Grant Management Officer

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191 member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. 

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. 

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination (NSDOC); (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization (GRHDD); and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services (MPSCS).

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department (SPRM) is part of the Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization Division. This position is based in the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department, in Geneva, and reports directly to the Senior Officer, Americas and Western Europe.

The position reports to the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department in Geneva and will be based in Budapest, Hungary.

Job Purpose

Under the guidance of Senior Officer, Americas and Western Europe, Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department, the Grant Management Officer, Public Sector Partnerships grant management is responsible for coordinating across regions and Geneva the management of a large government contribution received from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, in support of COVID-19 Red Cross Red Crescent response.

As part of the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department team, this role is to work closely with the relationship manager in the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department responsible for US Government relations, and with the regional Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department teams and technical teams in the regions in order to lead on the management of this USAID BHA contribution in line with IFRC’s standards and guidelines.

The role will also require extensive coordination with colleagues from the Health and Care Department (focus on immunization) and the Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) teams. The role will also require extensive collaboration with support departments including internal audit and investigation, finance, human resources and legal at all levels within IFRC’s decentralized structure. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Partnership and Resource Development

• In cooperation with the Senior Officer, Americas and Western Europe, lead on managing the large government grant from USAID BHA and others as seen appropriate in coordination with the relationship manager, as well as the technical and supporting departments in Geneva and regions.
• To be IFRC’s designated coordinator for the grant with USAID. This responsibility will require the person to be IFRC’s principal point of contact and counterpart to the designated Grant Manager at USAID, Washington, DC.
• To be IFRC’s principal point of contact on all issues relating to the USAID BHA grant both from USAID and internal to IFRC.
• Build and maintain a strong working relationship with the donor to ensure, smooth transactions and compliance with IFRC policy.
• Ensure donor compliance on the contribution including timely reporting and accountability to the donor through engagement with the relevant government mission and National Society in close cooperation with the relationship manager in PRD in Geneva and in the region and relevant technical departments.
• Lead on any required modifications to the agreement in close coordination with the relevant relationship manager, ensuring that earmarking and other requirements are in line with operational priorities.
• Develop specific guidelines on the grant’s management for regions and Geneva that specifically address reporting requirements and engagement with the partner, working in collaboration and close coordination with the relevant relationship manager.
• To develop and maintain knowledge of better practices and approaches related to IFRC’s engagement with USAID and to share this knowledge, better practice within IFRC to enhance our operational effectiveness.
• Ensure that the proper processes are developed and put in place to ensure due diligence and risk assessment working with relevant technical departments.
• Participate and/or lead where relevant, in partner evaluations, assessments, reviews and/or audits to ensure IFRC systems and operations are accurately represented, and partner requirements are successfully met.
• Monitor the effective stewardship of the partner’s funds relating to the grant received in line with partner expectations related to implementation, results-based reporting and visibility. Monitor progress and performance towards deliverables, identify risks and inform senior management of actions to be taken to mitigate risks.
• As needed plan and participate in USAID missions to country projects. This would include all preliminary communication with USAID, developing an agenda for a mission to a country project, conducting the mission with USAID and submitting any final reporting from the field mission.
• Any other PRD duty as required by the National Society and Government Partnerships unit and support to the US government relationship manager on grant management related to US government funding.

Contribute to an effective, high-quality IFRC team:

• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions and the National Societies and open and co-operative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Duties applicable to all staff
1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

• University degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Relevant professional training courses.

Preferred:

• Relevant post-graduate degree.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in leading government partnerships and resource development functions at a global level for an international organisation.
• Experience managing large USAID grants and government grants.

Preferred:

• Proven track record and credibility in public partnerships and in achieving results in increasing partner base and raising public sector funds at levels over CHF 10 million.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Proven ability to translate strategy into action.
• Advanced level of understanding of public sector aid architecture and ODA trends, humanitarian and development aid debates, SDG multi-stakeholder funding instruments. 
• Results-oriented and demand-driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate funding agreements.  
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills contributing to a client-focused culture. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Capacity identifying and articulating strategic issues, risks and priorities to provide sound advice to senior management.
• Track record in producing high-quality work within short deadlines and ability to make effective, timely decisions.
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment. 
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic.

Competencies, Values and Comments

    
Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust

Comments: This is a national staff position open to Hungarian nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary.