Advisor, Global Awards at Save the Children

Role Purpose

The role holder will provide award management advisory, coordination, and support across a portfolio of globally managed and implemented awards, directly supporting award-funded programmes to ensure compliant, high-quality, and timely delivery while strengthening organisational capacity to manage complex and high-risk funding. The role supports the planning, management, and monitoring of both humanitarian and development awards through operational oversight, budgetary and administrative support, and strong information management, ensuring adherence to donor and organisational requirements. The role works closely with global functions to coordinate award processes, maintain data quality, and support reporting, compliance, and performance, while contributing to continuous improvement of systems and ensuring effective and adaptable award management. 

Principal Accountabilities

• Provides global teams with award management advisory, coordination, and support, working closely with stakeholders in day-to-day operational award delivery, under the direction of AMDC leadership.
• Delivers and administers the allocation and management of globally managed awards and funds, ensuring accurate and timely distribution of resources across global teams and multiple implementing offices, while maintaining clear and constructive communication among stakeholders.
• Monitors budget expenditures across global teams, implementing offices, and partners through regular Budget versus Actual reviews and portfolio monitoring, ensuring alignment with approved budgets, delivery plans, fund requirements, and organisational policies to promote accountability and effective resource management.
• Supports the planning and management of globally managed awards and funding mechanisms, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of processes, systems, and delivery approaches.
• Supports in operationalizing award management in Global level, understanding the different processes within SCI and exceptions around it, proactivity, planning, data upkeep on Award Management System and supporting the Sr. Manager and the Sr. Specialist
• Identifies, assesses, and mitigates financial, operational, and programmatic risks associated with awards and funds, implementing proactive measures to ensure compliance and minimise risk throughout the award lifecycle.
• Coordinates monitoring and reporting processes across assigned awards and funds, ensuring high-quality, timely financial and narrative reporting in line with donor and organisational requirements.
• Leads the award close-out process for assigned awards, ensuring all payments, reporting, and system actions are fully reconciled and completed, and coordinating with Finance and other stakeholders to ensure financial, contractual, and administrative closure.
• Maintains high-quality award information management, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and integrity of data within the Award Management System, and supporting effective tracking, analysis, and decision-making.
• Works closely with global functions (including Programme Operations, Finance, Treasury, and Partnerships) to coordinate award processes, ensure data quality, and support compliance and performance across the portfolio.
• Supports the continuous improvement of award management systems, tools, and processes, identifying gaps and contributing to enhanced efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness across globally managed and implemented awards.
• Supports the Senior Manager, Global Humanitarian Awards and Manager, Global Awards on strategic and operational initiatives related to award management and global funds, contributing to coordination, analysis, and delivery as required.
• Demonstrates flexibility to adapt priorities and support organisational needs during periods of high demand or shifting priorities, ensuring continuity and effectiveness of award management support

Experience and Skills
Essential

• Proficient experience in grant (award) management cycle.
• Proficient experience in working across multiple teams and offices to facilitate grant start up, monitoring and reporting. 
• Considerable experience in monitoring and closing out awards with accurate and compliant documentation across programme, administrative, contractual and financial areas. This includes strong skills in budget monitoring and financial reporting to ensure compliance and transparency.
• Demonstrable foundation experience and interest in humanitarian response work.
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral, capable of liaising with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex financial data and make informed decisions.
• High proficiency in using award management software and financial management systems.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines, maintaining high-quality standards.
• Strong teamwork skills, including the ability to work with, influence and guide cross-functional and cross-cultural teams.
• Ability to manage a complex workload, proactively managing large portfolios of awards/projects/deliverables.

Desirable

• Strong project management skills, particularly in planning, coordination, and execution of complex projects across multiple regions and teams.
• Proven experience working in a complex international organisation, demonstrating the ability to navigate and manage diverse cultural and operational contexts.
• Previous experience working for Save the Children and familiarity with Save the Children’s awards and finance systems, including the Award Management System (AMS).
• Experience working within emergency response settings, including a robust understanding of humanitarian response activities and emergency management cycles.
• Solid foundation in financial accounting, capable of managing and reconciling diverse financial transactions and reporting.
• Proficiency in additional languages such as Spanish, French, or Arabic alongside English, enhancing communication and collaboration with international teams.

Education and Qualifications 
Essential

• Demonstrable continual professional training and development in award/grants management topics including financial oversight, compliance, reporting. 
• Strong knowledge of grant management and donor compliance requirements.

Education

• A degree in International Relations, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field is highly desirable.
• Professional certifications in project management or grant management are a plus.

Desirable

• Additional professional qualifications in financial accounting such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or similar
• Additional certifications or qualifications in humanitarian aid practices, such as a Humanitarian Aid Worker certification or similar.
• Training or certification in emergency response management.