Grants Officer at Palladium Group

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Grants Manager, the Grants Officer will support the delivery of the overall grants management activities throughout the grant cycle. This will involve financial, communication and compliance management. The role will contribute to grantee contracting and grantees compliance and due diligence assessment during proposal and throughout the programme life. Below are specific deliveries of the role:

Communication and Due diligence

• Act as the first point of contact for grant applicants, managing all communication (confirmation receipt, notifying successful and unsuccessful applicants).
• Work in collaboration with the Grants Manager, programme Technical Team and Contracts and Contract Manager throughout grants application and proposal stage to perform pre-award assessment, due diligence on potential grantees such that the team can take the necessary care, attention and discretion prior signing grant agreements.
• Ensuring adequate and transparent governance structures, and robust and reliable financial internal controls for grantees ensuring good accountability of grant resources.
• Assessing the capacity of grantees to effectively implement actions to strengthen their administrative and financial management systems.
• Performing spot check visits and compiling visit reports
• Collating and verifying all documents received (e.g. references, background checks, etc.)
• Confirming eligibility of grantees. Perform formal evaluation of each application.
• Support the review of all proposed budgets and project activities during the proposal stage to assess each applicant’s capacity to utilize budgets in the project time frame and ensure that all budgets are compliant with the guidelines set grant facility.
• Support the review of final work plans, evidence requirements and budgets with successful applicants, considering any risk exposure of the grant facility.
• Support grantees’ contract drafting.

Grantee Reporting & Risk Management

• Obtain and review evidence submitted by grantees as proof of milestone achievement.
• Prepare milestone approval checklist to support grant disbursements / support in processing payment to grantees.
• Review grantees’ financial Reports and supporting evidence and prepare the report for approval.
• Contribute to identifying grant funding risks and maintaining a risk dashboard at portfolio level highlighting potential risks and issues and mitigation plans for each grant.
• Support in coordinating portfolio review meetings with technical team and providing updates including on the risk dashboard.
• Review of grant reports to ensure accuracy and completion of activities and KPIs against proposals, timelines, and project plans, and request additional information if necessary.
• Maintain relevant filing for key documents. Archive all grant-related documents and share with the technical and MERL Team program
• Collect end of grant reports (project and financial).
• Work with team members in the preparation and completion of financial audits as required.
• Ensure that purchase of goods and services by each grantee demonstrate value for money (VFM) according to Palladium Procurement policy and guidelines.
• Develop strong working relationships and a regular dialogue on project progress and challenges with the technical and MERL Team

Training & Capacity Building Supports

• Assist in training needs identification and support in training of grantees on the grant reporting requirements and the use of the reporting templates.
• Provide necessary training, capacity building and information to grantees to enable compliance with the financial accounting, reporting and procurement requirements of their funding agreements.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in relevant subject matter (business, political science, etc.). Two (2) additional years’ experience may be accepted in place of .
• Substantial (4 years) experience supporting grant management for donor funded development programs (e.g. with institutional humanitarian and development donors).
• Demonstrated financial acumen and experience with budget or project management.
• Well-developed organizational skills and the ability to combine attention to detail and compliance with a view of strategic priorities.
• Experience supporting technical managers in project delivery and communicating with different audiences/stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills English.
• Strong computer skills, particularly in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Understanding of Nigerian contracting regulations and best practices in terms of grant management, compliance, and reporting requirements within an FCDO-funded contract highly preferred.
• Demonstrated management skills and effective interpersonal skills.
• Interest in climate smart agricultural technology a plus.