Grants Manager - Framework

Job posted by: International Rescue Committee UK - Fri, 6 Mar 2015

Job Details:

Organisation: International Rescue Committee UK

Deadline Mon, 30 Mar 2015

Job type: Permanent

Location: United Kingdom

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BACKGROUND
Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. 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.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through 22 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC-UK
Our European headquarters, IRC-UK, was established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. IRC-UK comprises approximately 70 staff across five departments.

THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES TEAM
The International Programmes Team (IPT) leads the International Rescue Committee’s engagement with European donors. By closely working with the regional and country offices, it acts as the intermediary between major European statutory donors, field offices and the New York headquarters. IPT coordinates the reporting and accounting of grants and offers its financial and management expertise to field offices. IPT team members are also contributing to project design, negotiating with partners and are responsible for proposal development and compliance issues. With a deep understanding of the programmatic requirements of the various regions the IRC works in, and shifting donor strategies, the IPT is well placed to advocate on key issues on behalf of the IRC and was responsible for raising over $150 million in the 2013/2014 financial year. The IPT has forged good working relationships across the sector and is regularly called on by the IRC to offer advice and to assist with strategic planning.

JOB PURPOSE
Based at IRC office in London, the Grants Manager - Frameworks, will be responsible for the oversight and overall management of IRC’s existing Framework Agreements with key European donors. The Grant Manager – Frameworks will be responsible for managing the external relationship with the relevant European institutional donor contacts, and internally, as the key point of contact for the relationship within the IRC.
IRC-UK currently holds several framework agreements, and seeks to increase their scope for framework model agreements. The Grant Manager – Frameworks will lead the process of this type of funding through the effective management of existing framework partnerships. The position requires an experienced and motivated team player with a track record of managing strategic institutional donor relationships and managing teams.

The Grant Manager – Frameworks role is to ensure that there are joined-up approaches taken across IPT (Programme Development and Grants & Compliance) and that actions are taken forward. Thus the Grant Manager – Frameworks remit is one of coordination with all IPT’s functions to ensure the successful and effective management of existing Frameworks; and to increase the value and engagement from these to build new partnerships.

Substantial growth in portfolio with current donors now requires an increase in capacity and skill sets. The role will line manage a team of Regional Grants Officers/Assistants (RGOs/RGAs), and report to the Head of Grants and Compliance.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
• Reports to Head of Grants and Compliance
• Manages a team of RGOs/RGAs (depending upon the region the team may or may not include RGAs);
• Works as part of the wider IPT team close coordination with:
• Programme Development Team
• Regional Leadership
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit and Technical Units
• Finance Teams in the UK and New York on matters of financial management and European donor compliance.
• Undertake direct representation with donor contacts and donor representatives.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Oversight and overall management of IRC’s Framework Agreements:
• Managing the IRC’s strategic relationship with donors on the overall Framework Agreements; building strong working relationships with key individuals within donors; managing the IRC’s profile and engagement with the donor; and acting as the key internal point of contact on the overall Framework Agreements/donor relationship within the IRC.
• Ensuring the co-ordination of overall Framework reporting and day-to-day management of Framework implementation matters.
• Leading the development of internal organisation-wide working processes for different components of the Framework Agreements.
• Decision making with senior leaders across the organisation on relevant components of the Framework such as proposal submissions, implementation, managing risks, and donor relationship.
• Ensuring guidance and relevant materials are in line with donor requirements to support the development of high-quality Framework proposals and reports on time.
• Ensuring timely and high-quality narrative, financial, and audit Framework reports to the donor.
• Budget ownership for the relevant UK managed components.

Growth of Framework Agreements
• Leading the growth and management of frameworks with key European institutional donors through establishment of new partnerships.
• Undertake direct representation with donor contacts, support and facilitate other IRC staffs’ donor relationships.
• Designing and establishing the content of Framework proposals based on research, donor priorities, IRC strategy, and input from IRC senior managers/leaders including the International Programmes Department, Regional Teams, and IRC Policy and Practice Department.
• Identify points of common approach with donor’s strategic priorities and the IRC, build connections and leverage IRC’s track record to grow Framework opportunities.

Line Management duties
• Line manage a small team with responsibility for:
• Day to day personnel administration (sick leave and holiday authorisation etc.) Approval of holidays in peak seasons or for periods of a week or more in consultation with the Head of Grants and Compliance in order to ensure that cover is taken into account across the whole team.
• Conduct monthly 1:1s with staff in the team, mid-term and annual performance appraisals.
• Provide support and mentoring to team members as required, working closely with the Head of Grants and Compliance and Grants Manager on team resource and workload management
• Support team to develop and deliver a training plan for country teams/units within their portfolio to feed into wider IPT planning.
• Undertake a management role within the Grants and Compliance Team, in agreement with the Head of Grants and Compliance, to manage workload and special projects as directed.
• Line management of the Research, Evaluation and Learning Manager.
• Lead and motivate staff to ensure high performance.

Department and Quality management
• With IPT Management Team, ensure that new donors and framework opportunities are appropriately vetted and formal approval and engagement criteria are identified, agreed and communicated.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, relevant and compliant proposals and budgets.
• Ensure donor compliance, including eligibility requirements, budget review and quality control for projects that are identified under frameworks.
• Oversight of the overall Framework Agreements from pre-award to post award through to donor audit sign off.
• Contribute to internal discussions and development on compliance policies, processes and guidance issued to Country Offices/Technical Units, as well for organisation-wide initiatives.

External Communications
• Represent the IRC at donor meetings and conferences, presenting the work of the organisation.

Internal Communications
• Play an active leadership role in the global IRC network, with a particular emphasis on maintaining effective partnerships between IRC-UK, IRC. Inc and all regional offices;
• Promote and facilitate cross department collaboration, ensuring regular liaison between IRC- UK Finance Department, External Relations, Advocacy and IPT.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
• Masters, preferably in a subject related to IRC’s work (International Relations, Refugee or Migration Studies, Development Studies, Public Policy), or equivalent
• Extensive knowledge of European institutional donors and their requirements
• Substantial proposal writing and portfolio management experience
• Significant experience in developing, negotiating and managing framework proposals / or multi-region / consortia proposals for development and humanitarian donors
• Good understanding of humanitarian aid and development programming including project design, quality and delivery in humanitarian and development settings
• Demonstrable experience of building and managing institutional / public donor relations and representing an organization to diverse audiences, including at a senior level
• Ability to build good working relationships and work effectively with programme and field staff from a distance
• Ability and experience of leading and managing a team and working effectively under pressure
• Organized self starter and able to manage competing priorities and identify strategic and critical issues
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem solving skills
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and IT skills
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as effectively as part of a team

Desirable
• Interest and understanding of advocacy work
• Experience in developing countries, preferably in the context of an NGO or International Organisation (UN or major donor or similar)
• Experience of working in a global organisation, with complex reporting relationship
• French or German language skills

TO APPLY
To apply, please send your CV (two page max) and a cover letter describing:
• Your reasons for applying
• How you meet each of the points in the person specification
• Current salary

Please send to: applications@rescue-uk.org



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