Job Summary
The Aga Khan Foundation is accepting applications for the position of Programme Manager for United Kingdom.
Programme development and management
- Negotiate donor contracts and review sub-grant agreements prepared by the programme finance team
- Lead the project opening process by developing and delivering relevant training, reference materials and templates on best practices and donor rules and regulations to field-based staff
- Support field-based staff throughout implementation challenges and in developing adaptation measures for donor approval
- Identify opportunities to increase programme visibility and raise the organization’s profile by disseminating results within and beyond the development community.
Compliance
- Support field teams in the management of new grants during the start-up phase and oversee on-going grants through regular interface and coordination with relevant AKDN agencies/field units, acting as a central point of organisational expertise on donor compliance requirements
- Lead the preparation, review and feedback process on donor narrative reports to ensure reports comply with donor requirements and are produced on time and at a high standard
- Identify compliance vulnerability and risk, and proactively develop corrective actions
- Support the project closure process to ensure contract compliance and minimise financial and reputational risk
Coordination and relationship with donors
- Provide guidance to the Programme Finance team when communicating with and responding to grant management and compliance questions with the donor
- Be an interface with relevant donors and communicate on a regular basis about the implementation of on-going grants in order to maintain a solid relationship and to address queries or challenges effectively and as they occur
Capacity building
- Where relevant, oversee the work of Partnerships Officers supporting the grants management portfolio and develop their capacity
- Develop capacity building tools and training modules for grants compliance and management training for use at the UK and field level
- Lead capacity building activities with partners to standardise compliance and grant management procedures ensuring that all staff have the necessary tools and training to understand donor guidelines and grant management procedure
Resource mobilisation
- Lead and support on the design and development of specific concept notes and proposals, including logical frameworks and budgets (these will often, though not exclusively, be linked to the portfolio this position manages)
- Develop and maintain relationships with AKDN agencies, the AKF Global Programmes Team and field teams to ensure effective coordination around the development of specific proposals through the contract negotiation phase
- Support the brokering of relationships with existing and new European and Asian institutional donors, UK/European foundations and corporates including through direct liaison with donors centrally and at the field level
- Develop and contribute to partnership documentation including positioning pieces and communication materials (e.g. presentations, narrative overviews, donor visit briefs) designed to enable regular and effective engagement with various donors
- Keep up to date with donor funding mechanisms and priorities and proactively work with Partnerships Officers and the wider team to scan for new resource mobilisation opportunities for AKDN programmes to identify the most relevant opportunities
The requirements
* Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and so anyone interested in the role is encouraged to apply as soon as possible
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field essential
- Master’s degree in a relevant field desirable
Skill
- Ability to present, discuss and supervise compliance with grants monitoring protocols with colleagues at different levels
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective project files for accountability and audit purposes
- Ability to establish partnership management and monitoring protocols with relevant partners (e.g. donors, field offices)
- Excellent writing, communication, and analytical skills
- Excellent numeracy and financial analysis skills
- Technical competency in compiling and editing compliance reports, presentations, proposals, concept papers
- Excellent technical and IT skills
- Ability to work effectively as part of a small team but also to be able to use own initiative and multitask across several tasks
- Ability to work in a multi-institution network within a multicultural environment
Knowledge
- Knowledge of compliance requirements for major donors with the proven ability to establish compliance systems
- Good understanding of the risks and related relevant controls, primarily in the overall grant cycle, including programme, financial and procurement cycles, and knowledge of how to effectively mitigate these
- Good understanding and experience of development issues and organisations
- Keen interest in international development and improving knowledge of these issues a distinct advantage
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and databases, Apple OSX and iOS. Familiarity with Apple iWorks and MAC and with CRM/knowledge management platforms desirable
Required Skills
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in grants management context (e.g. an NGO or donor organisation)
- Field level experience in a developing country/context desirable
- Demonstrated experience of managing EC, FCDO (or similar) grants and ensuring compliance with the donor requirements
- Proven experience of managing relationships in complex organisations with numerous stakeholders
- Experience in developing and writing proposals, budget plans/cases, concept papers, briefs and executive summaries, by coordinating multiple inputs from a variety of sources, simultaneously managing a variety of relationships
- Working as part of a team in a multi-cultural, multi-country, multi-office environment
* Must include CV and a supporting statement that outlines what attracts you to the position, why you want to work for AKF(UK) and how your experiences and skills to date will make you most suitable applicant for the role
