Background/Context:
The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 350 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery.
Our longstanding experience in the country to date provides a strong foundation for the IRC to further adapt and expand its programming across Syria, in order to respond to the new realities, with a greater focus on resilience and recovery initiatives. Alongside this, the IRC also It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and actively engaging in advocacy efforts.
Job overview:
Based in Damascus, Idleb, or Al-Raqqa, the Grants Manager will provide grant management, business development, and reporting support to the Grants Unit, which leads all aspects of the IRC’s Syria portfolio. The Grants Manager will also support donor engagement and work closely with program staff, finance, and operations to ensure quality management of emergency and recovery programs in the portfolio. The Grants Manager is expected to work closely with the Grants Coordinator to ensure that reports are developed and submitted in compliance with donor priorities and requirements and submitted on time. Likewise, the Grants Manager will work with the Partnership and Finance Units as they affect proposal development, and donor reporting.
Responsibilities:
Award Management and Compliance
Submit high-quality donor reports, narrative and financial, on a timely basis according to IRC and donor regulations. Ensure all required documents are included, complete, accurate, and approved by the respective Program Coordinator/s and country management.
Work closely with the Program and finance teams to develop standard reporting templates and tools that will support improved narrative, logframe, and financial reporting.
Maintain knowledge of grant agreement language and regulations, serving as a knowledge resource on assigned donors and raising questions where needed.
Raise compliance issues proactively with the Grants Coordinator.
Lead grant opening meetings, quarterly grant review meetings, and grant close-out meetings in collaboration with the Grants Coordinator.
Co-led, with Programs, the Project Cycle Meetings including design, planning, opening, implementation, and closing meetings to ensure proper implementation and close-out of awards.
Co-lead, with Finance, monthly Budget vs Actuals (BvA), review meetings to address and raise any projected underspend.
Keep the Grants Coordinator informed and advised of any projected inabilities to meet contractual obligations, report submission, and spend rates/significant budget variances, and be able to proactively mitigate risks through proposing remedial solutions.
Compile and respond to information requests from IRC’s HQ and Regional Offices.
Business Development
Support donor engagement to support the retention of existing donors and explore partnership opportunities with new donors.
Support the development of high-quality proposals and budgets that are relevant to IRC’s Strategic Action Plan and include input from key stakeholders (finance, operations, programs, partners, etc.).
Lead and give support to the different aspects of the proposal development process – including compilation/editing of the technical narrative, development of budgets and budget narratives, drafting of required annexes, securing internal approvals, etc.
Work closely with counterparts in HQ and the Regional Offices to ensure coordination and adherence to proposal timelines and requirements.
Education and Work Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience in grant management and business development
Previous relevant experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to achieve effective resolution.
Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities, and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop, and a sense of humor are a must.
Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.
Language/Travel:
English and Arabic are required
Travel: 20% to field sites, as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Grants Coordinator
Position directly supervises: N/A
Indirect Reporting: N/A
Key Internal Contacts:
Country Program: Grants Managers, Partnership Unit, Program Coordinators, finance staff, MEAL Unit, Operations, and Humanitarian Access team.
Region/Global: Regional Program Officers, Technical Advisors, Award Management Unit
Key External Contacts:
Donors
Partners
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.