Recruitment of Researcher

Information pack and details of how to apply

Text of job advertisement
Introduction to Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts (SFCT)
General job description
Person specification
Summary of terms of employment at SFCT
How to apply

1 Text of job advertisement

RESEARCHER
London SW1
Fixed-term contract: 9 - 10 months commencing September 2008
Ł20,000 p.a. pro rata

Are you thorough, quick, able to find and digest large amounts of information, and to present your work clearly and concisely?

The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts seek a bright, hard-working, versatile recent graduate (at least upper second) with excellent communication skills to research a wide range of subjects including the environment, health, social issues, the arts, and overseas development. You will support our team of grant-making executives across the full range of subjects of interest to our trustees, doing detailed research to deepen their understanding and to help generate new grant proposals.

For a full job description and details of how to apply, visit our website: www.sfct.org.uk/researcher

Application deadline: 12 noon on Thursday 17 July. Interviews: Monday 28 July.

2 Introduction to The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts

The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts (SFCT) is a collective term, used to describe a group of grant-making trusts and foundations, all of which were endowed by a member of the Sainsbury family. Each trust is a separate legal entity, with its own trustees (usually including at least one member of the Sainsbury family), and each has its own grant-making criteria. Collectively, these include support for a very wide range of organisations working in the fields of arts, heritage, science, medicine, education, environment, social welfare, and overseas development.

The trusts are administered from a single office which employs around 40 people, and is located in Victoria, London SW1.

The grant-making trusts are as follows:

The Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund
The Ashden Trust
The Elizabeth Clark Charitable Trust
The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
The Glass-House Trust
The Headley Trust
The Indigo Trust
The Jerusalem Trust
The J J Charitable Trust
The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
The Linbury Trust
The Mark Leonard Trust
The Monument Trust
The Staples Trust
The Tedworth Charitable Trust
The Three Guineas Trust
The True Colours Trust
The Woodward Charitable Trust

Certain of the trusts maintain websites on which information about them can be obtained. These include the following:
www.ashdendirectory.org.uk
www.ashdentrust.org.uk
www.gatsby.org.uk
www.gtep.co.uk
www.jerusalemproductions.org.uk
www.jerusalemradioawards.org.uk
www.kklf.org.uk
www.linburytrust.org.uk
www.linburybiennial.org.uk
www.woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk

In addition there is an SFCT website, as follows:

www.sfct.org.uk

3 General job description

The Researcher will have opportunities to work across a broad range of the trusts’ activities and with many members of staff. He or she will be supervised by a senior member of the SFCT team.

Responsibilities will include the following:

Research (largely desk-based) into subjects of interest to any of our trusts. The research may be into an entire sector of charitable activity, or a single current or prospective grant beneficiary.
Writing up or otherwise presenting the results of the research to the relevant grant-making executive, in preparation for ultimate presentation to trustees.
Assistance at events and meetings.
General office administrative support.

This position is likely to appeal to someone who is interested in a career in the charity or non-profit sectors. It will offer an almost unique introduction to what is, collectively, one of the largest private philanthropic institutions in the UK, and one whose work touches on an enormously wide and diverse range of charitable endeavour.

4 Person specification

This Researcher position is likely to suit a highly motivated graduate, with a good first degree (2:1 or better).

Since this position is aimed at those new to the charity sector, we are not looking for someone with direct experience of such work. However, we do expect that the successful applicant will:

be highly proficient in using the internet and other information sources in order to obtain, assimilate and synthesise information on subjects about which he or she may have no prior knowledge;
have experience of working with standard Microsoft Office software packages;
be articulate and able to communicate concisely and clearly in both verbal and written form;
be able to manage a workload which may include competing priorities;
treat information about the work of the trusts, and individual trustees, with appropriate confidentiality;
be able to demonstrate a genuine interest in the charity or non-profit sector.

The SFCT office in general, and this position in particular, requires a flexible way of working. The office has an informal atmosphere, but at the same time it expects high professional standards of its staff. The successful candidate may be required to support the work of any other member of staff, regardless of seniority, potentially at very short notice. Enthusiasm, versatility and an aptitude for hard work, together with a cheerful attitude, are therefore prerequisites.

5 Summary of terms of employment at SFCT

Start date: The contract will have a fixed term, which will expire at the end of June 2009
Job title: Researcher
Place of work: The Researcher will initially be required to work at the SFCT office in Victoria, London SW1. SFCT reserves the right to require the Researcher to work at another site.
Hours of work: Normal office hours are 9.30 am until 5.30pm Monday to Friday, including a one-hour lunch break. However it may on occasion be necessary to work outside these hours, for which no additional compensation can be offered.
Pay: The salary rate will be Ł20,000 per annum, pro rata. This will be payable in monthly instalments, in arrears, normally towards the end of each month
Pensions: The Researcher is not eligible for a pension contribution
Paid holiday entitlement: 22 days per annum pro rata plus public holidays
Appraisals: The Researcher will receive regular appraisals with his or her direct supervisor
Notice period: SFCT reserves the right to terminate the service of a member of staff without notice or payment in lieu of notice in circumstances of Gross Misconduct

This summary does not constitute a contract of employment.

6 How to apply

All applications must be received by 12 noon on Thursday 17 July, either by post to the address below or by email to researcher@sfct.org.uk

Address for postal applications:

The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
Reference: Researcher
Allington House (1st Floor)
150 Victoria Street
London SW1E 5AE

Applicants should submit two documents:

A CV, which should demonstrate the skills, aptitude and experience outlined in the person specification, together with contact details (postal address, telephone and e-mail required); and
A covering letter, which should say where you saw the advertisement; explain why you want this post; and give the names and addresses of two referees, making it clear how each is connected to you (they will not be contacted unless you are called for interview).

Failure to provide this information, or to provide it by the stated deadline, will result in an application not being considered.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview on Monday 28th July. The interview will consist of a verbal interview with existing members of staff followed by practical testing.

Please note that due to pressure on staff time, applicants not short-listed for interview will not receive a reply. If you do not hear from us by 23rd July it will mean your application has not been successful. Detailed feedback will be offered to candidates who were interviewed but who were not offered the post. Please do not phone or email SFCT to ask for additional information or for other feedback on applications

Thank you very much for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.