SUB-GRANT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Plan international Ghana is looking to employ the services of a highly skilled, experienced and qualified professional to join its ranks in the role Sub-Grants Specialist.

The position will provide grant management and coordination in the implementation of the Women’s Voice & Leadership (WVL) Project aimed of supporting local women’s rights organizations with grants and capacity development to strengthen their organizational development, programming and advocacy as well as sustainability. It will further support collaboration and collective action to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.  

ABOUT YOU

The Sub-grant Program Management Specialist will be responsible for coordinating the granting mechanisms and processes for women’s rights organizations, including pre-award planning and organization, and post-award programmatic support and administration of various grants. Feminist principles of collaboration, participation, transparency, and respect for the agency of women’s organizations will be integrated into all aspects of this role.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Maintain and update grant application forms, instructions, and guidelines in a participatory approach with women’s organizations as needed.
• Plan, design, and present information sessions for women’s rights organizations to encourage applications, guide them through the application process, and address any queries, etc.
• Lead the timely and accurate review and submission of proposals and establish the necessary controls to effectively and efficiently utilize the funding in line with granting and donor requirements.
• Review grant applications for completeness and eligibility requirements and notify applicants of the status of their proposal.
• Coordinate, schedule and participate in Grants Selection Panel meetings to ensure correct procedures are followed.
• Lead the orientation process, including signature of agreements, with selected grantees
• Ensure clear project work plans are in place for each grant and revised regularly.
• Coordinate preparation of grant agreements, reporting requirements, and monitoring of grant periods and close out of the grant awards.
• Provide direct support to successful grant recipients to transform proposals into project implementation plans to effectively execute their grants.
• Provide support to the Networks in coordinating evidence-based advocacy efforts
• Based on the needs identified in organizational self-assessments and capacity building plans, support women’s organizations with project management tools, processes and ongoing capacity development to strengthen the planning, implementation and monitoring of their grants.
• Routinely visit and connect with women’s organizations to provide grant management and monitoring support as they execute their grants.
• Review grant narrative reports and deliverables/milestones from women’s rights organizations in a timely manner to necessitate processing of additional funding; consolidate information to inform project level donor reports.
• Ensure that all capacity development activities conducted and funded under the grant are adequately planned, designed, monitored, evaluated and documented within donor reports.
• Provide project management support, as needed, on project deliverables that are capacity building focused.
• Foster strong coordination and collaboration with women’s organizations through open and transparent communication, participation and joint decision-making, and respect for their agency and technical expertise.
• Work collaboratively with the project team to ensure effective and efficient processing of grants and data collection, monitoring, and reporting is comprehensive.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications & Experience

• Academic qualification MA in project management or other relevant fields.
• At least 5 years’ experience in project management, grant management, and financial management with more than one development aid donor.
• Proven experience in developing or working with grant disbursement processes and project management tools and processes, including reporting guidance, work plans and monitoring templates.
• Understanding of feminist principles, gender equality, and women’s empowerment.
• Coaching and mentoring skills for building the capacity of women’s organizations in program management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic work planning processes.
• Familiarity with Global Affairs Canada guidelines and requirements.
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
• Aptitude for cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders including women’s organizations and donors.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, oral) in English (verbal and written). All donor reports, deliverables and communication will be in English.
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet).

Key skills & Competencies

• Demonstrable experience in managing multimillion-dollar institutional grants through donors such as BMZ, USAID, DFID and European Union.
• Financial Reporting Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Good Team Player
• Good Negotiating, Facilitating and Influencing Skills
• Knowledge in relevant accounting software and proficient in Microsoft applications especially Excel and Pivot tables, PowerPoint
• Good Communication Skills (both oral and written skills)
• Self-starter takes initiative and works with minimal direct supervision.
• Good Accounting, Analytical and Judgement Skills
• Good Supervisory and Coordination Skills
• Flexible, able to shift directions quickly and occasionally work long hours to meet tight reporting deadlines.

Desirable

• Passion for feminist principles, mission driven work and personal values aligned with Plan International.
• Creates a strong sense of purpose within the portfolio and with stakeholders.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour.
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations.
• Commitment to working transparently and with integrity.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• A process-oriented working style, with the ability to be flexible and adaptable.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership qualities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Please click on this link for the full Job Profile and Full Job Description for the role: Full Job Description - Sub-grant Specialist - WVL

Location: Tamale

Type of Role: Finance and Grants Management

Reports to: Project Manager

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract

Closing Date:8th April, 2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.