Grants Manager, Asia

Career with BRAC International

BRAC is an award-winning international non-governmental development organisation, with the vision of a world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination, where everyone has the opportunity to realise their potential. BRAC is a leader in developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programmes to assist poor and disadvantaged communities in low-income countries, including in conflict-prone and post-disaster settings. It is an organisation of and for the people of the Global South, pioneering new development and social enterprise approaches to equip communities to achieve prosperity. As well as being the world's biggest NGO by number of staff and people directly reached, BRAC has regularly been ranked the number one NGO in the world by the Geneva-based NGO Advisor, an independent organisation committed to highlighting innovation, impact and governance in the non-profit sector. BRAC retained the top spot in 2020 among the top 500 NGOs for the fifth consecutive year.

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. It started its first programme outside of Bangladesh in Afghanistan in 2002, and has since reached millions of people in 11 countries in Asia and Africa. BRAC has a holistic approach to development that uses a wide array of programmes and social enterprises, including in microfinance, education, health, agriculture, gender and human rights. BRAC believes that every person has inherent potential, and when an enabling environment is created and that potential is unleashed, even the poorest can become agents of positive change in their own lives, for their families and their communities. 

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

Grants Manager, Asia

The purpose of this position is to support the Nepal, Myanmar, Philippines and Afghanistan Country Offices 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 the Global Resource Mobilization and Partnerships (GRP) Head of Grants, the Asia Grant Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the country programs within the portfolio adhere to all its grant management obligations internally within BRAC and externally with donors. As this role services multiple Country Offices, the candidate may be called upon to deploy to any of the countries to provide extraordinary support and services on the ground.

Key Responsibilities:

Coordination

• Coordinates and negotiates the drafting process for financial and narrative reports among different teams, ensuring submission deadlines are met
• 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 Office and applies relevant information and learning internally
• Lead and coordinate Due Diligence of Downstream partners during grant implementation as needed
• Proactively analyses issues and resolve through collaboration with other teams/partners/Affiliates
• Supports Country Office CMT to communicate with donors on grant management and/or project implementation issues as necessary

Compliance

• Supports adherence to BRAC Grant and 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 Proposal Development SOP process by reviewing all calls for proposals with a compliance lens and reviewing/negotiating contracts;
• Ensure donor reports of high quality through application of the Donor Report Quality Checklist prior to submission to donors; support with writing/editing
• 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 GRP; SMT/CMT 

Analysis

• Support review of proposal budgets to ensure correct budget template and identify questionable costs from donor compliance perspective
• Maintain/support Country Offices to maintain portfolio and pipeline tracker for the Country Offices
• Maintain/support Country Offices to maintain reporting tracker and resource efforts accordingly.

Portfolio Management

• Participate in Country Office monthly fundraising calls with grant management inputs
• Lead regular grant reviews and other monitoring across allocated portfolio
• Provide/support Grant Managers in country to provide regular management information to the SMT/CMT on the performance of the active portfolio (Key Performance Indicators)
• 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 more junior staff and promote learning in the grant management team, as applicable.
• Capacity build key CO colleagues (CMT) on grant management, particularly donor compliance and reporting 

Systems

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

Others (Safeguarding):

• Establish a safeguarding culture across all levels of the programme by implementing the safeguarding policy and procedures, including reporting. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor degree in Finance or International Development or related field

Required Competencies

• Experience with INGOs
• 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 analyse 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
• Strong writing skills
• Fluent communication (written and spoken) in English
• Knowledge of BRAC, its history, and its programmes and culture desirable

Experience Requirements:

• At least 7 years’ experience in development or related field
• Experience in grants management

Employment type:  Regular/Contractual

Salary: Negotiable

Job Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

If you feel you are the right match for the above mentioned position, please follow the application instructions accordingly:

External candidates need to email their CV with a letter of interest mentioning educational grades, years of experience, current and expected salary at recruitment.bi@brac.net

Internal candidates need to apply with their latest CV including all job assignments in detail with BRAC PIN and email to internal.bi@brac.net

Please mention the name of the position and AD# BI 38/22 in the subject bar.

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

Application deadline: 20 April 2022

BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people and 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 policy and procedure include extensive background checks and disclosure of criminal records in order to ensure safeguarding to the fullest extent.  

 BRAC is an equal opportunities employer