wide, ensuring that voluntary and community organisations and RBC officers are kept up to date with funding opportunities.
• Respond to requests from internal/external enquirers to research funding. Maintain records of bidding interest and undertake an annual audit of funding outcomes
• Facilitate the Council’s external funding bidding by supporting services in developing their bidding strategies, supporting funding /bid writing; proof reading bids and providing feedback to bidders on how to improve their bids.
• Administer the Council’s annual voluntary and community grants programme and corporate contracts.
  Produce and maintain records and monitoring systems relating to the Council’s corporate funding to the voluntary and community sector and to externally funded cross-council projects/programmes.
• Facilitate steering groups and monitoring meetings for project managers and delivery partners for projects/programmes.

About you

The following experience is required for this role:

• Qualified at NVQ level 3 or above, or with equivalent experience, in office administration systems, including use of I.T. and financial management systems.
• Member of the Institute of Fundraising qualified with either a Certificate or Diploma in Fundraising
• Demonstrable and detailed knowledge and experience of UK funding programmes and associated procedural requirements and familiarity of the concept of match funding.
• Identifying Local Authority, voluntary sector or other agency funding opportunities
• Working with voluntary and community organisations and individuals
• Personal responsibility of financial management and monitoring of budgets
• Clear verbal and written communication skills and an ability to present reasoned arguments verbally and in writing.

Benefits include flexible working opportunities, on-site day nursery and Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) membership.

For more information on this position please contact Stephen.johnson@reading.gov.uk.