Senior Grants And Partnership Manager

Job Summary

The Senior Grants and Partnership Manager directs grant administration, donor compliance, and partnership processes for the PlayMatters 3.0 consortium across Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. This manager coordinates PMC reporting, monitors project budgets, oversees partner PEERS compliance and audits, leads technical field monitoring, and builds consortium capacity.

Key Roles & Operational Responsibilities

1. Consortium Grant Management & Compliance

• Donor & Policy Compliance: Ensure PlayMatters 3.0 implementation adheres strictly to donor regulations (LEGO Foundation) and internal IRC policies (including PEERS partnership standards).
• PMC & Donor Reporting: Lead internal Project Management Committee (PMC) reporting across regional finance and program teams. Manage reporting schedules, draft/edit reports, and resolve compliance queries.
• Agreement Governance: Support the drafting, review, and amendment of sub-award, partnership, service, and collaboration agreements.
• Audit & Planning Oversight: Assist in preparing audit documentation alongside Finance and AMU units. Support annual work plan development, budget revisions, and milestone/target reviews.

2. Financial Tracking & Knowledge Operations

• Financial Management: Monitor project burn rates, review annual project budgets, and support financial variance analyses in coordination with finance staff.
• Branding & Knowledge Systems: Maintain internal/external grant repositories, oversee project organograms, and monitor compliance with external branding and intellectual property guidelines.
• Technical Monitoring: Coordinate and execute routine technical M&E visits to consortium partners and country programs, documenting lessons learned and operational changes needed.

3. Capacity Building & Stakeholder Liaison

• Consortium Training: Design and execute grants management, compliance, and PEERS training sessions for consortium partners and IRC regional staff.
• External Communications: Assist in drafting donor updates, facilitating donor field visits, and maintaining positive working relations with consortium members and technical units.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Technical Profile & Experience

• Educational Baseline: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Development Studies, Economics, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: Minimum 5 to 7 years of progressive experience in program and grants management, partner compliance, and communications within an INGO or multilateral context.
• Technical & Computer Skills: Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), cloud-based file sharing platforms, and grants management databases.
• Budgeting & Finance: Proven track record in developing, reviewing, and tracking complex multi-country project budgets.
• Regional Mobility: Willingness and physical ability to travel regionally up to 25% across East Africa.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing large-scale non-profit consortium grants.
• Familiarity with IRC internal systems and governance frameworks (e.g., PEERS partnership system, OTIS award software).
• Direct operational experience in East Africa (specifically Uganda, Ethiopia, or South Sudan) and conflict/crisis settings.

What The IRC Offers

• High-Impact Regional Scope: Direct leadership on PlayMatters 3.0, improving holistic learning outcomes for refugee and host community children ages 3–12+.
• Collaborative Environment: Engage daily with global technical leaders, senior regional directors, and international consortium partners.
• Professional Standing: Positioned within a premier global INGO responding to severe humanitarian crises worldwide.

Skills Required:

• Economics / Statistics
• Political / Science / Ir
• Sales / Marketing / Business / Management
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development