Russell Parkinson

Experience

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  Ding Ding Dang

  Sept 1999 - Sept 2000

  English Second Language Teacher
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  Peace Child International

  Feb 2001 - Sept 2003

  Senior Intern

  An international youth led NGO aiming to empower young people through education for sustainable development. Lived and worked with a group of young volunteers from around the World on a variety of local and international projects, including:• Desk Officer - ‘Be the Change’: A funding programme to support young people to develop, and implement small scale projects in their community; assessed applications and monitored successful projects; contributed to ongoing evaluation and development of programme • Developed and delivered presentation for schools, promoting youth participation, and introducing idea of sustainable development in line with national curriculum for citizenship,• Project Manager - ‘Rescue Mission 2002’: produced a 96 page book of young people’s views on sustainable development in time to present at World Summit for Sustainable Development• International Outreach Co-ordinator - World Congress of Youth, Maroc 2003: managed the outreach, application and selection of 600 youth participants from 110+ countries Show less

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  Big Lottery Fund

  Jan 2004 - Aug 2006

  Grant Officer

  Member of team responsible for delivery of £250 million Lottery funding programme, making awards to local authorities, schools and community organisations to deliver out of school hours learning activities to groups of disadvantaged young people.• Used critical judgement to assess applications against published programme criteria and make recommendations for funding to the board• Ensured continued eligibility and the full use of available funding through proactive grant management, monitoring progress of awards, and advising grantees about processes• Successfully managed a caseload worth approximately £15.5 million across 4 different funding programmes, maintaining day-to-day communication with grantees • Monitored grantee’s expenditure and authorised payments, resolving issues and escalating where appropriate• Undertook monitoring and compliance visits, facilitated application seminars and delivered 1:1 advice sessions for grantees and applicants• Contributed to development of processes and procedures through participating in project groups and taking on additional responsibilities• Ensured smooth handover and the maintenance of high standards of customer care during period of major organisational change and uncertainty through the delivery of training to the new team of grant officers in Newcastle Show less

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  The Prince's Trust

  Oct 2007 - Aug 2014

  Contract Manager

  Managing public sector funding contracts, worth approximately £1 million annually, for the London & South East region of one of the UK's leading youth charities. Responsible for contracts from negotiation and sign off, through delivery and monitoring, to closure and evaluation. Working closely with regional management, delivery teams and funders to ensure appropriate delivery happens on time and to budget, monitoring systems are in place, and funding is maximised. Line management responsibility for one member of staff.• Reviewing and negotiating contracts, ensuring they are signed off at the appropriate level• Profiling expenditure and delivery of outputs• Producing guidance notes, and cascading contract requirements to delivery teams• Using a range of financial and contract management tools to monitor performance; Reporting back to stakeholders; Identifying potential risks to delivery and/or income and supporting staff to mitigate these risks• Maintaining accurate audit trail, ensuring policies and processes are followed, evidencing all delivery, income and expenditure• Compiling accurate reports and claims to funders, negotiating contract variations, and overseeing, audits and evaluations• Assisting with preparation of monthly management accounts through appropriate monitoring, ensuring accurate accruals and reforecasting Show less

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  Save the Children UK

  Aug 2014 - Aug 2023

  Senior Programme Manager

  Ensuring the strategic use and effective financial management of restricted advocacy resources, worth approximately $27m, in compliance with internal and donor requirements. Responsible for grant management as well as developing systems, relationships and embedding clearer ways of working with other parts of Save the Children UK and the wider Save the Children movement. Direct line management of 3 members of staff, and dotted line management of 2 others.• Providing account and grant management of $20m award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, funding advocacy in the UK and 22 other global Save the Children offices, from proposal development, through award agreement, to ongoing monitoring and closure• Overseeing financial and grant management of wider Portfolio of advocacy resources including $6m award from Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and other smaller awards• Working with colleagues and donors to agree amendments to existing funding agreements• Acting as divisional lead on restricted funding, and driving improvements to processes including coding, budget tracking, forecasting, and cost recovery• Building understanding and compliance with SCUK and SCI grant management policies and processes, as well as ensuring these are fit for purpose within the advocacy context• Ensuring good knowledge management across the portfolio, including key project documentation, to allow teams to access information now and in the future• Making strategic decisions to ensure resources are spent in most effective way to deliver on our international advocacy strategy, whilst ensuring the advocacy division has clarity at all times on available resources and spending• Supporting and promoting delivery of the wider country engagement strategy to create well resourced, and effective advocacy capacity in country• Undertaking planning and monitoring visits to country offices Show less

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  The Power of Nutrition

  Aug 2023 - now

  Program Manager

  Part of team responsible for ensuring the The Power of Nutrition’s investments to combat malnutrition are achieving lasting impact at scale for children, adolescents and mothers. Responsible for a portfolio of investments in West Africa and Asia. Managing relationships with implementing partners and collaborating with fundraising colleagues to manage relationships with donors.• Providing robust end-to end programme support throughout the programme management cycle• Supporting the development of new programme opportunities, including a new $7m programme with GAVI and the Aga Khan Foundation• Monitoring progress and identifying needs for course correction• Ensuring risks are identified, managed, and escalated in a timely manner• Contributing to thinking around the new strategic direction of the organisation and development of new initiatives Show less