I'm recruiting on behalf of my longstanding client — a dynamic and forward-thinking Community Interest Company (CIC) — who have an exciting new opportunity for a Funding Manager to join their passionate team.

This is a newly created role that offers the chance to make a tangible impact in communities by leading the development and delivery of a significant funding programme. The successful candidate will oversee the full lifecycle of grant-making — from strategy development and stakeholder engagement through to funding allocation, monitoring, impact reporting, and public communications.

We're looking for a strategic, driven, and community-minded professional with a strong background in grant management, social impact, or community development.

You'll be confident working across sectors, building effective partnerships, ensuring robust governance, and driving high-quality outcomes for vulnerable groups. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a difference and has the skills to manage large-scale funding initiatives with integrity and vision.

Key Responsibilities

Fund Deployment & Governance

* Lead annual planning and distribution of CIC funds in line with strategic community goals.

* Manage the full governance cycle from internal fund allocation to regulatory reporting.

* Run structured, transparent funding competitions, assessing and approving innovative project proposals.

* Ensure funds are used ethically, with clear oversight procedures and value-for-money assessments.

* Monitor delivery partners to ensure benefits are realised and well-evidenced.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

* Develop and maintain effective partnerships with organisations that align with the CIC's mission.

* Support collaborative initiatives across sectors such as education, crisis response, health, innovation, or community resilience.

* Represent the CIC at events and forums to promote engagement and increase visibility.

* Provide constructive feedback to applicants and foster long-term relationships beyond initial funding.

Impact Monitoring & Reporting

* Design and implement performance monitoring tools to track project outcomes.

* Produce high-quality internal and external reports demonstrating the CIC's social value and effectiveness.

* Collect and share case studies, success stories, and insights to support learning and accountability.

Communications & Engagement

* Collaborate with internal and external communications teams to promote funded projects and their impact.

* Ensure regular public updates on fund allocation, outcomes, and community benefits.

* Develop accessible and engaging content that showcases the broader value of CIC activities.

Person Specification

Essential

* Proven experience in managing grant programmes, community projects or impact funding.

* Strong knowledge of governance, compliance and ethical fund management in a not-for-profit or social enterprise context.

* Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills.

* Strong organisational and project management capabilities.

* Experience in performance measurement and impact reporting.

Desirable

* Experience delivering funding rounds or competitions.

* Familiarity with CIC frameworks and reporting obligations.

Key Objectives & KPIs

Governance & Fund Delivery

* Deliver annual fund distribution aligned with strategic priorities.

* Maintain full compliance with CIC governance and regulatory requirements.

* Run at least one competitive funding round per year with transparent evaluation processes.

Community Engagement & Outcomes

* Ensure measurable community benefits from all funded initiatives.

* Expand and diversify partnerships with aligned organisations.

* Achieve strong visibility and public recognition for funded projects.

Sustainability & Strategy

* Create a long-term strategy to maximise the social return of reinvested funds while building a replicable portfolio of successful projects to inform future funding cycles.

* Strengthen stakeholder engagement and support over time.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be expected to operate within relevant equality, customer service and quality standards and display a flexible approach to collaboration and support across organisational priorities.

The role involves working with Board subcommittees and external partners to deliver agreed community objectives