Grants Management Officer at African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

Job Specifications

The Grants Management Officer will support grant management activities of various projects undertaken by ACTS including the on-going Research and Innovation Management project within the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI).

Key Responsibilities of the Grants Management Officer:

• Work with the relevant heads of programs to conduct due diligence on sub-grantees, implementing partners, and consultants’ contracts before any contract/grant agreement is issued;
• Prepare contracts, grant agreements and the necessary amendments as required for review and approval in line with the policies;
• Support development of Requests for Proposal, placing advertisements and opening tenders, evaluation of the tenders and later negotiating contractual terms in line with the approved policies;
• Prepare monthly reports on all open contracts, grant agreements and contractual payments
• Guide on the on boarding of consultants and grantees in line with the procurement policy and documentation requirements;
• Review contracts for all consultants, partners, market actors and suppliers and prompt users of the expiry or near expiry of the contracts and grants;
• Track and report progress of implementation of projects by sub-grantees, consultants and partners;
• Review the financial reports from sub-grantees, consultants, partners, market actors for the grants issued and ensure that they are in compliance with the contractual reporting requirements and the set budgetary-allocations.

Minimum Requirement

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business related fields (Finance or Accounting, Project Management, Economics, Economic and Statistics)or related field with CPA (K) qualification
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in grants management preferably in NGO / IGO set up.
• Experience in procurement especially in management of contracts and
• Working experience with international donors / funders
• Ability to analyse contracts/ grants/ any other specialised procurement and anticipate any future contractual challenges, taking into account the wider organisation and policy context;
• Strong relationship management and communication skills;
• Resourcefulness and ability to work well in a team offering hands-on support;
• In-depth understanding of contracts management (legal, execution, obligations, responsibilities and rights).

Minimum Competences

Skills

• Writes effectively and efficiently in a professional approach relevant for policy makers and/or academic audiences
• Multi-tasking and problem solving to adapt well to situations
• Project management
• Analytical skills
• Attention to details
• Proficiency in French desired but NOT a must

Knowledge

• Research management

Behaviours

• Recognizes the importance of delivering results through teamwork,
• taking responsibilities for actions and taking initiative
• Demonstrates respect for others inside and outside the workplace

Desirable competences

Knowledge

• African STI actors and institutions including African government policy processes

Experience

• Working with or advising African science granting councils or African ministries of science, technology and/or innovation and/or Ministries of Education
• Managing and reporting on international development partner funding