Bid Development Officer

Bid Development Officer

About us: 

Kent Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation charity with more than 31,000 members and over 1000 registered volunteers. We manage and protect over 9000 acres of land across more than 90 different sites and nature reserves, alongside 2 visitor centres.   But we can’t save nature alone. So, we work closely with local communities, businesses, organisations and individuals to protect and restore wildlife and wild spaces and create a wilder Kent for the benefit of people and the planet.

What you'll be doing: 

We are looking for a skilled Bid Development Officer to join our team and drive income generation through grants and funding applications. If you have experience in bid writing, securing funding, and building relationships with funders, we want to hear from you!
 
You will be:

• Identifying and researching funding opportunities from public sector funders, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Trusts, and Foundations.
• Developing high-quality funding applications in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
• Managing the full grant cycle—from prospecting and application to reporting and stewardship.
• Building and maintaining relationships with funders, trusts, and foundation managers.
• Creating strong, evidence-based funding proposals aligned with organisational priorities.
• Writing compelling applications and donor reports to meet funder requirements and deadlines.
• Developing and managing project budgets, ensuring full cost recovery.
• Maintaining accurate records on CRM systems and tracking funding opportunities.
• Working closely with strategic partners to shape bids and unlock new funding sources.
• Supporting the Acting Deputy Director (Strategic Conservation Initiatives) in achieving annual income targets.

What we need you to bring:  

• Proven experience in bid development and securing funding through high-quality applications.
• Strong research skills to identify new funding opportunities.
• Experience of working to income targets and meeting tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create engaging and persuasive applications.
• Strong project budgeting skills, including knowledge of full cost recovery.
• Ability to manage funder relationships, ensuring excellent stewardship and timely reporting.
• Organised and efficient, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

 
We are unable to recruit anyone who does not have a right to work in the UK.   
 
What we will offer in return:  

We offer exceptional enhanced benefits.  Recognising the wellbeing pressures related to the climate and nature crises we face as a society, we provide flexible work options, wellbeing initiatives, and professional development opportunities. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, our comprehensive benefits package at Kent Wildlife Trust can be a key factor in your choice to join us. 
 
Next steps:   

If you're ready to join our team and help us create a Wilder Kent, simply click "Apply" to visit our website, where you can find out more about the role and complete the online application form. Be sure to include your personal statement in the space provided and upload your CV, and take a moment to review the Guidance Notes for helpful tips.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview w/c 14th April 2025.  We will let unsuccessful candidates know if they have not been shortlisted.       

If you’d like to learn more about the role before applying, feel free to email us.
 
The Kent Wildlife Trust Group is Wild About Inclusion. To us, this means inspiring, empowering and engaging people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities, to change the natural world for the better.  It also means cultivating inclusive workspaces that are free from discrimination, where differences are celebrated, everyone can be themselves and flourish, just like nature!  

REF-220 491