Trócaire is an International NGO. We work with local partners in the world’s most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We work towards five goals:

• Promote Access to Justice;
• Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice;
• Ensure Women & Girls’ Protection, Voice & Influence;
• Save Lives and Protect Human Dignity and
• Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice.

Our work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and in our values of Solidarity, Courage, Participation, Perseverance and Accountability.

In Sierra Leone, Trócaire is working with partners to bring about positive and lasting changes around women’s socio-economic and political empowerment, addressing root causes of gender based violence, climate change, and food security. Currently Trócaire has six programmes that are being implemented by 16 local civil society partner organisations, funded by a variety of donors including Irish Aid, European Union, USAID, UNDP and different trusts and foundations. Core to Trócaire’s partnership approach in Sierra Leone is civil society strengthening and organisational development.

The Business Development and Grants Manager (BDGM) is a maternity cover replacement role and is responsible for strengthening Trócaire’s institutional funding base and ensuring donor compliance with existing and future funded grants. The BDGM will lead on opportunities to increase and broaden the institutional funding base of the Sierra Leone country programme in line with the organisational institutional funding strategy. The post holder will lead in identifying funding opportunities for Trocaire and partners. With Country Management Team and programmes colleagues, lead in the proposal development of well-designed projects and programmes for submission to institutional donors, consistent with Trócaire’s Organisational and Country Strategic Plans and Country context. Support programme staff in the timely and quality reporting of all institutional funding grants/ contracts in Sierra Leone. Build the capacity of the partners to mobilise and manage institutional funding grants/ contracts.

For the candidate with the required experience, motivation and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits. The position is unaccompanied. The role will report to the Country Director or to a position as discussed and agreed with the CD. The role is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone and has a line management responsibility to the Programme Support Officer (PSO).

Key responsibilities

• Increase and broaden the institutional funding base of the Sierra Leone country programme in line with the organisational institutional funding strategy.
• Support the programme teams in the development of well-designed projects and programmes for submission to institutional donors, consistent with Trócaire’s Organisational and Country Strategic Plans.
• Oversight and support to programme staff in the management of all institutional funding grants/ contracts in Sierra Leone.
• Build the capacity of the Sierra Leone programme staff and partners to manage existing and future institutional funding grants/ contracts.

Programme Growth & Development (50%)

• Lead the review and implementation of Trócaire’s country institutional funding strategy, in line with country programme needs and institutional funding landscape and opportunities.
• Pro-actively identify opportunities for securing institutional funding from in-country and external donors; this will involve close liaison with Global Partnerships and Funding Unit (GPFU) staff in Trócaire’s HQ.
• Advise programme staff and partners on donor funding streams; analyse selected funding calls to assess the range and scope of the calls’ objectives, so as to provide programme staff and partners with ideas and to maximise potential.
• In response to new funding calls including commercial contracting opportunities, support the programme team and partner in the process of planning new projects, supporting the initial design and workshop facilitation, and supporting the formulation of objectives and plans.
• Lead in the development of high quality, well designed, competitive funding proposals and concept notes (narrative and financial) for submission to institutional donors, linking with the GPFU and other relevant teams in HQ to ensure quality assurance, ensuring value for money, cost recovery etc.,; coordinating closely with in-country programme and finance teams; ensuring/promoting transparent co-creation process with partners.
• Working closely with the CMT, develop and solidify key relations with existing and new donors with a portfolio for Sierra Leone, particularly those with a presence in country.
• Act as a focal person for donor communication and coordination. In close liaison with line manager and the CMT, attend and contribute torelevant donor meetings.
• Develop visibility materials to showcase our work with donors, local and international partners, government and supporters in Ireland.
• Working closely with the SMT/CMT facilitate coordination between partners to establish consortiums to implement new joint programme initiatives.

Grants Management & Compliance (30%)

• Support programme staff to manage grant agreements/ contracts for all institutional grants and commercial contracts. Keep relevant HQ staff informed about the progress of grant agreements/ contracts through the programme cycle.
• Keep up to date with donor regulations, especially relating to the EU, Irish Aid, FCDO, USAID, UNDP and others, and communicate relevant changes to staff and partners, ensuring links with HQ in terms of global donor strategies and updates on regulations.
• Support programme teams to ensure careful adherence across programmes to both Trócaire and donor/contract compliance requirements, including adherence to supply chain and financial management policies and procedures, fraud etc.
• Develop appropriate procedures, tools and operational systems to support partners in adherence to Trócaire and donor /contract compliance requirements, including adherence to Trócaire’s minimum requirements.
• Work with programme and finance teams to develop efficient financial tracking and reporting calendars for all institutional grants/contracts, including SLAs.
• Support programme staff and partners in preparing contract amendment documentation for donors, ensuring HQ and CMT involvement and oversight of any contract amendments.
• Support programme staff, and take responsibility for as the need arises, in preparing high quality reports for submission to donors in a timely manner. This will involve close liaison and joint working with institutional funding staff in HQ.
• Perform quality and administrative checks on narrative and financial reporting for institutionally funded programmes.
• Support the organisation and follow-up of grant inception meetings, grant review meetings, and grant close out meetings.
• Ensure that all information relating to proposals and donor compliance is up to date and stored on Trócaire’s information management system (Salesforce).

Capacity Building (20%)

• Provide training and tools for staff and partners entering into new institutional donor contracts, including compliance with regulations on financial management, procurement, audit, reporting, visibility and communications.
• Provide training and tools to Trócaire staff and partners on topics including proposal development, log frames/ results frameworks, budgeting, report writing, supply chain management, monitoring and evaluation, or related areas.
• Advise and support programme teams on building the capacities of partners to handle contractual compliance issues.
• In close coordination with the FAM, ddvise and support programme teams and partners on how to comply with audit and expenditure verification requirements.

Qualification:

• Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian or related field of study.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in overseas development and the humanitarian sector.
• Proven experience in donor mapping, positioning and proposal development for key institutional donors including European Union, Irish Aid, FCDO, USAID, UN agencies, other European Governments and relevant trusts/foundations.
• Understanding of project cycle management using Results Framework and/or Logical Framework.
• Familiarity with working with and capacitating civil society partner organisations; experience of working in a partnership-focused INGO added advantage.
• Capacity to be flexible and adaptable to changing contexts and priorities.
• In depth knowledge of managing grants and contractual requirements of institutional donors including European Union, Irish Aid, FCDO, USAID, UNDP, and other European Governments.
• Training/capacity building in a multi-cultural environment.

Skills:

• Excellent budget analysis and budget development skills.
• Strengths and knowledge in report writing for different donors.
• Proven strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively, analyse and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress.
• Ability to work in a complex organisation & consortium structure,
• Demonstrated ability to lead & work in a team.
• Excellent and proven organisational skills.
• Highly developed relationship, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent facilitation & capacity building skills of individuals, partners or groups.
• Excellent written, oral and presentational communications skills.
• Computer literacy skills in word, excel and internet/email.

Qualities:

• Dynamic and willing to take initiative.
• A team player but also willing and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Capacity to be flexible and adaptable to changing contexts and priorities.
• Deep commitment to social justice.
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Patient and pays high degree of attention to detail.
• Understanding of, and empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development
• Willingness to relocate to Sierra Leone.