Grants and Learning Manager

British Science Association

Hours
35 hours per week

Length of contract
December 2027

About the Organisation

British Science Association (BSA) is a UK-based organization dedicated to promoting science, engaging the public, and encouraging inclusivity in scientific fields. Established in 1831, the BSA has a rich history of fostering curiosity and understanding of science among diverse audiences. Its mission is to transform the way people connect with and view science, making it more accessible and part of everyday culture.

About the role

The Grants & Learning Manager role would suit someone who has strong stakeholder management skills and experience in curating and sharing learning. Good attention to detail, experience of grant-making, and an understanding of the benefits and risks involved in delivering innovative grant-making approaches would all be beneficial. The role would suit someone who is comfortable using their judgement and working with an evolving programme, and who can confidently communicate with a variety of stakeholders.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have experience in supporting and influencing wider systems change. Your experience in terms of the person specification could come from either a personal or professional background. You may not have experience of everything listed in the person specification, but you will be open to challenging yourself and developing in the role.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the Head of Grants and our existing Grants and Learning Manager to continue to deliver an innovative programme that constantly evolves based on what we learn.​
• Ensure excellent grant-making using relational, flexible and participatory approaches with high levels of customer satisfaction.​
• Champion innovation in supporting community/researcher collaboration, community-led research, systems change and grant making across relevant sectors, including:​
  • Developing and delivering strategies for sharing learning, practice and ideas with a broad range of stakeholders through a range of approaches ​
  • Representing the British Science Association at external events to share innovation and learning​
  • Developing and delivering events and/or content to showcase practice and share learning with a broad range of stakeholders using a range of approaches​
• Support the implementation of our learning and evaluation strategies and processes, reviewing and refining as needed. Manage relationships and/or contracts with learning partners where appropriate ​
• Oversee the smooth delivery of the programme, including budget management, payment processing, due diligence activity, etc.​
• Support local Development Co-ordinators to:​
  • Work with grant holders, collaborating researchers and project partners to overcome challenges they might face in delivering their projects​
  • Collate and share local learning as part of wider learning strategies​
• Develop and manage a small pipeline of discretionary grants to add value to the portfolio and/or make systemic impact at the local or national level, if necessary. Develop bespoke application, grant management, and learning processes as appropriate​
• Engage a network of key existing stakeholders and build further external relationships to ensure the successful delivery of the programme​
• Support the Head of Grants with developing the BSA’s strategy around future grant programmes. In addition, the post-holder will be expected to: ​
  • Support colleagues across the organisation, especially at busy times and in specific areas of expertise​
  • Other duties as reasonably required by the line manager

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of grant-making
• Strong stakeholder management skills and experience in curating and sharing learning
• Experience in supporting and influencing systems change
• Experience of formal partnership working with a thorough understanding of the success factors and challenges to collaborative approaches and partnerships
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing deadlines effectively
• Evidence of developed analytical and reasoning skills, with strong judgement and attention to detail
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships 
• Strong communication skills that are matched to audiences
• ​A self-starter, able to work on their own initiative and manage their own time effectively 
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to remain calm and effective when working on fast-moving, high-pressure projects
• An understanding of the BSA’s goals and passion for our vision
• Experience of grant-making at a management level, and using learning from funded projects to influence wider change    
• Track record of designing successful programmes or developing organisations that benefit disadvantaged or underrepresented groups or individuals
• Experience of using a CRM system, specifically Salesforce or similar    
• Experience of working in the community or voluntary sector    
• Experience of working in the science engagement sector, or similar    
• Experience in managing and coaching teams of people and implementing team learning and development plans
• Experience in multi-site project management and managing contractors/contractor relationships​

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of grant-making at a management level, and using learning from funded projects to influence wider change
• Track record of designing successful programmes or developing organisations that benefit disadvantaged or underrepresented groups or individuals
• Experience of using a CRM system, specifically Salesforce and similar
• Experience of working in the community and voluntary sector
• Experience of working in the science engagement sector, and similar
• Experience in managing and coaching teams of people and implementing team learning and development plans
• Experience in multi-site project management and managing contractors/contractor relationships

Compensation & Benefits

• 27 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time employees)
• Up to two days paid leave per year for significant voluntary commitments in support of professional and personal development
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme after 3 months (4% paid by the employer).
• Up to five days’ unpaid leave per year
• Life assurance for death in service benefit from your first day (subject to scheme rules). Complementary access to a 24/7 online GP service.
• Occupational sick pay: up to six weeks’ full pay per year (pro-rata for part-time employees).
• Confidential telephone counselling service, offered by our legal insurance.
• Interest-free loan for season ticket, bike to work, and assisted study;
• Discounts may be offered on Science Museum tickets and in the shop.

Conditions of employment

• Only applicants who have a legal right to work within the UK will be considered. You will be provided with proof of nationality and proof of ability to work in the UK.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Applications should be made via this link.
• Please send a CV and covering letter (each of no more than two A4 pages) that summarises your interest in the role and details your ability to match the criteria.​
• If you have further questions or would like this information in a different format, please contact: [email protected]
• The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 5th July 2026.

Interviews

• Interviews are due to take place during the week of 20th July 2026.
• You will be informed as soon as possible after the application deadline whether you have been selected for an interview.

Policies

As part of the British Science Association’s commitment to being a Disability Confident employer, all disabled* applicants who meet the ‘essential criteria’ for this vacancy will be offered an interview under our guaranteed interview scheme. If you wish to apply under the guaranteed interview scheme, you will be asked to indicate this when you submit your application by selecting ‘yes’ in the relevant box when asked during the application process. Applicants do not need to state any further information or declare their disability at the application stage.

Whether you are applying under the scheme or not, if you are successful in being shortlisted, we will ask candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions to let us know if they need any adjustments during the recruitment process. While we try to ensure that everyone finishes work on time, and can vary their working hours in line with our agile working policy, from time to time the job entails working extended hours and occasional weekends, for which no overtime payments are made.

The BSA operates a time off in lieu policy for weekend working and some other out-of-hours instances. You will also be asked to declare any previous convictions in line with your rights under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975. This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of the Association to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are reasonably required, in discussion with the postholder.

A copy of our Privacy Notice is available on the vacancies page. The Disability Confident scheme’s definition of disability is in line with the Equality Act 2010: “a physical or mental condition which has a long-term and substantial effect on your daily life”. Further information about our Disability Confident commitments can be found on the Disability Confident

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