Ethiopia: Grants Manager

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty

Country Context

A new Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS) was finalized in 2015 and a Country Operating Model (COM) in 2016. A transition process has been completed to amalgamate all existing Oxfam operations in country under one roof. A new operating model has been introduced for Vision 2020 and will be rolled out and embedded in Ethiopia over the next 3 years. A key component of this is the establishment of an Executing Affiliate (EA) to operationalize the Oxfam programme in Ethiopia, under the oversight of the Oxfam International Country Director (OI CD). As the legally registered entity in the country, it employs in-country staff, is the asset holder, primary contract signatory with in-country donors and suppliers, manages finances and provides back office support and IT systems, and represents the Oxfam Confederation in country. Complementing the work of the Executing Affiliate are Partner Affiliates that provide funding (restricted and unrestricted), thematic expertise and influencing capacity.

Team Purpose

The Grants Unit will contribute to secure the restricted funds needed to implement the programmes in the Country Strategy according to the donor requirements. The proposals and reports quality as well as timeliness are key areas that this unit has to ensure. On the other hand, taking into account the important work Oxfam wants to do with partners, the Grants Team will have to ensure that both, partners and internal Oxfam Staff has the comprehension and competencies to follow donor rules and regulations. If this is not the case, capacity-building plans will have to be developed. This unit will be working for the whole Ethiopia Programme that includes the long term, humanitarian and campaigns.

Job Purpose

The Grants Manager will provide direct support to the organisation leading on the development of the fundraising strategy, identifying new donors, managing existing donor relationships, ensuring that donor compliance requirements are met and facilitating the development of new programme designs and proposals.

As a senior manager within Oxfam, the Grants Manager leads the planning, coordination, securing and management of restricted income to enable Oxfam in Ethiopia to deliver on the national country strategy.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1.Grants strategy development to support to long term, campaigns and humanitarian programs

• In consultation with the Country director and Country Management Team design, update and manage the implementation of the country funding strategy
• Ensure that the country funding strategy is internalized within the country team
• Conduct regular donor mapping informed by the ambitions and outcomes articulated in the Oxfam Country Strategy
• Lead the fundraising strategy review processes, facilitating decision making to ensure that fundraising strategies and activities are relevant and remain aligned with changes in the programme
• Ensure that the systems, processes and ways of work to support the delivery of the strategy are defined, staffs are aware of these and that their provisions are implemented.
• In consultation with the Donor Accountant and Grants Specialist, ensure a proper review of donor financial and narrative reports, ensuring consistency, accuracy, clarity and timely submission in compliance with Oxfam policies and procedures as well as donor contractual requirements, and work with programme and finance staff to continuously improve the quality of donor reports.
• Ensure links and facilitate join work with the Oxfam in the region (HECA Funding Unit) and across the Globe.

2.Support the country programme team in the development of quality project proposals and concept notes

• Evaluate eligibility and provide summaries of opportunities and calls that are relevant to the country team
• Coordinate development and submission of donor proposals. This requires working closely with programme staff in order to advise and support them to understand and meet donor requirements.
• Liaise with donors to resolve queries in support of proposal development
• Facilitate access to specialist support from within, and external to the Confederation in support of proposal development
• Quality assure all concept notes and proposals, ensuring that proposal are of a sufficient quality to meet minimum requirements for submission
• Manage the internal authorisation and sign off processes
• Ensure timely submission of high quality funding proposal and mange donor communications and follow up
• Support staff to develop fundraising skills and capacities
• Review and strengthen compliance and utilisation of EA system (OPAL/CRIMSON) for project and contract management

3.Leading the relationship with donors and exploration of new ones

• Represent Oxfam in external engagements with donors
• Develop and maintain sustainable, quality and consistent relationships with key and potential donors
• Responsible for new business development including philanthropies, income streams and innovative funding models with non-traditional donors, private sector, and other philanthropies such as foundations, lotteries and trusts
• Provide on-going research, strategic donor intelligence gathering, and trends analysis and generate information to enable engagement with global, regional and country level donors.
• Support the appraisal of new funding opportunities using the bid and no bid decision making tool and processes.
• Work with affiliates in identifying and sharing new opportunities with home donors.
• Identify and foster potential partnerships, coalitions, consortia and affiliate engagement that may result in joint programme funding opportunities.
• Prepare and share with the Country Director and the Head of Programmes regular updates on top-line income status of the country in terms of (a) secure income for current year, (b) secure income for future years, and (c) proposals in the pipeline (which covers likely and possible)

4.Partner capacity building on donors requirements

• Co-ordinate and manage partnership processes ensuring effective systems in place for knowledge management and capacity building
• Ensure that Oxfam partners have sufficient capacity to contribute towards the development of high quality proposals and programme designs
• Facilitate processes to ensure that all partners are aware of their commitments and contribution towards the delivery of successful proposals
• Guarantee that there is report writing support to partners where necessary

5.People development and management

• Ensures that the team member (Grants Specialist) has access to staff development opportunities, identifies and addresses capacity gaps and provides on-going counselling and support to the team member
• Manage and support the Grants Team to deliver on the Funding Strategy, providing leadership, inspiration and guidance and ensuring that the management of the team is in line with Oxfam’s HR policies and procedures.
• With support from Human Resources Manager, manages the life cycle of individuals within the team from pre-recruitment to exit, including performance management processes, people’s development and working with HR on issues such as disciplinary matters among others.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Masters / Post-graduate from a recognised University/collage in International Development, Finance, Social Sciences or or any other related area that can bring added value to the job.
• Relevant experience of 5-7 years in budgeting, planning, programme cycle management, preferably in an international NGO out of which 3 years should be supervisory/managerial experience
• Management experience in securing and managing funds from institutional donors, such as ECHO, EU, DFID, OFDA, CIDA, and UN agencies
• Excellent planning and budgeting skills, and a sound understanding of Programme Cycle Management in emergencies and/or development environments
• Sound skills in capacity building in relation to fundraising or programme development
• Self-motivated, target-driven and an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising opportunities
• Highly developed interpersonal, influencing and relationship skills
• Excellent in the use of computers and Microsoft, especially spread-sheet (Excel), accounting packages, word processing (Word) and Power Point. Competent in the use of email packages
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English, with high impact influencing and persuasive skills. Able to use different approaches to achieve follower-ship
• Good administrative and numerical skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated organisational awareness and understanding of knowledge management
• Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically in relation to fundraising and donor engagement.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans
• Ability to represent Oxfam to donors and external institutions.
• Ability to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
• Experience with gender programming and working in multi-cultural environment
• Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting women’s rights and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work

Desirable

• Sufficient knowledge of Oxfam’s priorities and development and humanitarian programme work is an advantage
• Knowledge of donors portfolio in Ethiopia
• Amharic language
• Experience of working with Oxfam systems

Interested applicants who meet the above requirements should submit their application letter and CV through www.ethiojobs.net or https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/6250/description before or on June 28, 2017.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation
Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty & suffering.