Research Grants Manager, Grants & Contracts

Research Grants Manager

• Department: Research Office
• Division: Grants & Contracts
• Location:  Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access.

Job Summary

The position will coordinate all aspects of the grants management in East Africa including 1) Research proposal applications, 2) Coordinating support documentation to facilitate grant applications, 3) post award project implementation monitoring and reporting; to ensure projects are designed and implemented to the highest standards and in line with donor requirements and AKU policies and core values, 4) Support Close out process. The position will also support capacity building efforts for AKU staff and partners on matters grants and awards management. The position requires demonstration of ability write winning grant applications, ability to coordinate activities that requires input from other AKU Central Support Units, strong writing ‘skills, Grants monitoring experience preferably in a research environment, experience working with institutional and private donor including NIH, USAID, CDC, UKAID, EU, NIHR, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, DFID, GAC, Ford Foundation, Wellcome Trust.

Responsibilities

• Review competitive call for proposals to ensure AKU’s requirements are considered in the development of research proposals by proponents.
• Analyze the structure of proposed budgets and recommend adjustments to ensure that final budgets adhere to proper grant and financial management practices.
• Provide innovative interpretation of AKU’s policies and procedures to resolve challenging situations due to scope, institutional risk assessment, and methodological approach of the projects. Liaise with other units of AKU (Finance, Legal, HR, Procurement, Risk) if needed, to resolve any outstanding issues
• Support project set-up including coordinating initial planning meetings to discuss the awards review and develop a project implementation plan
• Improve the way AKU capture, access, and use grantmaking information to enhance programmatic and operational decision-making, produce accurate reports of grantmaking results.
• Development of monitoring and evaluation guidelines/criteria/ tools for monitoring and quality control functions; during grants implementation.
• Monitor grants for legal, financial, and program compliance including but not limited to ensuring that grant requirements are correctly documented in the grant files and database
• Work with finance to generate reporting requirements for compliance and financial statement audits
• Hold monthly meetings with implementing units to discuss project progress
• Track project deliverables both financial and programmatic and ensure AKU meets its obligations to donors in a timely manner
• Manage project close-out process for all funded projects ensuring all grants’ funded projects are successfully closed.
• Support coordination and maintaining appropriate contacts, information sharing and relationships with colleagues and partners as requested through correspondence or attendance of meetings
• Support to the regional coordination in the planning, liaison, organizing and conducting relevant regional events (workshops, training, meetings, missions etc.)
• Providing staff and partners with the required technical support, guidance, and training to improve grant management capacity in understanding of donor compliance and Grants administration

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in non-profit management or related field preferred
• 5 years of relevant work experience, with knowledge or background in non-profits or grant making and/or management systems in a research environment.
• 5 years plus relevant experience working with institutional and private donor including NIH, USAID, CDC, UKAID, EU, NIHR, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, DFID, GAC, Ford Foundation, Wellcome Trust.
• Ability to plan and organize a substantial workload that includes complex diverse tasks and responsibilities
• Ability to work without close supervision.