Grants Specialist (National)

Position description

The Danish Refugee Council is one of the world's leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 30 countries to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, returnees, people on the move, and vulnerable local populations/host communities. Currently, DRC is seeking a highly qualified national Grants Specialist based in Caracas, Venezuela.

About the job: DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela under the direction of the country office in Caracas and four field offices located in the states of Sucre, Apure, and Zulia (Maracaibo and Santa Barbara de Zulia). DRC Venezuela is implementing an integrated Action encompassing the Protection, Food Security & Livelihood, WASH and Disaster Preparedness sectors.

The overall purpose of the role:

The Grants Management Specialist is responsible for supporting the grants management of the Venezuela CO portfolio in accordance with donor and DRC regulations. This includes supporting effective proposal development, donor compliance, timely reporting, and overall accountability to donors. The position reports to the Grants Management Manager and collaborates closely with Support Service Managers, Technical Coordinators, and the Senior Management Team on all grants-related matters, compliance, and partnerships.

Responsibilities:

Grants Management Monitoring, Compliance, Quality Assurance, and Administration

• Ensure high-quality contract management in close cooperation with the Grants Management Manager, flagging any issues or potential risks; Support contract amendments, including cost /no-cost extensions and project revisions, in coordination with the Grants Management Manager and relevant internal stakeholders
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings for grant kickoff/opening, review and closing, including monitoring progress against timelines and action points and actively participate in the meetings hosted among CO and HQ.
• Monitor, update, and ensure the DRC's Grants Management Cards on Dynamics and internal documentation systems (SharePoint) are fully updated and work with HQ focal points and the HQ Grants Management Specialist to address any issues.
• Review and update the grants tracker and ensure regular communication with DRC regional offices, headquarters, and field teams when required in line with the Workstreams.
• Support with the monitoring of the grants portfolio, working directly with the implementation teams, ensuring a sound understanding of contractual obligations and regulations, seeking support from the Grants Management Manager and HQ GMS as needed.
• Ensure that contractual obligations and reporting deadlines are known and met by Programme, M&E and Operations team.
• Troubleshooting identified gaps for meeting deliverables in the given timeframe and budget, informing relevant staff in the country and seeking DRC HQ Program Department advice on potential solutions that would meet donor rules.

Reporting and New Business Development

• Coordinate the preparation of project reports in accordance with donor requirements, working directly with other DRC departments in Venezuela (including, but not limited to, the program and support services departments);
• Support with the provision of training in proposal development and reporting for grants and program teams.
• Support the Grants Management Manager to update the donor mapping and funding tracker, keeping abreast of funding trends and donor strategies, paying special attention to diversifying the funding portfolio and the CO fundraising strategies.
• Support the Grants Management Manager in maintaining active and regular communication with donors, ensuring timely response to communications and coordinating with relevant country team members on high-quality feedback.
• Participate in external coordination and fundraising-related meetings as delegated by the Grants Management Manager
• Support the Grants Management Manager in the Go-No-Go meetings for new grants and contribute to the proposal planning meeting.
• Coordinate with program technical coordinators, base managers, support services and implementing partners to gather their input for proposal development. Edit and compile the final draft of the proposal and annexes and ensure that they meet the required quality standards before submitting them to the Grants Management Manager for review.
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, ensure that project proposal development and donor reporting are informed by reliable organizational data and learning.
• Ensure involvement of DRC HQ in Quality Assurance of reports or proposals when needed, particularly for strategic grants.
• Assist on communication, negotiations and coordination with donors and external stakeholders.
• Support with ad hoc tasks, such as the preparation of factsheets, sitreps/flash reports, capacity statements etc.
• Promote Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and display respect, care and interest in all employees.

Any ad-hoc tasks assigned by the Grants Management Manager

Qualifications

Experience and technical competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• At least 3 years of experience in grants management, preferably with an international NGO or other donor-funded organization.
• Knowledge and experience working with multiple sectors including protection, food security and livelihood, WASI
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Solid experience in the compilation of donor proposals, modification requests and reports; with practical experience in working with UN donors (UNHCR, WFP, OCHA), ECHO, GFFO, SDC and private foundations.
• Knowledge of donor rules and regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize large workloads, to consistently meet deadlines and adapt in a complex and challenging work environment.
• Excellent communication, coordination, influencing and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate ability in thinking creatively and practically to improve the quality of projects.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural/diverse team.
• Commitment to Humanitarian principles and DRC values.

Education:

• University Degree in Social Sciences, International Development or relevant fields.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (speaking, writing, reading) is essential.
• Communication skills in Spanish is mandatory.

We offer:

• The opportunity to be part of one of the best NGOs worldwide.
• Access to over 1,000 free online trainings and certifications.
• Contract duration: subject to budget availability.
• Salary: Band G2 / Non-management. National contract.
• HCM insurance fully covered by the organization.

DRC Core Competencies:

• Achieving Excellence: Focus on achieving results and ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaboration: Engage relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the Initiative: Take ownership and initiative while seeking innovation.
• Communicating: Listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating Integrity: Act in accordance with DRC's vision and values.

Application instructions

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