Head of Grants

About Avant

Avant is Australia’s leading medical defense organisation with a proud heritage of protecting Australian medical professionals for over 130 years. It was established by a small group of doctors in 1893, who wanted to “protect themselves from actions arising out of the practice of medicine”.

Avant now represents 82,000 health practitioners and medical students across every state and territory, delivering market leading products and services to meet their professional, personal and practice needs. Building on this heritage, our vision is to be the most trusted professional partner in supporting doctors throughout their lives and careers.

As a mutual organisation, owned by members and run purely for their benefit, our members are at the centre of all we do. As well as providing products and services to our members, we play a broader community role by advocating for improvements in the healthcare system and in the quality, safety and professionalism in medicine, through delivering education and research activities.

The commitment to members and the profession from our ~950 staff has resulted in over 50% of Australia’s doctors choosing to be Avant members, delivered annual revenues of $445 million and net assets of ~$1.4 billion.

About Avant Foundation  

The purpose of Avant Foundation is to create transformational change in healthcare through medical research, medical education and health programs.  

We have three specific objectives: 

1.    support research that will improve quality, safety, sustainability and professionalism in the practice of medicine
2.    fund programs working with medical practitioners to improve patient care and health outcomes
3.    help doctors overcome their experience of disadvantage in the pursuit of their medical or healthcare studies. 

Key Accountabilities: 

Oversee Avant Foundation’s grant programs

•    Grant Programs: Working with the team, provide end to end management of all grants programs, including the Transformation Grant, Member Grants, Research Grants and Bursaries.  
•    Program Management: Oversee a portfolio of grant programs. Manage the full spectrum of grant activities from inception to completion, including prospecting, review, and evaluation.  
•    Funding Recommendations: Prepare and present recommendations from the grant judging panels to the Foundation’s leadership and the Avant Foundation Committee for final approval, providing detailed information for each funding recommendation.
•    Grants System: Management of the Grant Management system 

Impact and Evaluation

•    Evaluation Process: Lead the proposal review process, including assembling and managing review committees or panels approved by the Avant Foundation Committee.  
•    Criteria and Assessment: Provide guidance on the evaluation criteria and ensure that reviews are conducted in a fair and rigorous manner.
•    Impact Evaluation: Develop and implement a regime of reporting and impact evaluation of funded research.
•    Report Review: Ensure that grantees provide timely and accurate reports on project outcomes and financial expenditures. Review and analyse these reports to assess impact and compliance with grant agreements. 

Develop partner relationships to drive quality applications 

•    Develop and Sustain Relationships: Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with grantees and potential partners to develop collaboration and mutual support.  
•    Partnership Development: Identify and cultivate partnerships with aligned organisations. Facilitate connections and collaborations to enhance grantee impact and sustainability.
•    Engagement and Progress Monitoring: Regularly engage with grantees to monitor progress.  

Drive awareness of the grant programs 

•    Oversee marketing and communications: Lead the team in developing create compelling content for external audiences, including newsletters, social media updates, and website content. Ensure that messaging is consistent with the Foundation’s brand and mission.
•    Internal Communications: Contribute to the development of internal communications plans.  
•    Impact Storytelling: Assist in crafting and sharing stories of impact and success related to the Foundation’s grants. Highlight the achievements of grantees and the difference made by funded projects.
•    Annual Report: Lead the development of the Foundation’s annual report. Ensure that the report accurately reflects the Foundation’s achievements and impact performance over the past year. 

Lead a team of grants professionals 

•    Leadership: Lead and develop the Foundation team.
•    Enablement: Be the key advocate and enabler for Foundation team, ensuring systems and processes are fit for purpose
•    Development: Build employee engagement and lead the team through the employee journey, including recruitment, on-boarding, building performance metrics relevant to Foundation, coaching and developing team members. 

Work with the Committee and Judging Panels

•    Engagement: Develop and maintain a productive relationship with the Foundation Committee and Judging Panels.
•    Governance: Prepare papers for Committee meetings and deliver exceptional, accurate reporting.  

To be successful you will have:

•    Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in relevant field preferred e.g. nonprofit management, public administration, social sciences.
•    Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in grants management or a related field, with a proven track record of managing complex grants and projects. Experience in a senior role within a philanthropic foundation or similar organisation is highly desirable.
•    Innovative and forward-thinking mindset.
•    Deep commitment to the Foundation’s mission and values.
•    Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
•    Sound knowledge of grant application processes and best practice in the philanthropy sector.
•    Track record in managing budgets. 
•    Demonstrated expertise in impact assessment and evaluation methods.
•    Proficiency with grant management software and data analysis tools. Experience in SmartyGrants grant platform preferred.
•    Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
•    Strong team collaboration skills.
•    High level of integrity and professionalism. 
 

Why work at Avant?

•    We value our people by offering an inclusive workplace with flexible work, career development and internal mobility opportunities.
•    Our flexible working arrangements are designed to enable genuine work-life balance.
•    Your development is our priority, and we have a variety of learning and development programs that will support you in your career.
•    We offer support to our people via Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Health and wellbeing programs, Tertiary Education Sponsorship and Support.
•    We have a diverse and connected work environment where your contribution and ideas will be valued and respected and make a real difference to the lives of others.

If you require further information, please email Nico Touze at nicolas.touze@avant.org.au