Senior Officer, Grant Process Design (IC18)

Senior Officer, Grant Process Design (IC8)

Contract: Fixed term until 31 August 2026, working 35 hours a week (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)

Salary: £38,689 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working. 

Location: Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge, (The role will be based in any of the locations listed; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week) 

About the role:

We are recruiting for a fixed term Senior Officer, Grant Process Design until the end of August 2026. The role sits within the Project Funding team in the Investment Centre, which oversees the design and delivery of the Arts Council’s project-based funding programmes including National Lottery Project Grants and many of our development funds.

The Senior Officer, Grant Process Design, plays a key role in the design, development and practical implementation of end-to-end grantmaking processes that support the delivery of the Arts Council’s strategy. Importantly, the postholder is also responsible for the proactive ongoing review of our existing grant processes and for implementing iterative improvements in response to user and business needs.

This is a great opportunity for someone who thrives in a busy environment, and who can balance a focus on the fine detail with a grasp of the wider strategic picture. They will be open, curious and adaptable – and committed to putting user need at the heart of their funding programmes work. They must understand their role in delivering on the organisation’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and their communication and influencing skills must be excellent.

They will understand complex business processes and their interdependencies, and the impact of these on delivering changes and enhancements. They’ll have advanced IT skills, including the ability to use grant management systems.

In this role your day-to-day responsibilities would include:

•         Carrying out the Investment Partner role for National Lottery Project Grants, working with colleagues and teams across the organisation to ensure that our processes are user-centred, robust and efficient, and mitigate risk effectively.

•         For new programmes, translating programme requirements into efficient and effective end-to-end processes and ensuring that they adhere to the appropriate policies, procedures, and governance and regulatory frameworks

•         Playing a flexible role in the ongoing work towards becoming service-led organisation, and incorporating this way of working into our funding programmes work

•         Providing responsive, ad-hoc advice on grant-making queries for staff across the organisation.

If you would like to discuss the role, please contact Maria Crossan, Senior Manager, Project Funding (maria.crossan@artscouncil.org.uk). 

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.

If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here

We participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received.  Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility.  More information is included in the application guidance.

About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.

Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk

We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application Guidance: How to apply and recruitment selection process | Arts Council England and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here. 

To view the job description please click here

To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here  

Job ref: IC18

Closing date: 09:00am, 27 April 2026

 Interview: (virtual) 12 or 13 May 2026

Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk