Howden Foundation - Senior Partnerships Officer

Howden Group Holdings; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An international insurance group in Greater London is seeking a Senior Partnerships Officer to join their Foundation team. This full-time role involves managing grant partnerships, assisting in grant applications, and supporting the Foundation's mission to combat climate change. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of experience in the voluntary sector, strong writing skills, and the ability to foster meaningful relationships. A competitive salary and flexible working arrangements are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible working hours

Support for career progression

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the voluntary sector or other social change organizations.
• Ability to read, analyze, and summarize various written materials.
• Ability to maintain grant-making information and systems with detail-oriented focus.

Responsibilities

• Support the Partnerships Director with management of grant partnerships.
• Draft and proofread grant agreements, ensuring timely execution.
• Monitor and respond to the Howden Foundation inbox.

Skills

Organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Writing and proofreading

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no‑limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Partnerships Officer to join the expanding Howden Foundation team, working under the direct supervision of the Partnerships Director. With key building blocks now in place, this is a pivotal moment to join the Foundation and play a vital role in driving our impact. As we scale up our grant‑making, we are looking for someone who can ensure the smooth delivery of day‑to‑day administration, compliance, and reporting across our programmes. You will also play a key role in preparing high‑quality grant applications that advance our mission and strengthen our partnerships. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the Foundation and make a tangible difference.

This role will support the Partnerships Director with the management of the foundation’s strategic grant partnerships to help deliver the foundation’s mission to ensure those most exposed to the impacts of climate change, especially extreme heat and drought, are equipped with the tools to prepare, adapt and recover. This will include carrying out due diligence on potential grant partners, supporting the application process and drafting grant agreements for successful organisations. The Senior Partnerships Officer will also participate in grant monitoring activities including reviewing reports and offering feedback to grant partners as well as ensuring the foundation’s internal administration is up to date.

In addition to supporting the Foundation’s grant‑making, the Senior Partnerships Officer will work closely with other members of the Foundation team, including the Foundation’s COO and Howden’s Community Impact team, to administer the Foundation’s People First Fund.

Responsibilities

Support the Partnerships Director with the management of the grant partnerships portfolio.

• Attend meetings with potential grantees alongside the Partnerships Director and/or CEO, or independently, as required.
• Support the application process including obtaining information, conducting due diligence, reviewing grant applications and ensuring all information is submitted and resolving queries that arise.
• Support in ensuring the foundation CEO, committees and board is provided with timely, accurate and relevant information and recommendations to support grant‑making decisions.
• Support with the grant execution processes including drafting and proofreading grant agreements, making grant payments, and collecting receipts.
• Act as point of contact for grant partners, including ensuring progress reports are received and any queries are answered.
• Work closely with the Partnerships Director to identify and track funder‑plus activities for grant holders, ensuring information is captured for sharing by the Communications and Engagement Lead.
• Maintain internal records on grant‑making including the Foundation’s grant tracker.
• International field visits (one trip per year) may be required.

Support the COO with the management of the Foundation’s People First Fund.

• Monitor the global match funding programme, including tracking usage and coordinating the execution of any required donation letters.
• Provide administrative support across the full life cycle of the annual Howden Foundation Charity Awards, including liaison with charity nominators and winners, oversight of documentation, and execution of follow‑up actions. Contribute actively to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the awards process.
• Execute emergency appeals and other ad‑hoc donations, ensuring a timely and coordinated response across all stakeholders.
• Monitor the Howden Foundation inbox and respond to queries.

Monitor the Howden Foundation inbox and respond to queries.

Who are we looking for?

To be successful in this role, you will be educated to degree level or equivalent related experience, with knowledge of grant‑making. Strong organisational and interpersonal skills and the ability to thrive in a busy environment will be key to this position. You’ll be passionate about listening to, and learning from our grant partners with an ability to build strong and supportive relationships.

Essential

• At least 5 years’ experience in the voluntary sector or other social change organisation.
• Excellent written, copywriting and proofreading skills. The ability to read quickly and analyse a range of written materials and to summarise and present information clearly.
• The ability to maintain grant‑making information and systems to a high standard with close attention to the required detail for audit and accountability purposes.
• Numerate and computer literate with a comprehensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to build relationships with people at all levels and collaborate across a range of teams. A partner‑led approach that shows empathy and provides meaningful support to partners navigating complex and challenging environments.
• Good planning and organisational skills, able to work to multiple prioritised tasks, targets and deadlines.

Desirable

• Grant making experience from another corporate, family or independent foundation.
• An interest and experience working in climate change, and climate justice.
• Good understanding of learning and impact measurement.
• Experience working with grant management systems.
• Lived or practical experience of collaborating with grassroots organisations in the Global South.

This is a permanent, full‑time position, though a four‑day work week may be considered for the right candidate. While your location is flexible, there is a requirement to be in the London office at least one day a week. We provide a competitive salary alongside a comprehensive benefits package.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent