ROLE PURPOSE:
The purpose of this post is to support the Award Management (same functions as in Grants Management) team in the planning, securing, and managing of both development and humanitarian awards both reactively and proactively.
The position involves supporting award information management and compliance with systems and processes.
Under the direction of Head of Awards, the Awards Manager will be responsible for supporting the team to adhere to all award management obligations internally within Save the Children and externally with donors. This position will support the Head of Awards with Awards Management System (AMS) management and reports.
This role will work closely with Program Development & Quality (PDQ) and Program Implementation/Program Operations (PI) on proposals, financial and narrative reporting, monitoring and analysis, and compliance processes.
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. This role will also support Awards Manager / Head of Awards for the sub-award management in AMS as well as related Gift in Kind (GiK) management.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Head of Awards
Staff reporting to this post: Awards Coordinator.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Developing self and others; Networking
– Building a high performing award management team to support good practice and high-quality delivery across the Country Office (CO).
– Lead Award Management related capacity building both within the Award Management team (AMT)and relevant stakeholders.
– Develop strong relationships with the region, center, Save the Children members and other stakeholders; escalate issues through the correct channels when required and stay the point of contact between the CO and the Regional office (RO), Save the Children members/in-country donors.
– Oversight of consortium to support Head of Awards where needed.
– Ability to cover Head of Awards role in her / his balance.
Communicating with impact:
– Provide strategic support on all aspects of award management including funding pipeline management and donor compliance.
– Coordination of proposals, working with PDQ, Finance and Program Implementation to produce high quality, fully costed proposals.
– Coordinate to produce high quality and timely reports that accurately reflect the impact achieved and lessons learnt during the implementation of an award.
– Build and maintain relationships with relevant networks and award management staff of similar organizations in the country, as well as local representatives of in-country donors.
Compliance (systems, processes & donor):
– To engage globally on the development of Save the Children systems and processes and the sharing of best practice.
– To ensure that the Award Management System (AMS) is effectively maintained and up to date for all awards and sub-awards including authorization and document retention.
– To ensure that key staff (Extended Senior Management Team “ESMT” members, Program Managers (PMs) Budget Holders (BHs), partners’ staff, etc.) have a clear understanding of donor compliance requirements throughout the project management cycle and that there is a complete audit trail of the implementation and reporting for all awards.
Monitoring and analysis:
– Working in collaboration with the stakeholders to ensure that the CO has a clear framework for master budget development, cost allocation, monitoring of award budgets, phasing and forecasting, ensuring alignment between the master budget and funding tracker.
– Using strong financial analysis skills to oversee the award portfolio and pipeline.
– To work in collaboration with the finance department and provide technical advice regarding strategic donor costs allocations with a view to minimize compliance issues where possible.
Leadership, portfolio management & strategy:
– Define the strategic direction of the awards management unit and undertake effective planning that supports the unit to establish and maintain an efficient and effective awards management process.
– To use key performance indicators (KPIs) and other management information to identify and address operational issues that could impact negatively on the delivery of programs.
– Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.
– To support in the development of a Country Office funding strategy that enables proactive engagement across Save the Children globally and with donors to secure funding opportunities in a timely manner, making recommendations and flagging issues to Senior Management
– To provide detailed analysis of current/ pipeline awards to senior management.
Sub-awards Management
– Ensure personal commitment in building constructive working relationship with partnership team as well as joining stakeholder during monitoring & evaluation visits.
– Oversee and monitor Partners’ records as per AMS guidelines.
– Participate in training and capacity building in collaboration with the Partnership Unit and program staff is carried out, monitored and evaluated.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance, and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, take responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages their team to do the same.
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members, and external partners and supporters.
• values diversity and sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s or equivalent degree in International Development or Business and Administration
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
• Excellent planning, management, and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a demanding workload comprised of diverse and challenging tasks and responsibilities.
• Proven track record of active contribution to the senior management team (SMT) or ESMT and providing strategic support across multiple sectors and/or regions.
• Extensive experience with NGOs with increasing responsibilities including a proven experience of establishing and running the award management function in the field.
• Knowledge of the requirements of major institutional donors including budgeting, eligibility issues, compliance management, and reporting; experience of engaging with donors at a strategic level
• Experience in managing GiK and working knowledge of UN agencies especially in GiK processes and reporting.
• Well-developed skills in staff management.
Proven coaching and capacity building skills.
• Understanding of the financial aspects of award management, and understanding of operations and programming
• Very strong attention to detail, problem solving skills, and ability to analyse trends.
• Computer literate (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems)
• Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people.
• Patient, adaptable, able to improvise, and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.
• Strong communication (written and spoken) in English, and strong interpersonal skills, with experience in managing multicultural teams.
Desirable
• Preictal experience to work in a consortium setup to handle awards / grants management at Manager or Senior Manager level.
• Experience with award / grant management policies, procedures and systems and Save the Children’s award management system (AMS) which is similar to Grants Management System used by other NOGs.
• Understanding and practical knowledge of Institutional donors (UN Agencies, ECW, BHA, USAID, DEC) reporting requirements understanding of financial management systems.
• Experience of Project Management, M&E Management or Funding Coordination.
• Experience to work with diverse teams.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within the reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.