Grants Manager

ROLE PURPOSE: The Awards Manager supports and advises the Syria Partnership Programme in grants management, donor compliance, overseeing grants management systems and reporting to support all grants. The post holder ensures programmes adhere to relevant internal grant management obligations of Save the Children International and external donor / member requirements.     KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :   Award Management Ensure that award management systems and processes are successfully implemented across the life an award and key controls are in place to support effective management of the funding portfolio and compliance with the donor requirements. Provide coordination to proposal development and review processes, ensuring all staff inputs happen in timely and effective manner and advise on donor compliance requirements to ensure high quality and one time proposals. Play a leading role in Award Kick-Off meetings to ensure that all award information is shared effectively with relevant staff across the country office (including field offices) and partners. Establish systems for regular award monitoring across the SPP and facilitate regular meetings with key stakeholders to support the SPP Director to ensure that performance on individual awards is tracked effectively, risks and issues are flagged and action taken as appropriate. Support the finance team on master budget development, cost allocation, monitoring of award budgets, phasing and forecasting, in particular ensuring alignment between the master budget and funding tracker. Coordinate the processes for donor reporting to ensure that reports are high quality, delivered on time and supported by auditable records. This includes assessing and making recommendations to improve the reconciliation process (reporting assurance mechanism) between Finance, Programs Unit, M&E that will ensure accountable reporting to donors. Maintain effective communications with Save the Children members, providing them with timely updates on their awards and flagging potential issue promptly.     Proposal development • Oversee the compilation and submission of high quality, implementable proposals and concept notes to donors and members • Ensure every proposal call is preceded by a Go - No Go decision and a risk assessment • Communicate timelines for inputs into and review of proposals with field teams and support and monitor the compilation of these proposals in line with member and donor deadlines; • Gather inputs from technical advisors, MEAL and finance and grants teams as necessary for drafting narratives, logframes and ensure adequate field and SMT approvals for all proposals submitted • Support the Grants Manager with the development and review of proposal budgets, verifying the budget is in line with the logframe • Oversee the coordination of all proposal amendments, coordinating with the Grants Manager on budget amendments   Donor Compliance Support all functions to ensure donor and SC requirements are understood and complied with. Ensure that all appropriate donor formats are available in-country and that key contributing staff have a clear understanding of donor and SC requirements and expectations at the proposal, kick off, amendment, reporting, close out and audit stage of awards. Ensure potential issues and amendment requests are flagged promptly to donors via the relevant Save the Children member. This may include developing business cases where donor waiver/derogation requests need to be more thoroughly articulated or negotiated with donors.   Partnerships Work with relevant programs manager to ensure all implementing partners undergo legal vetting and capacity assessment prior to commencing work with Save the Children, are engaged with appropriate agreements and effective monitoring systems are in place so that partner delivery meets donor expectations and requirements. Work with program staff to ensure relevant donor requirements are effectively communicated and understood by implementing partners.   Award Management System (AMS) Ensure that all opportunities, proposals, contracts and amendments with donors are processed and approved through AMS and the system is an accurate reflection of current award status at all times. Ensure all partners and sub-award agreements are input into AMS. Ensure that all adequate attachments appear on AMS and are retained as part of the award audit trail   Capacity Building: Carry out orientations and staff and partner trainings for award management procedures, donor requirements etc.  QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPEIENCE:   Bachelor’s Degree in finance, accounting, development or any related field. Minimum of 3 years experience working with international organizations in a capacity that requires a good understanding of program design Experience of and well developed skills in staff management, supervision and capacity building Proven track record of supporting a senior management team Knowledge of the requirements of the major donors and experience in reporting to donors. Good attention to detail and analytical skills Computer literate (i.e. WORD, advanced Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems). Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a workload comprised of varying and changing tasks and responsibilities Written and verbal fluency in  English and Arabic Experience of budgeting and budget management. Exposure to and familiarity with key donors rules and regulations including USAID, EC, UN etc.