Grants Policy and Innovation Analyst

The Grants Function in the Cabinet Office comprises a group of grants experts who coordinate and drive activities across government and the wider public sector, challenging the status quo, with a view to improving practice and efficiency, securing better outcomes and value for money. The role of Policy Lab and Innovation Analyst is part of the Policy team in the Core Function, which is tasked with supporting continuous improvement through the development of policy, raising capability, the provision of expert advice through the Complex Grants Advice Panel (CGAP) and assessing and reporting compliance with standards.

This is a great opportunity to make a real difference to government grant making and the delivery of key government policy outcomes, by working on behalf of the cross-government grants function and other government departments and organisations. The successful candidate will play a direct role in improving grants policy, increasing transparency and strengthening capability, government-wide.

The post-holder will be expected to generate a personal development plan, working with the Policy and Innovation Lead to identify appropriate training opportunities towards future progression.

The Core Team works across government to support the efficiency and effectiveness of grant funding in order to maximise grant outcomes and minimise risk, helping to deliver the greatest benefit to the economy and citizens.

The Grants Function is a multi-disciplinary team supporting a broad and diverse stakeholder group across government and the wider public sector. We assist with building capability and improving compliance with standards through:

• developing new, cutting edge, innovative policy, to enhance government grant making practices;
• maintaining and communicating the Functional Standard for grant making across government departments and their Arms Length Bodies;
• monitoring the maturity of grant making departments processes, highlighting opportunities and risks;
• convening the Complex Grants Advice Panel (CGAP), an independent, cross-government panel of experts, coordinated and chaired by the Cabinet Office the panel is mandated for grant schemes that will deliver manifesto commitments the panel provides critical challenge to high value, high-risk, priority grant schemes; and
• supporting the development of knowledge and capability in government grant making.

The post-holder will work within a small policy team, focused on supporting the G6 and G7 in the development of new and innovative policy for grant making as part of the Grants Policy Lab. The team will focus on a range of new and challenging policy areas, aimed at driving innovation, increasing flexibility and developing new options for bespoke delivery through grant schemes. The focus will be on improving impact, outcomes and value for money from more than 119bn of annual government grant expenditure.

The Grants Policy teams responsibilities include:

• developing new and innovative policy for government grant making covering areas such as the development and testing of bespoke delivery models, value for money, counter fraud and process simplification;
• ongoing maintenance and development of the Grants Functional Standard and Minimum Requirements and the Grants Pipeline Control Framework;
• engaging extensively with stakeholders across government, the wider public sector and grant funding bodies to share best practice;
• acting as a subject matter expert (SME), supporting access to expert advice and working with our Expert Support team;
• supporting the grants capability offer by providing SME support on the development of new products and services.

We are seeking an experienced policy practitioner with a solid understanding of government grants and/or commercial policy and a desire to enact change and pilot innovative new policy developments in a fast-paced environment. The post-holder should have experience in engaging with diverse stakeholder groups and be comfortable working in a changing environment.

Essential criteria:

• Policy development: understanding and experience of leading the process of development of government or organisational policy and/or standards;
• Government grant expertise: working knowledge of government grant-making covering policy and operations;
• Experience of working at pace on a number of concurrent priorities;
• Stakeholder management and communications: engaging effectively with diverse, cross-organisational stakeholder groups across government and the wider public sector, with members of varying seniority levels, to generate commitment and to secure the successful implementation of new policies;
• Drafting: drafting clear and user-friendly policy notes, guidance, reports and submissions, covering new and existing policy or practice;
• Teamwork: working across teams with diverse responsibilities and an ability to identify synergies to maximise opportunities and outcomes from joint-working;
• Project delivery: experience of working on the various stages of a project, including process and delivery methods.

Desirable criteria:

• experience of liaising with senior leaders to achieve common goals;
• existing knowledge of the grant-making landscape across government and the public sector;
• experience of alternative grant funding models would be advantageous, though not essential;
• Knowledge of the GGMF suite of products and services, including the Functional Standard, Minimum Requirements, Functional Control and the Centre of Excellence.

Candidates must demonstrate these skills and experiences in their statement of suitability and CV.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.