Funding and Business Manager

General information

Staff are contracted to work 37.5 hours. However, Live Here Live Here operates a 4-day working week of 30 hours with staff benefitting from a paid “non-working day”. Given the seniority of this post, the post-holder will be expected to work additional hours when necessary, especially to ensure the delivery of high-priority deadlines. 
For further information please email jobs@liveherelovehere.org 

Purpose of role

The Funding and Business Manager will play a key role in supporting the organisation’s income generation ambitions by scanning for funding opportunities, developing high-quality applications and maintaining constructive relationships with grant-making bodies, sponsors and other funding providers.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the post-holder will proactively scope and develop new income opportunities, with a particular focus on unrestricted income, while ensuring that applications, funder communications and relationship management are professional, timely and aligned to Live Here Love Here’s strategy and values.

Duties and expected outcomes

• Funding Opportunity Scanning: Proactively identify, research and assess relevant grant, sponsorship and funding opportunities that align with Live Here Love Here’s objectives and programmes.
• Grant Body Relationships: As part of the above, actively seeking to meet and get to know build relationships with key potential funders.
• Grant Applications: Lead on drafting, coordinating and submitting compelling, accurate and timely applications to grant-making bodies and funding providers
• Unrestricted Income Development: Imaginatively scope and progress opportunities that strengthen the organisation’s unrestricted income base and long-term financial sustainability.
• Sponsor and Social Value Partner Relationships: Lead on the initial formation and active maintenance of sponsor and social value partner relationships, ensuring clear propositions, professional follow-up and strong relationship management.
• Internal Coordination: Work with colleagues across programmes, finance, communications and operations to gather information, budgets, outputs and evidence required for strong applications.
• Pipeline Management: Maintain an organised pipeline of prospects, deadlines, submissions, outcomes and follow-up actions to support planning and prioritisation.
• Compliance and Quality: Ensure funding submissions are accurate, evidence-based, compliant with funder requirements and consistent with organisational policies and messaging.

In ​addition

• Reporting to the COO: You will be guided as to the priorities that need to be pursued, and you will advise on available funding streams.
• Income Generation Planning: Contribute to organisational income generation planning by identifying realistic prospects, priorities and timelines.
• Strategic Partnerships: Support the development of strategic funding and sponsorship relationships that help Live Here Love Here grow its impact and resilience.
• Funder Confidence: Help ensure funders, grant-making bodies and sponsors receive clear, professional and timely communication.
• Organisational Learning: Capture learning from successful and unsuccessful applications to strengthen future funding approaches.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the Senior Executive team to provide wider business support across the organisation.

Person Specification

We ask applicants not to rely on AI tools when preparing their application, we want to see responses reflecting your own experience and voice, demonstrating your understanding and suitability for the role.

Qualifications, skills and experience 

Essential 

• Education: Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience in fundraising, grants, business development or partnership income generation. 
• Relevant experience: A minimum of two years’ experience in a comparable or equivalent role. 
• Grant Funding Experience: Demonstrable experience of identifying funding opportunities and preparing successful applications to grant-making bodies, trusts, foundations, public-sector funding programmes or bidding for public sector contracts. 
• Sponsor and Funder Relationships: Demonstrable experience building and maintaining professional relationships with funders, sponsors or external stakeholders. 
• Income Generation: Evidence of contributing to income generation targets, including the ability to scope opportunities and develop persuasive funding propositions. 
• Written Communication: Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, compelling and evidence-based applications, proposals and reports. 
• Organisation and Attention to Detail: Strong ability to manage multiple deadlines, maintain accurate records and ensure submissions meet funder requirements. 
• Internal Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to gather project information, budgets, evidence and impact data required for applications. 
• Leadership Attributes: You must be an exceptional team player. You must have, integrity, energy, and a can-do attitude. You must align to the values of the organisation which are - principled; dedicated; collaborative and creative.
• Access to a suitable means of transport to allow the duties of the role to be fulfilled, alongside a willingness to travel across Northern Ireland where required. 

Desirable 

• Sector Knowledge: Experience working within the third sector, voluntary organisations, environmental sustainability or community engagement programmes. 
• Subject Matter Interest: A demonstrable passion for, or understanding of, Climate Action, Biodiversity Recovery, Environmental Sustainability and community-based behaviour change. 

CORE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS – the below Core Competencies below will be assessed at interview

1. Funding Research & Opportunity Development 

Level Desired: Advanced 

Behavioural Indicators: Consistently identifies relevant funding prospects, assesses strategic fit and develops clear recommendations. Maintains a strong awareness of the funding landscape and translates opportunities into practical next steps. 

 

2. Bid Writing & Persuasive Communication 

Level Desired: Advanced 

Behavioural Indicators: Produces high-quality applications and proposals that are clear, credible, evidence-based and tailored to funder priorities. Communicates complex programme information in a concise and persuasive way. 

 

3. Relationship Management & Stewardship 

Level Desired: Advanced 

Behavioural Indicators: Builds trust with sponsors, funding providers and grant bodies through consistent, professional and timely engagement. Understands stakeholder priorities and maintains relationships beyond individual funding applications.

 

4. Planning, Compliance & Delivery Focus 

Level Desired: Advanced 

Behavioural Indicators: Manages a clear pipeline of prospects, deadlines and follow-up actions. Ensures submissions are accurate, compliant and aligned to organisational processes, while maintaining focus on outcomes and income generation.

General

The person appointed will work from our office in Belfast a minimum of 2 days per week and may work from home the rest of the week. You will also be expected to travel to survey sites, events and meetings as required.  

• IT support and hardware is provided for all staff to enable them to be efficient and effective in their work. 
• Live Here Love Here operates flexible office hours between 8am and 6pm, with core hours between 10am and 4pm. Your normal days of work will be Monday to Friday and the non-working day will be a nominated day. 
• This role requires flexibility and will involve some evening and weekend working. Flexibility will be reciprocal to accommodate occasional weekend or evening commitments.
• Vetting: The post-holder may at times be in contact with children and vulnerable adults. Finalisation of the contract of employment is dependent upon the successful outcome of Access NI checks. 

This position is funded through the DAERA Environment Fund. 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP 
 Live Here Love Here is a community focussed organisation with a commitment to reducing its impact on the planet. A key approach in achieving this is through Carbon Literacy training for all employees.  This programme, delivered in partnership with the Carbon Literacy Project, raises awareness about the climate change challenge that we all face as well as the commitments we can make to behaviour change that will help reduce emissions. 
 New employees will be expected to attend Carbon Literacy training as part of their induction process and contribute to an ongoing dialogue within the organisation about how we can reduce our carbon impact and improve levels of sustainability. 
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AUTHORITY 
All staff are expected to comply:
 
Applications and Submissions: Prepare and submit applications where internally approved and aligned to organisational priorities.
Representation: Represent Live Here Love Here professionally in funding and sponsorship discussions.
Governance Boundary: Refer matters of a highly sensitive political or contractual nature to the COO or CEO.
Compliance: Operate within the organisation’s legal framework, HR policies, and health and safety procedures at all times.

About us

Live Here Love Here is an independent charity established in 2000. Through education, engagement and empowerment, we seek to inspire change by connecting people to nature. Activities include:

Community Engagement is a positive, people-powered campaign that encourages volunteers to appreciate and care for their local areas through regular clean-ups, biodiversity and community gardening projects. Some of the key Community Engagement programmes are Adopt A Spot, The BIG Spring Clean and Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds.

Environmental Education that focuses on educating children, young people, communities and businesses on environmental issues and inspiring climate action. This includes Eco-Schools and the 30 Under 30 Northern Ireland Climate Change Makers programmes.

Local Environmental Quality work that recognises and rewards well managed green and blue spaces across Northern Ireland, particularly through the Green Flag for Parks and Outdoor Spaces, Blue Flag for Beaches and Marinas, and Seaside Awards.