Purpose of the job

UK Youth are seeking an exceptional Grants Manager to lead our grant-making processes, ensuring effective distribution of funds to youth-focused organisations. You will play a key role in managing relationships with grantees, supporting capacity-building initiatives, and ensuring funding is used effectively to drive positive outcomes for young people.

Reporting to the Head of Network Development, as part of a wider team leading our network development initiatives, you’ll be responsible for be line managing a Grants Officer and providing much needed and valued support for a sector that delivers life changing impact for young people in a difficult, underinvested landscape. You’ll have opportunity to lead a function that’s committed to working with young people and using equitable, innovative principles and approaches to funding (such as unrestricted, multi-year funds). You’ll also work collaboratively across the organisation and externally to amplify impact for young people across the UK.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the full grant-making cycle, from application and assessment to award, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Develop and implement grant-making approaches that align with the charity’s objectives, and funding principles, strategies and priorities  e.g. building on our youth participation practices.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, funders, and sector stakeholders, working collaboratively and cross functionally with internal colleagues with work related to grants.

• Work closely with youth organisations to understand their needs and provide tailored funding and capacity-building support.

• Work with Impact colleagues to monitor and evaluate grants, ensuring compliance with funding agreements and identifying opportunities for impact and learning.

• Ensure a transparent and equitable grant-making process, embedding best practices in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Work with Impact and External Relations colleagues to support and prepare reports and impact assessments for internal and external stakeholders, including trustees and funders.

• Support the maintenance and development of partnerships and new funding opportunities  to enhance the charity’s grant-making capacity, including the IVAR community .

• Stay informed about trends in youth work and  funding, sharing insights to shape the charity’s approach.

• Ensure the CRM and grant management systems support data-driven decision-making and reporting, providing training and support to colleagues as needed.

• Support the development, and continuous improvement of the charity’s CRM and grant management systems to ensure efficient and effective grant processing.

Experience we're after

• Previous line management experience and a proven track record of successfully leading a grants function in a previous role.

• Experience in grant-making, funding management, or a related role within the charity sector.

• Strong understanding of youth sector challenges and the role of funding in strengthening organisations.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple grants simultaneously.

• Analytical skills to assess funding applications and evaluate impact.

• Strong relationship management and communication skills, both verbal and written, with experience working with charities and funders.

• Financially numerate with the ability to set and manage budgets.

• Knowledge of funding compliance, financial reporting, GDPR and charity governance

• Proactive, collaborative and solution focused.

• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in grant-making practices.

Who we are

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened, supported, and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed and delivers high-quality outcomes.

UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing; the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. To find more about us and how we make an impact, please visit UK Youth Website.

Why work at UK Youth?

We are a value-based, passionate and committed organisation offering a friendly working environment with lots of opportunities for professional development and socialising (even for those working remotely!) from lunch and learn sessions, staff quizzes to virtual coffee meet ups.

UK Youth prides itself on being an Equal Opportunity employer and we would particularly welcome applications for this role from those who identify under one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

We value the differences that a diverse workforce brings and are committed to inclusivity, and to employing and supporting a diverse workforce. Our selection procedures ensure that people are treated on the basis of their relevant merits, experience, skills and abilities and that no individual receives more or less favourable treatment.

We welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in our organisation including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are also currently underrepresented by men, and so are seeking applications from different backgrounds, cultures, age, experience and identity to bring a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights to UK Youth.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Monday 12th May at 11:59pm (midnight)

Provisional Interview Dates: Friday 23rd May 2025

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.