Job Vacancy at BRAC for Grant Manager – West Africa Cluster, Liberia and Sierra Leone

BRAC is a development success story, born in Bangladesh and expanding into 10 other developing countries in Asia and Africa. It spreads anti-poverty solutions making it a global leader in providing opportunities for the world's poor.

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, and is today one of the top leaders in developing cost-effective, evidence-based poverty innovations in extremely poor, fragile and post-disaster settings. BRAC started its first programme outside of Bangladesh in Afghanistan in 2002 through its Dutch registered Stichting BRAC International. BRAC International is currently reaching over 19 million people beyond Bangladesh and creating opportunities to break the cycle of poverty.

With a holistic approach that uses a wide array of interventions including microfinance, education, healthcare, legal services and more, BRAC invests in communities' own human and material resources, catalyzing lasting change and creating an ecosystem in which the poor have the chance to seize control of their own lives. Of the world's top development and humanitarian relief organisations, BRAC is one of the few based in the global south. In February 2020, BRAC was ranked as the number one NGO in the world for the fifth consecutive year by the Geneva-based NGO Advisor, an independent media organisation committed to highlighting innovation, impact and governance in the non-profit sector.

BRAC International is seeking application from competent, dynamic and self-motivated individuals to fill the following position: Position

Grant Manager - West Africa Cluster

Job Description/Responsibilities:

The Grant Manager will support the Liberia and Sierra Leone Country Offices (West Africa Cluster) in strategic and operational stewardship over donor resources by applying a set of relevant systems, policies, procedures and tools to ensure that grants and contracts are donor compliant and best serve the organizational mission. Under the direction of a Country Director, while receiving technical support from the Head Office PRL Grant Management team, the Grant Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the country programs adhere to all grant management obligations internally within BRAC and externally with donors. This position is empowered to make recommendations for improvements needed within Country Office systems to support donor compliance.

This role will work closely with Fundraising/Program Implementation/Operations and Finance on proposals, financial and narrative reporting, monitoring and analysis, and compliance processes. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly. Travel is anticipated at 30% within the West Africa cluster. Job responsibilities include but not limited to the following-

Key Responsibilities:

Coordination

• Coordinates and negotiates the drafting process for financial and narrative reports among different teams, ensuring submission deadlines are met and reports of high quality
• Liaises with the donor/Affiliates regarding any clarifications on reporting dates or changing donor requirements and inform teams accordingly; update tracking systems
• Facilitates Kick Off meetings with a diverse stakeholder group
• Facilitates monthly Grant Review Meetings with a diverse stakeholder group, notes action commitments and follows up to ensure completion;
• Facilitates Close Out meetings and actions
• Participates in Global Grant Management community of practice calls and trainings on behalf of Country Offices and applies relevant information and learning internally
• Lead and coordinate Due Diligence of Downstream partners during grant implementation as needed
• Communicates with Affiliates and SMT/CMT regarding donor related issues that require escalation
• Proactively analyses issues and resolve through collaboration with other teams/partners/Affiliates

Compliance

• Supports adherence to BRAC Grant Management and BRAC Sub-Grant Management procedures and policies
• Supports adherence of complex donor compliance requirements across the Country Offices and downstream partners through regular communication of compliance elements and training
• Supports the Opportunity Assessment process by reviewing all calls for proposals with a compliance lens
• Supports the Donor Contract review process by reviewing contracts with a compliance lens;
• Support teams across Country offices to ensure all opportunities, proposals, contracts and amendments follow BRAC processes
• Ensure vetting of all partners complete and evidenced
• Draft sub-grant agreements using endorsed template packages and ensuring that all donor compliance requirements are passed down
• Identify and address or escalate any potential compliance issues to SMT/CMT

Analysis

• Support review of proposal budgets to ensure correct budget template and identify questionable costs from donor compliance perspective
• Perform monitoring of grants, grant spending, portfolio spending and perform further analysis to aid in resolution of issues identified
• Maintain portfolio, pipeline tracker and reporting tracker for Country Offices

Portfolio Management

• Use the Proposal Grant System and tools and monitor Country Office portfolios and performance in grant management

• Lead regular grant reviews and other monitoring across allocated portfolio
• Provide regular management information to the SMT/CMT on the performance of the active portfolio
• Identify issues in active grant portfolio and apply problem solving skills to resolve these
• Support the SMT/CMT to develop action plans to address issues highlighted by grant metrics and indicators and implement those actions

Capacity Building

• Capacity build of junior staff and promote and encourage learning and professional development in the grant management team.

Systems

• Maintain grant files in accordance with BRAC procedures
• Act as the West Africa cluster super user and lead on the BRAC Proposal Grant System, its reporting functions, and ensuring adherence to system guidelines to promote data quality
• Develop expert knowledge of Proposal Grant System & dashboard functionality, maintain up to date data and use PGS data for decision making

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme's goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

Requirements

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor degree in Finance or International Development or related field.

Experience Requirement:

Experience Requirements:

• At least seven years' of experience in development or related field
• Experience in grants management

Additional Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:

• Knowledge of the requirements of major institutional donors including budgeting, eligibility issues, compliance management, and reporting; experience of engaging with donors at a strategic level (UNHCR, USAID, GAC, DFAT, DFID)
• Possess basic understanding of program operations including procurement and field realities
• Possess understanding of the full grant cycle including proposal development phase
• Understanding of the financial aspects of grant management, ability to work with Finance Departments on grant management issues
• Show courage and confidence to have tough conversations with other CO teams, donors and Affiliates
• Show high skills in coordination and negotiation
• Strong attention to detail, problem solving skills, and ability to analyze trends
• Computer literate (i.e. Google Suite/ Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems)
• Patient, adaptable, able to improvise, and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure
• Fluent communication (written and spoken) in English
• Knowledge of BRAC, its history, and its programmes and culture desirable

Age:

Salary & Benefits

Salary: Negotiable

Other Benefits:

Job Location: Liberia and Sierra Leone

Last Apply Date: 17/Apr/2021

BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share the same commitment. We believe every stakeholder and every member of the communities we work with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation - regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin. Therefore, our recruitment process includes extensive reference and background checks, self-disclosure of prior issues regarding sexual or other misconduct and criminal records and our values are the part of our Performance Management System.

BRAC is an equal opportunities employer

Join the world's biggest family

Or External candidates need to email their CV with a letter of interest mentioning educational grades, years of experience, current and expected salary at:

[email protected]

Only complete applications will be accepted and short listed candidates will be contacted.