Deputy Director, Grants Management at Universities Fund (UF)

Person Specification

• Must have served in the grade of assistant Director, Grade UF 4 for a minimum period of three (3) years or its equivalent; 
• Bachelors’ degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics, Accounting, Commerce, Project Management, ICT, Data Science or any related discipline; 
• Masters’ Degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics, Accounting, Commerce, Project Management, ICT, Data Science or any related discipline; 
• Professional qualification and membership where applicable; 
• Leadership course lasting not less four (4) weeks; 
• Demonstrated results in work performance; 
• Proficiency in computer applications; 

Key Competencies and Skills 

• Strategic thinking 
• Analytical skills 
• Research skills 
• Communication and reporting skills 
• Managerial skills and ability to lead teams 
• Mentoring, 

Job Purpose

• To manage the directorate and spearhead carrying out activities on financing of universities and implementation of policies that ensure fair, transparent and equitable sharing of resources to universities in accordance with the established criteria.

Job Specifications 

The duties and responsibilities will entail: 

• Grants Administration
• Initiating development of policies, regulations and strategies relating to Grant Management; 
• Identifying and advising the Director on priority areas for funding; 
• Reviewing indents for making Calls for proposals; 
• Coordinating the screening and reviewing of grant proposals for eligibility; 
• Reviewing of draft letters of offer and contracts for grants, 
• Confirming the applicants are advised accordingly before and after the call for proposals; 
• Following up on approved grants to ensure they are disbursed; 
• Managing development and maintenance of an interactive database of grants; 
• Coordinating the Monitoring and Evaluation of grants disbursed; 
• Assessing suitability for support towards membership to appropriate international science organisations; 
• Confirming compliance with requirements of grant award contract; 
• Advising management on policies, regulations and guidelines on grants management; 
• Spearheading developing Agenda on Grants management; 
• Coordinating Implementation of the Trustees decisions on Research Grant Management; 
• Supervising the field research evaluation activities; 
• Coordinating the identification of stakeholders for consultations and engagement; 
• Evaluating staff Performance in the department; 
• Supervising, Mentoring and coaching of staff 

Policy Research & Standards

•  Serving as a primary point-of-contact regarding the university funding policy development and revision process; 
• Advising on the possible interaction between proposed university funding policies with other existing policies and law in the university sector. 
• Coordinating submission of policies to the appropriate administrators for review and approval. 
• Coordinating the development and reviewing of transparent and fair criteria for funding of universities 
• Facilitating the development and review of the costs for universities; 
• Facilitating the development and review of the Minimum Discipline Differentiated Unit Costs for universities. 
• Responding to, and directing, stakeholder enquiries and communications throughout the university funding policy consultation, design and implementation phases. 
• Guiding and facilitating the formulation, review, publication and implementation of institutional policies and procedures, including recommendation on involvement of key stakeholders, chairing or co-chairing policy committees, and collection of feedback on proposed policy revisions on university funding. 
•  Issuing policy advisories on emerging funding issues to the Director General