Grants Officer-(Save the Children )- Job in Kenya

Introduction

Save the Children is the world's largest independent children’s organization, making immediate and long-lasting improvements to children's lives in over 120 countries worldwide.

Save the Children is made up of 27 member organisations across the globe.

Through Unified Presence, Save the Children aims to create a stronger voice for children by unifying the operations in all countries where more than one Save the Children Member organizations operates.

This will result in one organisation at the national level in each country and a unified programme delivery structure for all Save the Children Alliance Members.

Save the Children has a long history of working in partnership in Somalia and it is one of the leading INGO's working in Somalia for the rights of children.

Save the Children has a unified presence in Somalia and Somaliland since January 2010 and is working in the thematic areas of education (including skills training for youth), health, protection and emergency responses.

Save the children has an operation in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia.

Due to constraints on security, and the need to liaise with UN agencies, other NGOs and donors the country office is based in Nairobi and senior managers and directors are expected to travel extensively to monitor and support programme work in all parts of Somalia that are accessible and where security threats are being effectively mitigated.

The Grants Officer is newly created post to boost capacity of programme’s grants management responsibility

Job Purpose

The purpose of this post is to ensure Save the Children Alliance programme adheres to all its grant management obligations internally within Save the Children and externally with donors.

The Grants Officer will support the Grants Manager in ensuring that key processes are in place and operationalised to ensure that grant risk assessment, proposals development, donor financial and non-financial compliance, and reporting requirements are achieved

Key accountabilities

• Ensure that systems to monitor and track grants on a monthly basis are Up to Date and liaise closely with the Grants Manager (South Central Somalia), to schedule the analysis of monthly variance.
• Support the Grants manager to check that grant management statistics, including Grant tracking template, Key Performance Indicators, (KPIs) are compiled on a monthly basis and maintained at an acceptable level.
• Create, maintain and close donor grant files and ensure that the Grants Management filing system is maintained in accordance with established grant management protocols and that all grant documentation is properly filed therein.
• Keep electronic database of all proposals, contracts and amendments uploaded on the FMS.
• Ensure that grant files for grants already in the FMS system are updated with current information.
• Advise budget holders on receipt of new funding source codes to ensure the upload into FBS and ensure that Hargeisa National finance team creates FSCs for all new grants.
• Communicate with the reporting officer to ensure that the reporting schedule is up to date and maintain records of all reports submitted to the donor both electronic and in the grant files.
• Support the Grants manager during external or internal audits from Nairobi.
• Together with the Grants Manager ensure adequate internal control systems are in place and all procurement procedures are consistently implemented to effectively utilise grants and all Save the Children assets. Review of financial documentation received from the field for compliance to Save the Children procedures.
• Together with the Grants Manager, ensure that scheme of delegations are adhered to across the country programme.
• Carry out UNICEF liquidations under the supervision of the Grants manager
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies.
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children's commitment to safeguarding children in accordance the Child Protection Policy.

Working contacts

External: Donors, non-governmental organisations, partner agencies

Internal: Close daily contact with the Grants Manager, budget holders and finance staff in the field, as well as the CD, Directors and other staff in Southern Somalia.

Core Competencies & Qualifications

Essential:

Minimum criteria for Global Alliance Roster plus:

• 5 years substantial grants management experience in a large INGO or other international relief/development organizations with a variety of funding sources;
• University degree in finance, accounting or other related academic discipline;
• Postgraduate specialisation in accountancy e.g ACCA/CIMA qualification – or relevant professional experience;
• In-depth knowledge of grant management and understanding of donor compliance requirements for major donors, including USAID, ECHO, EU and EC;
• Understanding of systems audit and articulating clear practical recommendations
• Understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation as well as accountability towards donors and beneficiaries
• Understanding of financial eligibility issues and of key principles of donor accounting
• Knowledge of funding database/ grants tracker management.
• Good negotiation, communication, interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Significant experience of managing multiple large and medium grants annually
• Good personal organizational skills, including time management, and ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Experience working in difficult and/or emergency environment.
• Ability to work within a multicultural setting
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles
• Have undertaken Save the Children approved Safety and Security training in accordance with member and Save the Children international required minimum standards.

Desirable:

• Information Communication Technology literate

Code of Conduct

Because Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.

Applications should be forwarded to: vacancies@scsom.org

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 15th Feb 2012, 15:00 pm