Job Vacancies at Plan International

Reports to: Country Finance and Grants Manager

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.  

With approximately 38 years of experience in implementing its programme, Plan International Kenya (PIK) mainly operates in 10 geographical areas; Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Tana River.
 
The Grants Officer is responsible for the assessment and compliance monitoring of grants systems, processes, partnerships; Analysis of budgets and expenditures of program areas.  This role will work with the Country Finance and Grants Manager, the Business Development staff, Project Managers, Finance Departments and implementing partners. The position will be also responsible for capacity building of partners on grants management and improving ways of working and will support start-up and closeout meetings/workshops. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

• Award and grants portfolio management (30%)
  • Support project specific budgeting in liaison with the grants coordinator and National Office(NO) contact person
  • Conduct regular grants monitoring for the project and ensure individual grants performance are being tracked effectively, and that risks and issues are being recognised and action taken.
  • Provide regular reports on grants performance to the Project Manager & Grants Coordinator.
  • Support in the annual planning process at project level
• Monitoring and analysis of grants 40%
  • Track and identify NRGRANT and DUMMY expenditures and ensure timely reversals are done before the closure of the month
  • Monitor and analyse activities regularly and work with Project Manager to resolve any issues identified in specific project
  • Co-ordinate with Project Manager and Grants coordinator in order to ensure budgets are correctly allocated and phased-in.  
  • Track and monitor grants expenditure
  • Prepare and deliver timely financial reports.
  • Conduct project field visits and spot checks
  • Assessment and compliance of systems, processes and partnerships 20%
  • Work with project teams to ensure adherence to both donor and Plan processes and procedures 
  • Support in grants mapping, central filing and updating grants information in the grants management system 
  • Participate in due diligence for implementing partners and review MOUs.
  • Conduct capacity building for partners on donor requirements
  • Coordinate grants “Kick off” meetings at project level.
  • Support timely close out processes for projects.
  • Provide information during grants audits and compliance reviews at project level.
  • Review of partner’s reports and liquidation of funds. 
• Others (5%)
  • Participate in program management meetings
  • Support finance in grants reconciliations
  • Support in the annual planning process at project level
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)
  • Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications/ experience essential: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in either business, social sciences or international development
• At least CPA 2 or other equivalent professional qualification in accounting
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in grants management or a similar role in INGO
• Experience in award portfolio management and knowledge of major donors’ (USAID, DFID, EU, etc.) compliance requirements 
• Experience in supporting program teams
• Problem solving skills to identify and lead the resolution of issues
• Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills

Qualifications/ experience desirable: 

• Previous experience in SAP ERP or any recognised grants management system
• Attention to detail and analytical skills
• Planning, management and coordination skills
• Experience in working with multicultural teams
• Facilitation and training skills
• Administration and effective communication skills
• Ability to work and interact with others at all levels

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The Opportunity

To achieve greater change in children’s lives we will dramatically transform how we operate, and we need to be bold, forward-thinking, and innovative individuals to steer our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to transform the lives of 100 million girls globally. 

As Deputy Director of East and Southern Africa (MEESA) Region, you will be responsible for leading and managing the Country Directors - ensuring that each Country Office has a quality strategic plan in place to deliver Plan International’s strategic ambitions and enabling high performing teams to work together to deliver strong performance against agreed key result areas and standards.

The role requires courageous and inspirational leadership skills, a drive that delivers results and the ability to build strong and constructive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

As Deputy Director of East and Southern Africa, you will be able to demonstrate significant experience in international relief and development with specific skills and experience in strategy development and management, as well as program quality, accountability, and impact, working in partnership, change leadership, transition management, staff development, coordination, and teamwork.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide visionary leadership, direction, and motivation to Country Directors through an observable and passionate commitment to girls’ rights and equality for all children.
• Endorse each country’s strategic plan and annual budget/business plan, ensuring that they are fully implemented and fully in line with the global strategy.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with National Organisation representatives and current / potential donors.
• Ensure that Country Offices have a robust grant acquisition strategy and support Country Directors in achieving their agreed annual revenue, cost and efficiency targets.
• Build and maintain a high performing Country Director team that delivers against Plan International’s strategic goals and measures, whilst demonstrating behaviours consistent with Plan International’s values and behaviours.
• Ensure countries demonstrate that Plan International’s standards of quality are being achieved and operate consistently within Plan International’s key policies and procedures, including programming, influencing, brand, risk management, HR, finance and cash management.
• Lead sub-regional strategy development and implementation in line with Plan International’s ambition in Region of MEESA and MERL
• Communicate organization wide and regional priorities to country programmes to help them develop and implement appropriate plans.
• Provide overall leadership to the sub-region as part of the Regional Management Team to ensure that the transformation process is effectively implemented and meets its objectives.
• Coordinate creative accountability and learning activities and seek opportunities to share this learning beyond the sub-region.
• Ensure country and regional priorities and perspectives are articulated to other key stakeholders and play an active role in influencing the wider organization.
• Participate actively in the Regional Management Team and the Regional Leadership Teams

Do you have what it takes?

To be successful in this role you will require courageous and inspirational leadership skills, a drive that delivers results and the ability to build strong and constructive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Change leadership and transition management will be critical to be successful in this role.

Your deep understanding of child rights and gender in development and knowledge of the concepts of sustainable development goals, community-based development and long-term social change will also be important.

You will lead by example in ensuring gender equality is evident in everything we do from staffing, to programing and influencing, to ways of working. You will work with your team to bring about the right culture that ensures we are champions for girls and gender equality.

Appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in East and Southern Africa or a comparable environment would be highly advantageous. 

As a global organisation, working across multiple countries around the world, diversity is at the heart of our values of working well together and being inclusive and empowering.

We are fully focused on equality and strongly encourage female leaders to join our team.