Major Responsibilities
Program Design & Proposal Development (Approx. 40% of time)
Support cultivation of donor relationships in Kenya and the region, tracking upcoming funding opportunities aligned with priority sectors and the country's Strategic Action Plan (SAP).
Lead and coordinate proposal development processes involving global technical advisors, partners, finance, operations, HR, and program teams to ensure timely and compliant submissions.
Utilize needs assessments and contextual analysis to inform project design and monitor donor trends, policies, and funding opportunities.
Support program growth by collaborating with technical units on design, research, and identification of new funding opportunities.
Ensure strategic partner identification and engagement during proposal development and maintain proposal tracking using IRC tools (e.g., OTIS).
Oversee proposal budgets ensuring alignment with technical narratives and donor requirements.
Write and edit proposal sections to ensure coherence, responsiveness, and compliance.
Ensure timely submission of high-quality proposals.
Grants Management and Compliance (Approx. 40% of time)
Review and negotiate donor contracts and agreements, including extensions, amendments, and budget realignments in coordination with DDGA and maintain an updated grants tracker.
Provide oversight of the grants portfolio and pipeline, ensuring timely submission of deliverables, including narrative, financial, and MEAL reports.
Facilitate open and accurate information flow within the Grants Unit and relevant departments.
Provide technical guidance on donor regulations to ensure compliance in operations, program implementation, and reporting.
Proactively address compliance issues and keep senior management informed of any risks or challenges related to contracts, reports, and budget variances.
Coordinate closely with finance teams to review project spending plans, manage spending amendments, and oversee grant closeout activities.
Lead project lessons learned during closeout phases.
Partnership Strategy and Management (Incorporated throughout role)
Lead the development and implementation of IRC Kenya's partnership strategy in collaboration with the DDGA and senior management.
Chair the Partnership Working Group to ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to partnerships in Kenya.
Oversee partnership management operating procedures, ensuring efficient processes and clear roles consistent with IRC's PEER System.
Promote local partnerships aligned with IRC's SAP, supporting capacity building and strategic engagement of partners, particularly local and women-led organizations.
Support identification, onboarding, and mapping of strategic partners for program integration.
Facilitate partner sub-award management, including pre-award assessments, proposal reviews, contracting, and compliance monitoring.
Coordinate capacity building initiatives and training for partners and key program staff in grants management, compliance, and reporting.
Monitor partner performance and compliance through scheduled visits and review of reports, providing feedback to partners and relevant departments.
Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date records for all sub-awards and partnerships in IRC systems.
Human Resources Management, Capacity Building, and Development (Approx. 20% of time)
Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff across grants and partnerships teams, setting clear expectations and providing regular performance feedback and reviews.
Foster a cohesive team spirit despite geographic dispersion, holding regular one-on-one meetings and promoting knowledge exchange.
Develop measurable capacity building plans, including quarterly training, to strengthen team technical skills and support career development.
Collaborate with HR to promote staff well-being, monitor attendance and leave, model healthy work-life balance, and respond to staff care needs.
Identify and invest in high-performing national staff for succession planning and nationalization goals, ensuring smooth transition of roles and responsibilities.
Support recruitment and retention strategies to build a strong and motivated team.
Representation and Advocacy
Develop and maintain effective relationships with donors, government actors, UN agencies, NGOs, local communities, and other stakeholders.
Represent IRC in meetings, consultations, and forums to promote partnerships and program objectives.
Assist in organizing donor visits and ensure smooth coordination of field visits.
Country Program Management
Actively participate in strategy discussions, including SAP revision processes.
Stay updated on IRC priorities, policies, and process changes, ensuring grants, partnerships, and MEAL units are informed.
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: DDGA
Position directly supervises: Grants Manager
Indirect reports: Two grants officers, Grants and Reporting fellow
Job Requirements
Education
Advanced degree in international studies, development, social sciences, or a related field preferred.
Bachelor's degree with significant grants and/or partnership management experience and strong writing skills may be considered.
Work Experience
Minimum 7 years of field-based humanitarian grants management experience, including working with sub-grantee partners to build their capacity.
At least 5 years of experience in relief and development contexts.
Proven experience in partnership management, consortium/network management, or subgrant/partner management is highly desirable.
Experience with donor regulations including USAID, PRM, FCDO, UNHCR, UNICEF, SIDA, EU, ECHO, and private donors.
Demonstrated skills in proposal writing, program design, M&E, budgeting, and capacity building.