Senior Grants Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary:

Based in Maiduguri, Nigeria the Senior Grants Manager will support the USAID funded Opportunities to Learn (OTL) consortium award, as an integral part of the Consortium Management Unit. The Senior Grants Manager will provide oversight and coordination of all business development, reporting and communications for the consortium. The post holder will work closely with the Chief of Party as well as technical, M&E, finance, operations and senior management teams across all partners to ensure quality management of both pre and post award grants functions. The Senior Grants Manager will support donor compliance, timely reporting, high quality proposal development, project document filing, preparing donor briefs and donor/internal visibility. The position holder will be supervised jointly by the OTL Chief of Party.

AREAS of RESPONSIBILITY:

Grant management and business development

•      Support the Chief of Party to coordinate project cycle meetings including opening meetings, implementation meetings, and closeout meetings.
•      Manage partner reporting processes including providing timelines and templates, drafting inputs as needed and reviewing/consolidating documents.
•      Work closely with other members of the consortium management unit to ensure reports are of a high quality and submitted in a timely manner.
•      Lead and coordinate the development of high quality proposals, concept notes and project modifications including extension, budget realignments, and re-designs.
•      Liaise with HQ units (Regional Unit, Awards Management Unit, Technical Units) to ensure documents meet internal standards and are responsive to donor requirements.
•      Act as a focal point for IRC HQ grants administration and compliance colleagues, including maintaining submissions on IRC's online opportunity management tracking system (OTIS).
•      Monitor and support the use of grant/project management tools to ensure accurate tracking of reporting and programmatic adjustments through the project life cycle.
•      Work closely with the IRC partnerships team to support sub-award monitoring processes. 
•      Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Party.

      Compliance

•      Maintain up to date comprehensive knowledge of USAID rules and regulations.
•      Provide training to partner staff on compliance and donor-specific compliance requirements.
•      Ensure partners are aware of the requirements and conditions of the grant agreement and sub award documents.  Closely monitor reports and activities for internal or donor compliance issues, and flag concerns in a timely manner.

Information management

•       Act as custodian of documentation of institutional knowledge and program activities In coordination with relevant technical and operations units.
•       Maintain comprehensive electronic files for the award, and ensure all partners and have access to relevant records and information.

Donor relations and communications

• Together with Chief of Party, liaise with the donor, consortium partners and other relevant external/internal parties through attendance at meetings, and representing the consortium and the consortium's interests by maintaining positive and constructive relations   
• In coordination with relevant colleagues, respond to requests from donors for compliance information and respond to donor compliance questions as needed.
• Ensure that relevant staff members are aware of all donor communications, changes in regulations, and meetings or events.
• Facilitate and participate in donor visits and/ or meetings.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Position reports to: Chief of Party
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: N/A
• Position directly supervises: N/A
• Key Internal contacts: Consortium Management Team, Senior Management Team, Grants, Finance, M&E, HR, Supply Chain, Safety and Security, Field Coordinators, Base Managers, AMU, Technical Units, and others as appropriate.
• Key External contacts: Partners, donors, and others as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent in international affairs, development, international political economy or other relevant subject
• 2-3 years working in grants management and proposal/ business development/ design
• Extensive knowledge of USAID compliance regulations
• Proven previous successful experience developing projects, writing proposals and donor reports.
• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical skills  Fluency in English, spoken and written
• Strong writing and editing skills with close attention to detail
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures but also use own initiative, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members  Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and circumstances
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, meet deadlines and work under pressure in an insecure environment
• Aptitude to adapt to a different context regarding security, culture, climate or health issues  Willingness to travel
• Commitment to women's rights and IRC's vision, mission and values, including sensitivity to cultural settings