Foundation - Senior Partnerships Officer

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no‑limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Partnerships Officer to join the expanding Howden Foundation team, working under the direct supervision of the Partnerships Director. With key building blocks now in place, this is a pivotal moment to join the Foundation and play a vital role in driving our impact. As we scale up our grant‑making, we are looking for someone who can ensure the smooth delivery of day‑to‑day administration, compliance, and reporting across our programmes.

You will also play a key role in preparing high‑quality grant applications that advance our mission and strengthen our partnerships. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the Foundation and make a tangible difference.

This role will support the Partnerships Director with the management of the foundation’s strategic grant partnerships to help deliver the foundation’s mission to ensure those most exposed to the impacts of climate change, especially extreme heat and drought, are equipped with the tools to prepare, adapt and recover. This will include carrying out due diligence on potential grant partners, supporting the application process and drafting grant agreements for successful organisations.

The Senior Partnerships Officer will also participate in grant monitoring activities including reviewing reports and offering feedback to grant partners as well as ensuring the foundation’s internal administration is up to date.

In addition to supporting the Foundation’s grant‑making, the Senior Partnerships Officer will work closely with other members of the Foundation team, including the Foundation’s COO and Howden’s Community Impact team, to administer the Foundation’s People First Fund.

Responsibilities include:

• Support the Partnerships Director with the management of the grant partnerships portfolio.
• Attend meetings with potential grantees alongside the Partnerships Director and/or CEO, or independently, as required.
• Support the application process including obtaining information, conducting due diligence, reviewing grant applications and ensuring all information is submitted and resolving queries that arise.
• Support in ensuring the foundation CEO, committees and board is provided with timely, accurate and relevant information and recommendations to support grant‑making decisions.
• Support with the grant execution processes including drafting and proofreading grant agreements, making grant payments, and collecting receipts.
• Act as point of contact for grant partners, including ensuring progress reports are received and any queries are answered.
• Work closely with the Partnerships Director to identify and track funder‑plus activities for grant holders, ensuring information is captured for sharing by the Communications and Engagement Lead.
• Maintain internal records on grant‑making including the Foundation’s grant tracker.
• International field visits (one trip per year) may be required.

Support the COO with the management of the Foundation’s People First Fund.

• Monitor the global match funding programme, including tracking usage and coordinating the execution of any required donation letters.
• Provide administrative support across the full life cycle of the annual Howden Foundation Charity Awards, including liaison with charity nominators and winners, oversight of documentation, and execution of follow‑up actions. Contribute actively to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the Awards process.
• Execute emergency…