Grants Manager, Global Libraries, Ukraine

Organization: IREX

Website: IREX

Title: Grants Manager, Global Libraries, Ukraine

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Salary: Not listed

Description:
IREX seeks a qualified professional to fill the position of Grants Manager for the Bibliomist Program. This position will provide oversight of the grant-making component of the program. The position will be based in Kyiv, Ukraine with frequent travel throughout the country. The position requires managerial experience supervising staff and reporting for international assistance programs. IREX seeks a candidate with prior experience developing and maintaining partnerships with grantees and creating appropriate mechanisms for tracking grant performance. IREX seeks a three- to five-year commitment.

The Grants Manager will:
• Supervise the Partnerships Team and all grant-making and procurement activity carried out by team members;
• Continually evaluate the capacity and performance of grantees and vendors and make recommendations to the Deputy Director and Capacity Development Team for investments in training and consultations to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability;
• Track fulfillment of obligations of agreements by partners through collection of reports and direct observations by IREX regional representatives, and make recommendations to partners and Deputy Director for improvement of performance;
• Work closely with the Deputy Director and Washington-based staff to ensure that grant agreements and contracts generated by the Grants Officer, Procurement Officer and Contract Lawyer correspond to IREX policy, BMGF requirements and the law of Ukraine and maximize program results within those constraints;
• Backstop members of the Partnerships Team and provide direct assistance at times of peak workload, such as the start of the project and at each round of the competition;
• Keep a running record of lessons learned in the grant-making and procurement processes to contribute to IREX’s institutional knowledge and best practices among BMGF grantees;
• Solicit, collect, summarize and present to the Project Director and Deputy suggestions from sub grantees and subcontractors for improvement of the grant-making and procurement processes;
• Advise the Project Director and Deputy on additional measures that can be taken to increase grant effectiveness and reduce opportunities for corruption;
• Maintain a database of partner organizations and a filing system for all reports from subgrantees.


Qualifications:

Candidates must be well organized, able to work independently, skilled at handling multiple tasks, able to meet deadlines and work in stressful situations, and willing to travel within Ukraine. Other specific qualifications should include at a minimum:

• A minimum of 4 years experience in grant design and administration; 2 years prior experience administering donor grants and procurements
• Substantial grants management experience and ability to design and develop a sub-grant tracking and monitoring system.
• Experience managing program staff and coordinating and overseeing reporting for grant-making programs;
• Significant professional experience managing multi-stakeholder and community-focused development projects, and/or Internet development projects in developing countries;
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, and the ability to communicate with local stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of project activities;
• Higher education in a relevant discipline;
• Familiarity with political, economic, and social issues in developing countries; Eastern Europe or Ukraine experience preferred but not essential;
• Advanced knowledge of relevant computer applications, including MS Project, Excel and Publisher and online collaborative tools such as wikis
• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English. Some knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian preferred but not essential.

To Apply:
Applications accepted online only at our JOB BOARD at www.irex.org/careers. If you have difficulties with the online system please send an email to jobboardhelp@irex.org with ATTN: “CSD/UPC/AK” in the subject line. Only complete applications will be considered. The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified, but please send applications no later than September 30, 2009.