Deputy Head of Portfolio Management

Scope of the role

Responsible for the strategic direction of GCERF´s country and thematic portfolios, quality assurance of all grant-making and grant-management activities, managing in-country donor, government & other stakeholder relationships, day-to-day management of unit, and coordination with other departments on portfolio performance.

Principal accountabilities and ownership

Portfolio management:

1. Responsible for coordinating the strategic direction of GCERF´s existing country and
   thematic portfolios.
2. Responsible for quality assurance across all grant-making and management of GCERF
   portfolios to achieve strategic aims: Working with Country Managers and their teams to
   ensure efficient, effective, and compliant grant-making and management of GCERF
   portfolio, which leads to impactful programming.
3. Responsible for developing and adapting processes for increasingly efficient and
   effective grant-making and grant management, increasing cross-unit collaboration.
4. Responsible for the day-to-day management of the unit, ensuring all team
   members have the support and resources required.

Relationship management:

1. Strengthening in-country relations with CSMs, donor representatives, and other key
   stakeholders such as the UN through regular, strategic, and systematic engagement
   Representation:
2. Responsible for working with country teams to develop and promote GCERF’s expertise on
   specific themes (PVE, gender, ethics, etc.).
3. Represent the Head of Portfolio Management and GCERF as-needed

Qualifications

Knowledge/Experience/Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Social Sciences, or a related topic (or demonstrated equivalent competencies)
• Substantial experience in development, NGOs, foundations or similar, in positions of increased managerial responsibility
• Demonstrated experience managing diverse teams of at least 20 people in multiple locations
• Demonstrated experience in grant-making, grant management, and donor relations
• Knowledge and experience in research or programming related to Preventing Violent Extremism
• Significant (at least 6 years ideally) field experience, preferably in more than one country
• Fluency in English (at least C1-level) and working knowledge of French (at least B2-level); knowledge of Arabic or Russian is a plus

Technical skills

• Extensive experience and understanding of programme design and development, project cyclemanagement, and financial budgeting and reporting.
• Experience working alongside a range of grantees with skill and sensitivity, including community-based and grassroots organisations.
• In-depth understanding of the work, challenges of community-based, and grassroots organisations in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Experience working with Consortium funding models is an asset.
• Experience in fundraising is an asset.

Personal skills and attributes

• Proactivity and innovation
• Diplomacy
• Drive for results
• Solution oriented
• Teamwork and flexibility
• Effective communication
• Excellent presentation
• Sound judgement, informed and fair decision making
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Empathy and mentoring
• Openness to new ideas, methods and approaches

Key working relationships

Head of Portfolio Management / Deputy Executive Director

• Ensure that programming directions are in line with the overall GCERF Strategy
• Regularly share progress, challenges, ideas

Portfolio Management team

• Collaborate with Country Managers in proactively managing operational activities linked to grant-making and management

Finance and Compliance

• Work closely with the Finance & Compliance Manager to ensure grants monitoring and compliance with internal and external standards and regulations

Resource Mobilisation team

• Provide structured input to donor proposals and reports

Performance and Impact team

• Collaborate with the Performance and Impact team to improve portfolio and grant monitoring

Communications team

• Provide data and information for creating content and promotional material. Collaborate on communications strategy

Governance and Partnerships

• Collaborate with Governance and Partnerships Specialist in building GCERF’s strategic partnerships in beneficiary countries

General information:

• Our offices are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
• GCERF offers competitive salaries and benefits package.
• All appointments are subject to availability of funding.
• GCERF is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.

We encourage applications from across the world as we are able to employ all nationalities.