Program Management (40%) 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a prime partner.
• Lead the execution of the program, ensuring activities align with the donor’s expectations, timelines, and budget.
• Develop and oversee program work plans, ensuring adherence to agreed targets and milestones.
• Coordinate with internal teams (M&E, finance, operations) and implementing partners for smooth program delivery.
• Identify and mitigate risks that may impact the program’s success.

Grant Writing and Reporting: (50%) 

• Lead the entire grant writing process for institutional grants.
• Collaborate across teams to develop an initial concept, gather all requirements, and put together a high-quality final submission, ensuring alignment with donor requirements.
• Craft compelling, clear, and concise proposals, including technical sections, management and staffing plans, resumes, and executive summaries, tailored to each donor’s specific requirements.
• Prepare timely and accurate reports for institutional grants, in accordance with donor requirements. Lead the process to collect and consolidate inputs from program teams, for both narrative and financial reports.
•  Work closely with the Senior Fundraising Manager, Programs and Partnerships Team, Monitoring and Evaluation Team, and other program staff to gather relevant information and data required for proposals and donor reports.
• Edit and review contributions from other team members, synthesizing raw content from various sources into cohesive, comprehensive passages. Ensure content is clearly written and structured per the expectations of the specific donor.
• Ensure that final submissions are compliant with donor regulations and instructions, and meet the highest standards of writing and presentation for both proposals and reports.

Donor Compliance & Grant Management (10%) 

• Ensure full compliance with donor regulations, policies, and reporting requirements.
• Track deliverables and ensure timely submission of high-quality donor reports (technical and financial).
• Work with the finance team to oversee budget utilization, ensuring alignment with donor-approved budgets.
• Coordinate with procurement teams to adhere to donor and organizational policies.
• Work with the MEL team to develop and oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting frameworks.

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, English, Communications, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Extensive experience (minimum 7 years) in writing and managing successful proposals and grants for major international development donors, including FCDO, USAID, UNICEF, etc.
• Proven track record of leading proposal processes and securing funding from these donors.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with a strong ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Deep understanding of the international development sector, with a focus on education in Africa, is preferred.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams.