Regional Grants Manager

National Trust; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 48,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Rental deposit loan

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday up to 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust is seeking an outstanding grants fundraising professional to join the South West team. You will lead development of grant bids to fund large, complex projects, focusing on urban opportunities and unlocking access to nature and heritage.

This hybrid role (30 hours/week) is based from South West offices including Killerton, Exeter. You will build relationships with funders and authorities to secure income and deliver compelling applications.

Qualifications

• Track record of submitting six- and seven-figure funding applications.
• Experience with large grants including National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• Experience identifying urban grant opportunities and funding for underrepresented communities.
• Ability to collaborate with local authorities and strategic partners to maximise funding.

Responsibilities

• Develop pipelines of projects to submit to key funders.
• Ensure projects meet funder criteria in collaboration with teams.
• Identify and secure grant opportunities across urban areas.
• Build strong strategic partnerships with funders and authorities.
• Lead the development of compelling, high-quality grant applications.

Skills

Grant fundraising

Bid writing

Stakeholder management

Grant strategy

Urban funding

Partnership development

Job description

Summary

We're looking for an outstanding grants fundraising professional with a proven record of successful bids towards large and complex projects to join our South West team. You'll be responsible for providing advice and generating income across a variety of funders (including statutory and lottery) for a range of projects. Whilst we are seeking someone who can work across a broad range of grant opportunities, we are particularly looking for an expert in unlocking grant opportunities in urban contexts and grants that help deliver the National Trust's ambition to 'end unequal access to nature, history and beauty'. Internally this role is known as Grants Consultant.

Hours: 30 hours per week with a degree of flexibility around working pattern, to be discussed further at interview.

What It's Like To Work Here

We work in a matrix structure where you will be part of both a mixed discipline team directly supporting our places with advice and support and part of the wider regional and central fundraising community. You'll focus on regional priority projects and help identify and maximise opportunities through collaboration with local authorities, strategic partners and other stakeholders. You’ll be part of the Trust’s internal specialist delivery team: a flexible resource of specialist skills and expertise. As one of a multidisciplinary team of experts, including curators, fundraisers, building surveyors and project managers, you’ll be working with others to help make things happen.

As this role covers the South West region, you could be based from any of our South West regional offices. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll be involved in developing pipelines of projects to submit to key funders and then working with our inspiring teams to ensure that projects meet funder criteria. You'll focus on key projects and funding opportunities across a number of places. A particular area of responsibility will be identifying, developing and securing grant opportunities across urban areas and funding that supports the ambition to end unequal access to nature, history and beauty. You'll develop relationships with external collaborators, including local authorities, funders and partners, to optimise funding opportunities and build strong strategic partnerships. Above all else, this role is about generating income and leading the development of compelling, high quality applications.

Who We're Looking For

• A fundraising professional with sound experience of submitting successful large (six and seven figure) funding applications to grant giving bodies and substantial knowledge of the grants and fundraising environment (or equivalent knowledge).
• Specific experience of developing large applications for the National Lottery Heritage Fund (or equivalent experience).
• Demonstrable experience of identifying, developing and securing urban grant opportunities and/or funding that supports greater access to nature, history and beauty for underrepresented communities.
• Experience of working alongside local authorities, combined authorities and other strategic partners to maximise funding opportunities and deliver shared outcomes.
• Someone passionate about fundraising and able to inspire and enthuse others.
• Experience of developing complex funding bids as part of a wider project team and bringing general project management/development skills.
• Someone able to work to tight deadlines and prioritise effectively.
• Strong consultancy skills including listening, collaborative working, relationship building and influencing across a range of stakeholders.
• Someone who can write high quality applications while also bringing strategic thinking to support future planning.

The package

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place

Killerton - RO, Killerton, Exeter, EX5 3LE

Documents

Grants Consultant - Grade 5.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date

04 October 2026

Interview Date

12 October 2026 (Killerton, Exeter)

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.