Grants Manager

Location: Nairobi
Application deadline: 22 October

The Grants Manager will be responsible for managing financial and reporting aspects of grants received by TaRL Africa, helping to create the request for proposals for grant-making by TaRL Africa, vetting selected sub-awardees and drafting agreements. This position will be based in Kenya.

About Teaching at the Right Level Africa

Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Africa is a new high-profile initiative jointly led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Indian Education NGO Pratham.  TaRL Africa works to improve basic reading and arithmetic skills of children on the African continent and aims to reach 3 million children in the next five years. Key countries of operation include Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Zambia.

Job Responsibilities:

  1. Grant and Compliance Management
    • Manage 6 prime awards to MIT and subsequent sub-awards across the continent under the prime awards.
    • Assist the MIT grants management team in monitoring and coordinating all phases of grants, including drafting agreements, donor reporting, and compliance with approved budgets, contract terms, and legal or regulatory requirements.
    • Assist in preparing funding proposals and budgets, including IRB applications as necessary.
    • Carry out due diligence on new and potential partners and sub-awardees.
    • Collaborate with the program and finance teams to ensure grants are implemented according to the operational and financial needs of the organisation.
  1. Financial Management:
    • Review all proposed grants budgets before submission to ensure consistency with proposal requirements; accuracy in the calculation of salaries, direct and indirect expenses; compliance with established regulations.
    • Work with the finance team to streamline internal financial reports and reporting processes to deliver more efficient, more effective, and more useful reports and analysis.
    • Engage with program staff across the organisation to monitor and revise program budgets throughout the year and life of the project(s).
    • Assist with the development and reconciliation of organisational indirect cost rate.
    • Maintain records of all payments and receivables and prepare monthly records for all grant-related activities.
    • Provide training to the new staff on grants management and reporting requirements.

Required Minimum Qualifications

  • Degree in Project Management, Management, Finance, or related field preferred.
  • At least four years’ experience in financial and grant management, budgeting, and reconciliation.
  • At least two years’ experience in a financial-management role at an international non-profit that receives revenue from different donors, such as government agencies, private foundations, and corporations.

Required Minimum Skills and Competencies

  • Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to collaborate and work with others, to create trusted client relationships, and comfort moving between senior stakeholders and more tactical operations.
  • Excellent organisational skills to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills; can effectively communicate and be comfortable both in the academic world and in a dynamic fast-growing organisation.
  • Ability to think critically and analytically, and identify and troubleshoot potential issues before they arise.
  • Positive team player with a roll up your sleeves, customer-first attitude.
  • Ability to learn new technologies.
  • Possess good knowledge of planning and strategising financial and budgeting issues.
  • Knowledge of auditing policies and knowledge of donor agencies.
  • Proficient in using computers with related knowledge of software programs and the Internet.
  • Working knowledge of Salesforce or equivalent grants and financial systems.
  • Interest in children’s learning and education.
  • Experience working internationally; Africa experience a plus.
  • Working knowledge of academic policies and processes.

How to apply?

Please fill in this application form. The deadline for applications is 22 October 2020. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a writing assessment, followed by an interview process. Due to the large volume of applications, we will only be able to respond to short-listed applicants.

TaRL Africa is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.