Grants Management Specialist

About the job

The Grants Management Specialist (GMS) will provide essential grant management support to the Business Development and Quality Manager and Head of Program in delivering quality programs in line with the DRC Somalia strategy and country action plan. Responsibilities include the day-to-day management of external communication with donors and INGOs, and internal coordination with all departments at Country and HQ levels, and development of high-quality reports and proposals for DRC’s programmes in Somalia.

The GMS will ensure the grant management cycle is respected throughout (proposal development, kick off, review, to closure), while ensuring timely and high quality reports are planned, coordinated with programme and finance teams, and submitted timely to donors and filed within the DRC grants management databases. Additionally, the GMS is expected to keep track of the funds received from donors as per donor agreements, and billing rules updating in DRC systems. The GMS will ensure and provide guidance on compliance with donor and internal DRC rules and regulations and is further responsible for the capacity strengthening of staff on grants management.

Reporting to the Business Development and Grants Manager (BDGM), this position will work closely with all departments and staff including Technical Leads, Program Managers, Specialists, Area Managers, HR, Finance, and Operations on compliance, donor regulations, business development, and reporting. 

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Project Development and Coordination

• Lead on and coordinate the development of concept notes and proposals in collaboration with Program Managers, field staff, operations staff, the DRC Regional Office, and DRC HQ colleagues, ensuring alignment with DRC and strategies, priorities and requirements and DRC’s program handbook guidelines.
• Facilitate communication between all departments (program, MEAL, finance, safety, logistics and procurement, and human resources) in drafting of proposals, budgets and reports.
• Collaborate with all program/project managers and coordinators in proposal writing processes including partners such as sub-grantees.
• Assist the Head of Programs (HoP) and Business Development and Grants Manager to align new proposals to DRC Strategy and Country Action Plan.

Grants Management & Reporting

• Lead on the organization and follow up of grant opening meetings, monthly grant review meetings, and close-out meetings jointly with Program Managers, Specialists, HR and Finance. Ensure that meetings monitor project implementation and spending, support operation/program integration, troubleshoot challenges, ensure donor compliance, and identify and apply lessons learned.
• Lead donor reporting processes by coordinating, compiling, editing and providing feedback to ensure the development of high-quality narratives and timely submissions.
• Review Budget forecasts, consolidated spending, implementation, procurement, and staffing plans for each project and flag up discrepancies to the teams and BDG Manager at monthly grants meetings.
• Lead application processes and ensure compliance regarding (no-) cost extensions, amendments, top-ups, and reallocations in line with donor and DRC global requirements and tools.
• Ensure that DRC Dynamics is updated and relevant functionalities correctly used.
• Prepare internal organizational monthly reports as requested by HQ and RO.
• Coordinate flash reports and quality donor updates for circulation externally.

Capacity Development

• Undertake training for program and operation staff on grants management principles and processes to enhance quality within DRC programming. Topics could include donor compliance, report writing, proposal development, and other topics as needed.
• Update, streamline, and disseminate grants management tools and resources.
• Train DRC local partners on compliance, report writing, and proposal development as needed and agreed with the Partnerships Coordinator.

Fundraising & Donor Liaison

• Conduct regular donor mapping exercises with up-to-date information on donor strategies, priorities and funding opportunities and, together with BDG Manager and program teams, develop donor engagement strategies in line with the country program’s strategy.
• Update DRC’s fundraising strategy with the support of the BDGM and Head of Programme.

Other

• Raise any issues of non-compliance and assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures.
• Provide regular updates to the BDGM.
• Perform other duties as agreed with the BDGM.
• The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have :-

Required

• At least 3 years of grants management experience with an international NGO in fragile contexts.
• Master’s degree in international relations, project management, business administration, or similar studies relevant to the post
• Knowledge of donor rules, regulations, and procedures of donors including but not limited to US and European donors, EU funding mechanisms, and UN agencies. Knowledge in Commercial Contracts is a plus.
• Proven experience in successfully applying for institutional donor funding.
• Proven experience in capacity building and training of national staff and partners.
• Full professional proficiency in English – writing and speaking.

Source: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=172745&DepartmentId=19011&MediaId=5