External Funding Development Manager

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth; City Of London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave

Flexible working

Generous pension plan

Job summary

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth are seeking an External Funding Development Manager to secure investment for cross-borough projects. You will build partnerships, shape funding pipelines and lead high-impact bids that align with council priorities.

You will identify opportunities, coordinate with services and elected members, and ensure evidence-led proposals reach decision-makers.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in securing external funding, ideally for a local authority.
• Comprehensive knowledge of major UK, regional and NGO funding programmes and emerging funding initiatives, in the wider context of central government policies (e.g. Pride in Place).
• Capable of working with senior stakeholders and elected members in a political environment, providing evidence-based recommendations for crucial bidding decisions.
• Effective communication skills, able to build relationships with a range of internal and external services, partners and stakeholders.
• Managing competing priorities, balancing the needs of different services and project proposals, using project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Build powerful partnerships: unite people, services and information, developing partnerships to strengthen bid prospects and maximise funding outcomes.
• Shape the pipeline: assess proposals prior to funding being announced, creating a pipeline of robust project proposals, according to the objectives outlined in our Corporate Plans.
• Turn ideas into investment: lead the development of high-impact funding bids, identify funding opportunities, align them with organisational priorities and create compelling, evidence-led proposals.
• Explore new income strands: identify and develop opportunities to secure funding through sponsorship, social investment and other funding approaches to expand projects which deliver for our residents.
• Communicate: share emerging opportunities with senior stakeholders and councillors, overseeing active bids to monitor performance and ensure corporate oversight.
• Act with pace and judgement: react to funding announcements, using data and expertise to provide a clear recommendation as to whether a service should bid for funding.
• Strengthen proposals and outcomes: identify risks, resources and match funding requirements from external funding opportunities, assessing chances realistically and providing challenge where necessary.

Skills

External funding track record

Funding programme knowledge

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Project management

Job description

External Funding Development Manager

£46,206 - £62,451

Two-year fixed term contract until 30/09/2028

Full-time

Wandsworth Town Hall/Richmond Civic Centre

Are you an experienced funding professional who can turn ambitious ideas into funded projects that make a real difference? Richmond and Wandsworth Councils serve 500,000 residents across South-West London and are determined to make the most of external funding opportunities to improve places, support communities and deliver better outcomes. In this role, you will help shape and drive our approach to external funding, build strong partnerships and lead the development of compelling bids for projects that matter across both boroughs. If you can spot opportunities, bring people together and secure investment where it is needed most, we would like to hear from you.

About the role

This is a chance to bring new investment into projects that improve places, strengthen communities and make a lasting difference for residents across Richmond and Wandsworth. At a time when councils need to be more ambitious and creative in securing investment, this role will be central to helping us identify opportunities, build stronger proposals and bring additional resources into our boroughs.

Building powerful partnerships:you will unite people, services and information, developing partnerships to strengthen bid prospects and maximise funding outcomes.

Shape the pipeline: you will assess proposals prior to funding being announced, creating a pipeline of robust project proposals, according to the objectives outlined in our Corporate Plans.

Turn ideas into investment: you will lead the development of high-impact funding bids. Working with teams, you will identify funding opportunities, align them with organisational priorities and create compelling, evidence-led proposals.

Explore new income strands: you will identify and develop opportunities to secure funding through sponsorship, social investment and other funding approaches to expand projects which deliver for our residents.

Communicate: you will share emerging opportunities with senior stakeholders and councillors, overseeing active bids to monitor performance and ensure corporate oversight.

Act with pace and judgement:you will react to funding announcements, using data and expertise to provide a clear recommendation as to whether a service should bid for funding.

Strengthen proposals and outcomes: you will identify any risks, resources and match funding requirements from external funding opportunities, assessing chances realistically and providing challenge where necessary. You will evaluate bids as a 'critical friend' to strengthen outcomes.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in securing external funding, ideally for a local authority.
• Comprehensive knowledge of major UK, regional and NGO funding programmes and emerging funding initiatives, in the wider context of central government policies (e.g. Pride in Place).
• Capable of working with senior stakeholders and elected members in a political environment, providing evidence-based recommendations for crucial bidding decisions.
• Effective communication skills, able to build relationships with a range of internal and external services, partners and stakeholders.
• Managing competing priorities, balancing the needs of different services and project proposals, using project management tools.

Closing Date: 13/09/26

Shortlisting Date:W/C 14/09/26

Interview Date:W/C 21/09/26

For an informal conversation please contact: Jamie Fisher, Head of Policy and Strategy via [e-mail]

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are alsocommitted to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers toshare thiscommitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactoryresponse to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.