Job Details:
Bids & Grants Manager

Job Description

About Sale Sharks Foundation
Sale Sharks Foundation is the charity partner of Sale Sharks Rugby Club. Our Vision is to use the power of our sport to change lives throughout the North-West. We work with over 15,000 people annually in three key areas: Community Inclusion, Education and Rugby Development. You can see the impact we had by checking out our 2023/ 2024 Sharks Watch Impact Report. 

Our highly skilled, dynamic, and passionate team currently delivers over 50 community projects that change the lives of a huge spectrum of people across the North-West: from children and young people right through to senior citizens. We believe in the immense power of our sport to positively transform people’s lives. We believe the North-West is a home to extraordinary people like you 

This is your opportunity to join a passionate, purpose-driven team and help us tell our story!

JOB SUMMARY

The Bids & Grants Manager is a NEW pivotal role within our charity responsible for identifying, developing, and managing funding opportunities that align with our strategic goals. You will lead the end-to-end process of bid writing, grant applications, and reporting, ensuring high-quality submissions and strong funder relationships, ensuring the views of, and impact on, our participants is at the heart of our work. This role is essential to sustaining and growing our impact across the region.

Developing, updating and utilising our in-house Grant Management system (GMS) you will be responsible for ensuring we have a healthy pipeline of opportunities to sustain the work of our soon to be announced ambitious strategy new strategy to support our populations across the North west as we tackle inequalities, showing up for women & girls, disabled people, those facing poverty and at-risk young people, drive strong connections actions as clubhouse for the community and support those who need it most to Eat Well, Be Well and Age Well.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Bid Writing & Fundraising

• Lead the development of high-quality, persuasive funding applications putting beneficiaries at the heart of our design, ensuring alignment with funder priorities and organisational impact.
• Coordinate with departmental teams to gather accurate data, budgets, and evidence of need and impact.
• Ensure all applications are submitted in a timely manner and in accordance with funder guidelines and internal approval processes.
• Ensure all programmes across the foundation have a clear case for support.

Strategy & Planning

• Working from  our newly developed  Fundraising strategy, develop and implement our operational fundraising plan focusing  on securing income from trusts, foundations, statutory sources and support with larger corporate donors
• Maintain a dynamic funding pipeline aligned with Foundation priorities and programme needs.
• Set and monitor income targets in collaboration with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), ensuring alignment with the charity’s strategic goals.
• Work with colleagues across the organisation, specifically the Marketing & Communications Manager, to ensure collaboration towards shared outcomes of the Operational Fundraising Action plan.

Fund Management & Compliance

• Manage all grant agreements, ensuring compliance with funder terms and conditions, including delivery, reporting, and financial accountability.
• Ensure all fundraising activity complies with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice (2025), including:
  • Transparent and ethical communication with funders.
  • Documenting fundraising decisions and maintaining clear audit trails.
  • Conducting due diligence on funders and partners.
  • Monitoring and evaluating fundraising activities for effectiveness and compliance.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all funding activity using the charity’s GMS system.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Lead on the preparation and submission of timely, accurate, and impactful funder reports.
• Work with programme teams to gather qualitative and quantitative data, case studies, and testimonials.
• Use insights from monitoring and evaluation to inform future applications and demonstrate impact to funders and stakeholders.

Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, including proactive communication, updates, and invitations to events.
• Develop and implement stewardship plans to retain and grow funder support.
• Represent the charity at funder meetings, briefings, and networking events.

Collaboration & Organisational Support

• Work closely with internal teams to understand programme delivery and funding needs.
• Work closely with programme teams to understand the needs and views of the beneficiaries.
• Support the development of organisational budgets and funding forecasts.
• Contribute to cross-team initiatives, including fundraising campaigns and strategic planning.

General

• Represent the charity at events, community activities, and stakeholder meetings as required.
• Support with other duties as required by the CEO.

It is expected that the role may, on occasions, include working evenings and weekends including match days. This will always be agreed in advance with time off in lieu offered.

This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of duties but is intended to reflect the range of duties the post-holder will perform. 

It is key to this role that candidates:

• Always demonstrate the Sale Sharks Foundation values.
• Promote Sale Sharks Foundation’s brand and ethos in a professional and positive manner.
• Be committed to applying and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion as Sale Sharks Foundation and comply with all Charity policies and procedures.
• Act in line with the Foundations code of conduct always showing professionalism in all environments we work across, acting as role models for our community.

• 25 days annual leave pro-rata (3 to be taken between Christmas and New Year), with additional leave after 3 and 5 years of service.
• £240 per year (Pro-rata, claimed monthly) wellbeing benefit.
• 3% Pension contribution.2 free tickets per game (Men’s & Women’s).
• Kit provided
• 20% discount on the staff shop.
• Access to Sale Sharks High Performance Gym after 4pm.
• Opportunity to buy into Sale Shark performance meal prep on site.
• Flexible working (where possible around delivery needs).
• Dogs allowed in the office/outdoor kennels (behaviour permitting).
• Free tea & coffee in the office.
• Free onsite parking.
• Health insurance through Vitality, including access to the Headspace app, discounted gym memberships, free weekly coffee and film rental, health checks, employee assistance, and discounts on health and wellbeing products (upon successful completion of probation period).
• Annual reward and recognition awards.
• Access to e-learning platform.
• Bi-annual all staff training days & Foundation socials.
• Other CPD opportunities throughout the year.