Head of Grants

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:

Head of Grants

The Head of Grants is a global, leadership role 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 Global Resource Mobilization & Partnerships (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 best practice; 3) practice active risk management and monitor 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. 

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 perspectives.
• Provide support to 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 with a special lens on ensuring gender equality.
• 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.
• 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 serving as the donor compliance authority for BRAC International through review of donor solicitations and support GRP decision gates; review of high value proposals and budgets; lead review of donor contracts and negotiate with donors; serve as compliance helpdesk.
• Support the building and adoption by BRAC International of a central 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

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:

Masters or equivalent degree in International Development or Business and Administration or Finance.

Required Competencies

• 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

Experience Requirements:

• 10 years of working experience in development or related field
• Core experience in grants management;
• Experience in change management using global standard grant management tools and procedures;
• Donor compliance knowledge
• Dotted line management experience

Employment type:  Regular/Contractual

Salary: Negotiable

Job Location: East Africa, TBD

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 37/22 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