Grants Manager at Strathmore University

Job Title: Grants Manager, SBS

Reporting: Research Director

Relationships And Contact: Staff and External Stakeholders

Job Purpose:

Responsible for providing grants management support for all research grants and projects within the Strathmore University Business School.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

1. Grants portfolio coordination and compliance management: Track progress of research activities undertaken within Strathmore Business school and maintain an up-to-date status of all current research (internally or externally led). This includes ensuring that grantor conditions for the disbursement of research funds are addressed and implementation of grants are aligned to institutional policies as well as commitments with grantors and other stakeholders.
2. Research partnership coordination: Establish and maintain research relationships and partnerships and encourage more funds for research from grantors, industry, and other external organizations.
3. Review of research-related contracts: Assisting in the negotiation research related contracts and research partnership agreements in liaison with the legal office
4. Coordination of grants application: Identify and facilitate the bidding for competitive research grants. This includes assessing and advising on the feasibility of committing university resources into specific competitive bids, mobilizing faculty and potential partners into effective teams for specific bids and supporting potential grantees in submitting competitive bids. This also includes supporting administrative processes for new grants such as ensuring that required authorizations are administered and that grant application gateways and platforms are valid and up to date (e.g., DUNS, SAMS, eRA Commons)
5. Strategy and portfolio growth: Provide guidance on a pathway for growth of SBS’ grants portfolio and implement initiatives to promote this growth for example organising grant training workshops

Job Requirements

The post holder will be required to have and to demonstrate evidence of the following qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in any business-related course from a recognized institution.
• Professional accountancy qualifications (CPAK or equivalent) and professional audit training and experience will be an added advantage
• Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in grants management
• Administrative and Office management experience and demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness, be proactive and solutions focused

Competencies And Attributes

• Clear understanding of the research grants landscape and the rigor required by grant-making institutions e.g., USAID, DfID, CIDA, SIDA among others.
• Understanding of various research threads and trends of donor interest.
• Ability to interact with senior researchers, grant accounting staff, Human Resources personnel as well as their counterparts in the various grantor organizations.
• Should have multidisciplinary skills in the different areas and also have an academic inclination.
• Clear understanding of the research process and procedures
• Basic knowledge of accounting concepts and procedures.
• Analytical skills
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills