Senior Grant & Partnership Manager

Job Description

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 

GOAL has been operating in Sierra Leone since the late 1980s, initially in emergency response, with a permanent  presence since 1999 response, with a permanent presence in country since 1999. GOAL operates from its main office  based in Freetown, with other sub operational offices in Kenema, Kambia, Bombali, and Moyamba Districts. GOAL  implements programmes in 8 of Sierra Leones 16 districts: Western Area Urban, Kambia, Kenema, Bombali, Port Loko,  Koinadugu/Karene, Moyamba, and hires over 145 staff across the country. Our programmes focus on three interrelated  sectors: WASH, Health and Blue Economy and Food Security and Livelihoods. The WaSH work in Western urban  focusses on Solid and liquid waste management while the rural WASH focusses on developing water infrastructures that  are run by the local communities and local administration. Our Health work heavily focusses on health system  strengthening, behavioural change and developing the capacity of the government health service providers. The Blue  Economy and FSL work focusses on supporting the artisanal/small scale fishery sector value chain actors and follows the  Market systems development approach where actors have incentives to sustainably participate in the system. GOAL also  has been increasing working with local NGOs and community groups and aims to further deepen the localisation agenda  where local actors are becoming major actors of their development administration.  

On this note, GOAL Sierra Leone would like to invite well experienced and professional applicants for the  undermentioned position:  

Job Overview/Summary: 

➢ GOAL SL is looking for a Grants and Partnership Manager position who will provide general support to ensure the  timely and effective implementation of all awarded grants. This position will also works with GOAL’s Partnership HUB  based in Uganda to promote and apply good practice in Partnership management and capacity building/development  support to ensure successful partnership relationships but also deepen the localisation agenda. The job holder is  guided by the Programme Development and Quality Coordinator and the post holder works across teams in GOAL  SL and GOAL Global.  

Partnership engagement 

Major Responsibilities:  

➢ Develop and maintain effective and productive working relationships with key collaborators and explore and build  partnerships with local and international organizations. 

➢ Lead in the overall management of all partnerships in GOAL SL and all OCA/award assessment processes and  documentation. 

➢ Coordinate and support the program team in the facilitation of Partnership Project opening, review, and closing  meetings. 

➢ Coordinate narrative and finance reporting processes, including reviews, monitoring, and feedback.

➢ Coordinate with GOAL departments and Programme Coordinators to schedule and help organize Grant-Program Partner Opening/ Review/Reporting processes. 

➢ Work with communications Officer to ensure Communications and Visibility to ensure compliance with donor  requirements.

➢ Support the preparation of necessary Grants and Partnership Agreement documentation and compliance with GOAL  due diligence procedures and raise issues affecting external/internal compliance to the PDQ Coordinator. 

Proposal Development 

➢ Support the proposal development process in coordination and with guidance from the PDQ Coordinator &  relevant Programmes and finance staff and global support to develop and compile inputs to technical proposal  narratives/concept notes and annexes. 

➢ Develop and/or review budget narratives and undertake initial review of proposal drafts to ensure inputs are  precise, and proper proposal templates and grant management procedures are followed. 

➢ Submit proposals and budgets and required annexes for review by the PDQ Coordinator, Programme Staff and  ensuring that the grant applications are prepared according to the required format and submitted to donors or  internally on time. 

Grants Management 

➢ Provide guidance to program and support colleagues on donor compliance and maintain donor information in  internal grant management systems/manually managed database up to date, ensuring donor templates are  readily available. 

➢ Manage all internal and external grant reporting to ensure high-quality, well-written and timely reports are  produced meeting donor and GOAL requirements, with support from the program managers/ coordinators.

➢ Ensure regular and timely scheduling, preparation, and facilitation of Project Cycle Meetings (PCM): grant opening  and closing meetings, ad hoc grant implementation meetings, and budget versus actual (BVA) meetings. Ensure  required representation from each unit (Program teams, Finance, Supply Chain, HR, and Grants) are in  attendance, and that any needed pre-work is completed in advance of the meeting. Review and circulate meeting  minutes, assign action items, and ensure proper, timely follow-up of issues raised. 

➢ Stay up to date with all institutional Donor guidelines. Acquire and disseminate updated information regarding  Donor formats (proposal and reports) and other donor-related information to program, finance, supply chain, and  partner staff to enable them to abide by Donor rules and regulations. 

➢ Records Management: Support comprehensive information management and filing system to ensure all grant  agreements, reports, key correspondences, etc. are appropriately filed in up-to-date and consistent soft (Box) and  hard (physical) files. 

➢ Capacity Building: Ensure training is made available for program, operations, and partner staff on grants  management-related issues, including grant report writing and Donor compliance issues, as needed.

➢ Prepare Country and Partnership updates, internal and external reports, and documents, as needed, with input  from program staff, etc. 

Requirements: 

➢ A minimum of a BA degree or equivalent in international relations, Political studies, Development or Affairs,  Communication, Business, or related field. 

➢ Must have a positive mental attitude with good levels of assertiveness and collaboration.  

➢ Knowledge of key Donor rules and regulations is a plus.  

➢ Business development/ proposal development experience is highly desirable. 

➢ Highly organized, close attention to detail, and ability to effectively prioritize tasks in a fluid environment.

➢ Ability to work well independently but also coordinate with other teams. 

➢ Capacity to work under pressure. Flexibility is required. 

➢ Excellent interpersonal skills. 

Safeguarding 

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the  maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual  exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is  to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.  

Accountability within GOAL 

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any  candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety,  confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols. 
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming  area. 
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner. 

If you have these skills and interested in joining our committed and dynamic team, please send your cover letter and up to-date CV to jobs@sl.goal.ie. on or before 5:30 pm – 16th April, 2024, please note that a copy of the application letter  must be sent to the NGO Desk Officer, Ministry of Labour, New England or emailed to: employmentdesk71@gmail.com 

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview. 

GOAL provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex,  colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. 

“FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”