Senior Grants Officer

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 4 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. With an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 3,000 staff and workers in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary

Based in Amman, Jordan the Senior Grants Officer will provide grant management, business development, and reporting support to the Grants Unit, which oversees IRC’s Syria portfolio. The Senior Grants Officer will work closely with program staff, finance and operations to ensure quality management of emergency and recovery programs in the portfolio. The Senior Grants Officer is expected to work closely with the Grants Managers and Coordinator to ensure that reports are developed and submitted in compliance with donor priorities and requirements; and submitted on a timely basis. Likewise, the Senior Grants Manager will work with the Partnership Unit as it affects subaward management, proposal development, and donor reporting.

Major Responsibilities

Grants Administration

• Maintain knowledge of grant agreement language and regulations, serving as a knowledge resource on assigned donors and escalating questions where needed.
• Work closely with the Grants Managers, Program and finance teams to develop standard reporting templates and tools that will support improved narrative, log frame and financial reporting.
• Assist in management meetings, including monthly review of Budget vs Actual (BVA) reports to address and highlight any projected underspend.
• Keep the Grants Coordinator and managers informed of any projected inabilities to meet contractual obligations, report submission and spend rates/significant budget variances. Be able to actively mitigate risks through proposing remedial solutions.
• 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, correct 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, log frame and financial reporting.
• Maintain knowledge of grant agreement language and regulations, serving as a knowledge resource on assigned donors and escalating questions where needed.
• Lead grant opening meetings, quarterly grant review meetings, and grant close out meetings in collaboration with the Grants Coordinator.
• Lead management meetings, including monthly review of Budget vs Actual (BVA) reports to address and escalate any projected underspend.
• Keep the Grants Coordinator informed of any projected inabilities to meet contractual obligations, report submission and spend rates/significant budget variances. Be able to proactively mitigate risks through proposing remedial solutions.
• Compile and respond to information requests from IRC’s regional, London and NY offices.

Business Development

• 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.).
• Contribute to all aspects of the proposal development process – including compilation/editing of the technical narrative, development of budgets and budget narratives, drafting of required annexes, etc.
• Work closely with grant counterparts in NY, London, and Amman to ensure coordination and adherence to proposal timelines and requirements.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to:Grants Coordinator

Key Internal Contacts:

Country Program: Senior Grants Manager, Grants Manager, Grants Officer, Partnership Unit, Program Coordinators, finance staff

Region/Global: Regional Program Officers, Technical Advisors, Award Management Unit