Grants Manager

International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, we restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The mission of the IRC is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.

IRC opened the national program in Mali in 2012. Our programs range from humanitarian assistance to early recovery activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, and governance. We work in the north, the center, and the south of Mali. Conflict and drought have caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Mali and neighboring countries. The security situation in the north remains fragile. Nonetheless, the needs of internally displaced persons and conflict-affected host communities are still pressing, and the issue of humanitarian access is an ongoing process.

Job Overview

Based in Mali, the Grants Manager will provide grant management and reporting support across the Mali portfolio. The Grants Manager will work closely with program, M&E finance, operations, and senior management team (SMT) staff to ensure quality management of both pre-and post-award grants functions. The Grants Manager will support donor compliance, timely reporting, project document filing, and internal/external visibility. The position holder will manage a grants assistant and work closely with the partnerships manager and the communication officer. The Grants Coordinator will supervise the grants manager.

This position is line-managed by the Grants Coordinator and is based in Bamako, with frequent field trips.

Major responsibilities:

Grant management

• With the support of the Grants Coordinator, coordinate the development of high-quality narrative reports and related annexes with relevant teams, including acting as a lead writer when necessary.

• Ensure the effective follow-up of ongoing grants with the regular updating of standard and internal monitoring tools (OTIS and grants follow-up tracker) and their dissemination to all relevant colleagues

• Provide technical guidance on IRC and donor regulations to ensure compliance across IRC Mali, proactively raising and resolving issues.

• Manage all reporting deadlines, and coordinate and consolidate reports as necessary to ensure documents are of the highest quality and in line with donor requirements.

• Contribute proactively to Project Cycle Meetings in collaboration with relevant project leads to ensure timely, quality implementation of the project.

• Monitor and support grant/project management tools such as the FM01, BvA, PCM, and OTIS to ensure accurate tracking of opportunities, reporting, and programmatic adjustments through the project life cycle.

• Provide technical guidance on IRC and donor regulations to ensure compliance across IRC Mali, proactively raising and resolving issues.

• Manage all reporting deadlines, and coordinate and consolidate reports as necessary to ensure documents are of the highest quality and in line with donor requirements.

• Act as a focal point for HQ grants administration and compliance colleagues, including maintaining submissions on IRC’s online opportunity management tracking system (OTIS).

• In collaboration with the Grants Coordinator, provide training to IRC Mali staff on reporting

• Collaborate with the grant and partnerships team

• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Grants Coordinator and Senior Management Team.

Compliance

• Maintain up-to-date comprehensive knowledge of donor guidelines relevant to Mali portfolio, including but not limited to: BHA, ECHO, SDC, SIDA, DG INTPA.

• In collaboration with the Grants Coordinator, provide training to IRC staff on compliance and donor-specific compliance requirements.

• Ensure immediate reporting of suspected compliance issues through appropriate reporting mechanisms.

Information management

• Act as custodian of documentation of institutional knowledge and program activities in coordination with relevant sector supervisors and coordinators.

• Maintain comprehensive electronic files for programs and ensure IRC colleagues have access to relevant records and information.

Communication and visibility

• Support the Grants Coordinator in representing IRC in Mali by preparing briefing sheets, projects summary, or any other type of document requested.

• Support the Grants Coordinator and the Communication Officer to strengthen the visibility of IRC in Mali through support for the implementation of external communication activities.

Donor relations and communications

• In consultation with the Grants Coordinator, liaise with donors and potential donors, and other operational partners, including through attendance at meetings and representing IRC and IRC’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.

• Support the development of program updates/communications for external circulation

• Facilitate and participate in donor visits and/ or meetings.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent in international affairs, development, international political economy, or another relevant subject

• 2-3 years working in grants management and proposal/ business development/ design

• Knowledge of donor compliance regulations (BHA, USAID, ECHO, DG INTPA, etc)

• Proven previous successful experience developing projects 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

Working Environment

The Grants Manager will be based in Bamako (security level 3: orange); with a standard working environment (good internet connection, air conditioning, etc.).

The Grants Manager will live in a shared house in Bamako. This is a non-accompanied position.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC is an equal opportunity employer, considering all the candidates based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran or disability.