Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN) Grants Manager Job in Kenya

The Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN) is an international non-profit organisation with operations in Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) region.

RATN is a consortium of training and capacity building institutions collaborating on a mission to strengthen the capacity of relevant individuals, organisations and other stakeholders to effectively respond to STIs/HIV/AIDS.

Currently RATN has 30 institutions that are full members spread across 11 countries in ESA region.

In September 2009, RATN launched a new programme (commonly known as INSTANT RFP Initiative) which involves RATN Member Institutions (MI) submitting proposals for small grants on innovative HIV capacity projects aligned to the RATN Strategic Plan.

The initiative aims to stimulate generation of timely innovative and response solutions to HIV capacity gaps in countries and communities targeted by RATN work. The programme has so far been tagged at an average of US$1 million per year and is expected to exponentially expand given its growing potential.

As part of strengthening the INSTANT Initiative and growing the capacity of RATN to diversify its funding portfolio, a new position of Programme Manager - Grants Management has been established at the RATN Secretariat.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Programme Manager will be part of the Senior Management Team and will be based in Nairobi. The Programme Manager will primarily provide leadership in managing the RATN INSTANT programme and responding to calls for funding proposals aimed at growing the programme and diversifying the wider RATN funding portfolio.

Working within a small team at the RATN Secretariat, the role requires a flexible individual who can stimulate new ideas and fresh approaches, with sensitivity to RATN values. Applicants must possess outstanding project & programme design and evaluation skills gained through previous experience in the NGO sector and excellent interpersonal skills.

To apply, please email your CV with covering letter explaining how you meet the needs of this position to us by 5th August 2011.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Grants management vision, leadership, coordination and team management

·       Provide leadership and vision for the RATN grants management programme

·       Develop procedural documents and processes and ensure full understanding of the grants management process at all levels within the program.

·       Ensure that pre-award risk assessments are carried out on each grantee and that decisions are incorporated into grant awards

·       Ensure strong links between the grants management and capacity building approach to maximize efforts to strengthen grant management processes for RATN and its partners

·       Ensure strong links between the grants management and M&E systems to improve reporting and measuring results and impact

·       Ensure that solid documentation is provided and maintained under each grant (and according to donor policies and RATN’s standards to the extent they can be fully audited with limited or no adverse findings)

·       Coordinate grants management systems across programmes to ensure high quality and consistency

·       Coordinate proposal review process and ensure compliance with grants conditions

·       Review reports from grantees to ensure programmatic and financial compliance against programme expectations and grant conditions

·       Play a supervisory role to the grants staff under the programme

·       Collaborate with the capacity building programme team to identify priority areas for training of partners and develop strategic interventions to assist grantees/partners

·       Collaborate with the M&E team to develop relevant reporting processes that directly address M&E requirements

B. Funding Proposals leadership and team management

·       The incumbent will work as part of Senior Management team to increase funding sources both in streams and volumes and analyse donor requirements with a view to strengthening and growing RATNs programmes

·       The Programme Manager will take the lead in identifying and sourcing for funding and resource opportunities from multiple sources including but not limited to (development partners, foundations and corporate), at national, regional and international level, and will coordinate and manage the resource mobilization portfolio.

·       Work closely with RATN’s management and program teams to manage funding proposals from start to finish, including conceptualizing programs, developing budgets, writing proposals and reports, managing implementation and reporting on results

·       Lead RATN’s careful tracking of and response to requests for proposals (RFPs) from institutions, government and multilateral agencies

·       Research and apply for new funding opportunities from institutional funders, government agencies, and multilateral agencies (e.g., USAID, Global Fund, World Bank, African Development Bank etc)

·       Identify and secure opportunities for RATN to provide its services (e.g., technical assistance, training and capacity building, etc.) to projects in the region, as lead and/or subcontractor

·       Write and submit proposals, grant applications and reports C. External Relations

·       Represent RATN at strategic meetings and public forums related to its mission and programs

·       Initiate and maintain strong, ongoing partnerships with relevant community, including government agents, other non-governmental and non-profit organizations, and for-profit corporations to collaborate on relevant and strategic funding proposals

·       Build strong public-private partnerships and actively cultivate and manage relationships with program staff at bilateral and multilateral funding agencies

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

The minimum required academic and professional skills for the job holder to perform successfully in their job are:

·       Master’s Degree in relevant field

·       At least five (5) years work experience at supervisory level of a multi-stakeholder programme in relevant sectors

·       Proven and extensive experience in developing winning proposals targeting key donors

·       At least three (3) years in grants management involving varied sub-grantees

·       Project management/plan development skills

·       Working knowledge of regulations applicable to grants management and administration

·       Highly proficient in MS Office, spreadsheets and database skills

·       Sophistication and poise, with the intellectual depth and maturity to work with executives, staff, government officials and other leaders

·       Detail orientation, with an ability to operate in a highly organized fashion

·       Charisma, able to articulate RATN’s mission and programs to inspire across multiple formats (e.g., in-person meetings, phone and video conference)

·       Flexibility and creativity, exhibiting determination while maintaining respect for others’ concerns

·       Emotional maturity and a good sense of humor

·       Ability to work independently and remotely, sometimes on weekends, early in the morning or late in the evening to beat tight deadlines when necessary.

·       Commitment to RATN’s mission, purpose and values, and to its methodology, history, culture, programs and constituencies

·       Ability and willingness to travel extensively within the region.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Compensation Package: Competitive compensation to commensurate with experience (Up to US$40,000 p.a. with 100% medical cover, 30days annual leave, and discretionary annual bonus

Applicants must submit the following:-

(1) Detailed and current CV

(2) Cover letter demonstrating why they qualify for this position

(3) Contact information for 3 referees; and

(4) Indicate current and proposed remuneration package.

Only candidates short-listed for interview will be contacted.

If you meet the requirements for the advertised position, please submit your application and CV electronically to vacancies@ratn.org

RATN is an equal opportunities employer.

Deadline for applications submission is end of business on Friday 5th August 2011.

For more information on RATN, please visit www.ratn.org

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