Funding Officer Role –Strategy Learning and Partnerships Team in the London and South East Region (FTC Until Feb 2027).
Social connections and community activities are at the heart of creating healthier, happier lives and a flourishing society. That’s why through The National Lottery Community Fund Strategy 2023-2030, we’re looking to make a bigger difference in the years ahead, by listening and responding to communities and by focusing on supporting bolder change.
Thanks to National Lottery players, we plan to distribute at least £4 billion of funding by 2030. Supporting projects that will create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable. Projects that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.
We are looking to recruit a Funding Officer to join the London, Southeast and East Team (LSE&E), within the Strategy, Learning Partnerships team (SLP). You will be part of a team, led by a Funding Manager and comprised of several other Funding Officers.
The LSE&E team is headed up by a Senior Head of Regional Funding, together with two Senior Grant Making Managers (SGMM) for London & South East. There are 5 local patches for the South East and East and 3 local patches for London.
SLP supports both LSE&E regional grant making, England wide grant making and Partnerships. SLP Funding Officers are involved in England Wide and Partnership Work beyond LSE&E and across England regions. They work with LSE&E colleagues, the Regional Leadership Team and England Wide.
SLP has a uniquely collaborative function, working together with local patches, the region as a whole and across England.
The SLP team purpose is to;
- Enable and lead grant making across geographical boundaries within the LSE&E region & across England
- Ensure intentional and responsive grant making responds to sector needs, is impactful, focused and mission aligned
- Build evidence & drive continuous learning and impact in the mission areas and our equity-based approach
- Provide regional leadership for external engagement, partnerships & funder collaborations & lead and / or support project teams across LSE&E and share best practice
Your Responsibilities:
In Responsive Grant Making, you will support the pipeline of ideas across two or more LSE&E local patches, assessing by The Fund's priorities and missions and using understanding of regional priorities.
Using regional priorities and new IMD data, you will be horizon scanning opportunities for intentional external engagement and contribute to the LSE&E Regional Funding Plans.
You will support the region to deliver to the new routes to partnership and England Wide funding. You will learn about and support the region with Funding Mechanisms that will enable flexible grant making.
You will have an interest in learning and act as the Regional Learning Lead (up to 20% of time – variable according to team / regional priorities).
With oversight from your manager, you will provide leadership to SLP learning and implement high quality and relevant learning & events that meet the strategic objectives of the region.
You will guide and support the LSE&E Mission Leads – these are a group of Funding Officers who support Learning across LSE&E.
You will support them to deliver on learning needs, priorities and events – and work collaboratively alongside the rest of SLP and the Regional Leadership Team (RLT).
In return we can offer the opportunity to develop relevant skills and gain experience working with one of the largest funders in the UK. You can progress to becoming a trained and skilled Funding Officer with good progression routes in the sector.
Working in SLP is a good opportunity to learn new skills work collaboratively across LSE&E and England Wide. It is an opportunity to hone your leadership skills, by supporting colleagues and working with the Regional Leadership Team to support strategic plans for the region.
Interview Details:
Interview Dates: 4TH and 5th February 2026
Format: Virtual
Location: We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern will be agreed with the successful candidate. London is the regional Office.
You’ll ideally be based in London or within a couple of hours reach. The role does require travel to London at least once a month, and occasionally more frequently — up to once a week during peak periods
If you would like an informal conversation about the role specifically, please contact: Deborah Meyer-Lewis [email protected].
How to apply:
Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.
Essential Criteria
- Strategic Direction - A strong understanding of the Fund’s Priorities and Missions, how this contributes to the achievement of team and organisational goals and how you might apply this in grant making (although Previous responsive grant funding experience is not essential).
- Leading our culture / Developing Self / others – Understands the importance of The Funds Equity Diversity and Inclusion focus. Contributes to an inclusive environment through understanding the views and experiences of others. Considers personal and professional development as well as supporting needs of team members.
- Working together – A strong team player, take’s time to build relationships, collaborate and contribute to team processes that remove silos and nurture a culture of mutual support, driving higher performance across interconnected teams. You adjust your personal work styles and practices accordingly.
- Delivering Quality Results: A strong ability to promote learning and foster a culture of continuous development. Ability to inspire and guide others towards achieving learning objectives. You should be able to clearly communicate desired results and ensure SLP Learning Leads are supported and feel motivated to achieve what is expected.
- Diligence and Control – Your conduct, behaviour and duties are carried out in line with set expectations and policy and/or regulatory considerations.
- Responsiveness & Managing Competing demands - You should have a flexible approach, a can-do attitude and the ability to pivot between different funding programmes & audiences. An ability to manage a large workload, prioritise with minimal supervision, and keep manager up to date on key issues and risks.
- Responsiveness to change & feedback - The SLP team is working on new projects that are subject to reflection and change. You should be flexible and open to supporting continuous learning and change. You promptly address concerns and actively seek feedback and opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Visibility - Actively participates in cross functional teams and collaborates with other directorates to achieve common goals. You should have strong written and verbal communication skills for engaging with stakeholders at all levels. Confident to convene & give presentation to different audiences.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.
We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)