Grants Officer

hays-gcj-v4-pd-online; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity is seeking a compassionate Grants Officer to provide vital support to colleagues applying for financial help. This full-time position offers collaboration in a dynamic environment, emphasizing empathy and professionalism while maintaining high standards of client experience and effective record-keeping.

Benefits

Hybrid working

34-hour work week

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Private health and dental care options

Wellbeing allowance: £50 per month

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Access to Colleague Support Programme

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills to engage with a diverse range of people.
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals or in client-facing support roles.
• Excellent administration skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support colleagues in their applications for financial grants.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for grant applications.
• Assess and recommend grants based on policy and fairness.

Skills

Communication

Resilience

Attention to detail

Empathy

Education

GCSEs in Maths and English

Level 3 qualification (A Level or equivalent)

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

GRANTS OFFICER ROLE

JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION

This role is working for an amazing charity that provides emotional, practical, and financial support for people. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to add value to a growing charity and make a real and lasting difference to colleagues working in an industry who are experiencing difficult times.

As a Grants Officer, you will join a busy team at our Head Office. Our motivated and dedicated Grants Officers focus on supporting colleagues when applying for financial help, in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner, delivering a high standard of client experience and keeping detailed, clear records. You’ll be part of a supportive team, working in a fast-paced environment where empathy, professionalism, and attention to detail are essential. No two days are the same — from guiding applicants through the process to reviewing and recommending grants for maximum impact. Full training will be provided on systems and services, followed by a structured personal development plan including benefits training and a deep understanding of available support and signposting.

Role Responsibilities

This role focuses on supporting colleagues in their applications for financial assistance, ensuring a passionate and impartial approach to every case. It demands a commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience while maintaining thorough and well-organized records. These records inform recommendations for financial grants aligned with established criteria.

1. Act as the first point of contact for financial grant applicants, offering empathetic, non-judgmental support, especially to those in distress or vulnerable situations.
2. Provide guidance and assistance to applicants and beneficiaries in accessing financial grants and wider services, identifying additional support options.
3. Manage a personal caseload of grant applications from initial application to final decision and payment.
4. Collect and authenticate applicant information to confirm eligibility, provide timely updates, and support informed decision-making.
5. Assess and recommend grants in line with policy, ensuring fairness, accuracy, and consistency.
6. Deliver services that uphold high standards, focusing on the applicant’s experience.
7. Maintain accurate and well-documented communication records for all interactions.
8. Collaborate effectively as part of a team, adhering to the Charity Service Level Charter.
9. Stay informed on benefits knowledge, participating in training and meetings to enhance expertise in grant-making, health, and wellbeing.
10. Represent the charity at internal and external meetings, attending training sessions and conferences as required.
11. Work collaboratively across the charity to support strategic goals.

Person Specification

We are looking for a highly capable and resilient individual who can effectively communicate with a diverse range of people while working in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Strong communication skills and resilience – ability to engage confidently and empathetically via email and telephone.
• Awareness and understanding of mental health, physical illness/disability, or homelessness – from personal experience or professional exposure.
• Personal resilience – to support your wellbeing and those around you.
• Excellent administration skills – strong attention to detail when assessing documentation.
• Experience with CRM systems and record-keeping – logging information accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure – demonstrating speed and precision without compromising quality.
• Educational qualifications – minimum GCSEs in Maths and English, and a Level 3 qualification (A Level or equivalent). A degree is desirable for critical thinking and decision-making capabilities.

Desirable experience includes working with vulnerable individuals or in a client-facing support role, and previous case management experience.

What We Offer

• Hybrid working: Minimum two days per week in the office (Thursday and one flexible day).
• 34-hour work week (full-time).
• Flexible working hours after training completion.
• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays and an additional 3 days at Christmas.
• Private health and dental care options.
• Wellbeing allowance: £50 per month.
• Contributory pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution).
• Life Assurance (up to 5 times salary).
• Access to Colleague Support Programme.