The Head of Grants is responsible for participating in the development of global policies, procedures, tools and systems in grant management, and actively promoting the application of those standards toward an efficient and effective grant management function within BRAC International Country Offices. The role has four main aspects to it:
1) Work within GRP Grant Management team to develop key infrastructure for grant and sub-grant management across BRAC International,
2) Develop and capacity build the Country Office grant management function in line with global procedures and standards;
3) Practice active risk management by address high risk areas and monitoring key performance indicators and grant metrics within BRAC International on overall portfolio health;
4) Provide direct management and technical, dotted line management to grant management professionals across BRAC International.
The role offers a leadership opportunity for an individual experienced in grants management and change management. It requires an individual capable of providing direct supervision and technical dotted-line leadership to a dynamic team responsible for the management of the BRAC International portfolio of grants currently valued at approximately $300M. This position will work in close partnership with colleagues within GRP, across functions and with all Country Office teams to ensure a smooth process from the proposal development phase to grant management phase and to build overall BRAC International capacity to steward grant funding with diligence and professionalism. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency inside a BRAC International country, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Director of Grant Management, GRP in the creation of global grant management and sub-grant management policies, procedures, tools and systems, representing BRAC International views and perspective. Immediate systems support focus includes sanctions screening and possibly timesheets.
- Support the Director of Grant Management in the embedding of the Grant Management Manual and Sub-Grant Management Manual within and across the BRAC International Country Offices. To be done through deliberate and planned support to Country Offices to establish and maintain an efficient and effective grant management process.
- Develop strong relationships across BRAC International; provide direct supervision and dotted line supervision through, with a special lens on ensuring gender equality:
- Direct supervision of GRP Grant Managers
- Support recruitment of Grant Management staff within BRAC International Country Offices
- Provide technical input into Grant Management Staff and Focal Points annual objectives and end of year performance evaluations
- Administer regular and consistent coaching support and technical knowledge to Grant Managers and Focal Points
- Support Director to build a high performing grant management team within BRAC International through regular and ongoing capacity building to GRP and Country Office Grant Management staff:
- On-the-job training support to select Grant Managers
- Facilitation of sharing grant management capacity across Country Offices and sites to promote opportunity and learning
- Support Director to convene all BRAC International Grant Management staff regularly and govern the function for BRAC International
- Ensure that key staff (including downstream partners) have a clear understanding of donor compliance requirements throughout implementation. This includes ensuring a complete audit trail of the implementation and reporting for grants; serving as the donor compliance authority for the BRAC International through:
- Support the building and adoption by BRAC International of a central grants management system, the Grant Management System, ensure that system is effectively maintained and up to date for all grants and sub-grants including authorization and document retention
- In collaboration with Director, support a heavy focus and resourcing on timely and quality donor reporting. This may mean dedicating specific time or ensuring GRP Grant Managers have a high level of effort dedicated to centralized donor report reviews and controls.
- In collaboration with the Grant Systems Specialist, provide BRAC International-specific grant portfolio data for quarterly dashboards and other management reporting for senior management
- Work in collaboration with other Departments to ensure grant management inputs to key processes including, inter alia, master budget development, cost allocation, monitoring of grant budgets, phasing and forecasting, budget reviews, timesheets.
- Participate in special projects as requested: ex: Grant Management Systems assessment for specific Country Offices
- Ensure that grant management processes include consideration of key organizational priorities (Gender and Inclusion, Safeguarding).
Safeguarding:
- Establish a safeguarding culture across all level of the programme by implementing the safeguarding policy. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
- Responsible to ensure team members are appropriately trained, supported and have access to resources regarding issues that are identified and actioned in accordance with the safeguarding policy and procedure.
- Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- 10+ years in development or related field;
- Masters or equivalent degree International Development or Business and Administration or Finance
- Core experience in grants management;
- Experience in change management using global standard grant management tools and procedures;
- Donor compliance knowledge
- Dotted line management experience.
Skills and Competencies Requirements:
- Proven track record of active contribution to senior management team direction, and providing strategic support across multiple sectors and/or regions
- Extensive experience with NGOs with increasing responsibilities including proven experience of establishing and running the grant management function in the field
- 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)
- Well-developed skills in staff management.
- Proven coaching and capacity building skills
- Understanding of the financial aspects of grant management, ability to work with Finance Departments on grant management issues
- 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
- Demonstrated ability to manage change in complex organizations
- Knowledge of BRAC, its history, and its programmes and culture desirable
Employment type: Contractual
Salary: Negotiable
Job Location: Global
How to apply
Female candidates and candidates are encouraged to apply. If you feel you are the right candidate for this position, please follow the application instructions accordingly:
External candidates should email their CV/Resume and a cover letter to recruitment.bi@brac.net
Internal candidates should send their updated CV/Resume and cover letter mentioning BRAC PIN to internal.bi@brac.net
Please mention the name of the position and AD# BI 44/23 in the subject bar.
Only complete applications will be accepted and short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Application deadline: 5 September 2023
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