The IRC began its cross-border (XB) operations into Sudan in 2024, particularly focusing on non-government-controlled areas in Darfur (via Chad) and South Kordofan (via South Sudan). These areas are managed separately from IRC’s eastern Sudan programs, which fall under the purview of the de-facto Sudanese government.
As the IRC transitions from emergency interventions to long-term programming, the Grants Coordinator will play a vital role in managing donor portfolios, ensuring compliance, and facilitating cohesive programming. These efforts will be overseen by the IRC’s Emergency Humanitarian Access Unit (EHAU), with long-term integration into the East Africa region anticipated later in 2025.
Position: Grants Coordinator
Locations Available:
- Nairobi, IHUB, Kenya
- Amman, Jordan
- Kampala, Uganda
Sector: Grants
Employment Type: Full-Time
Category: Fixed Term
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Remote with possible travel to Sudan)
Requisition ID: req57802
Job Description
As a Grants Coordinator, you will manage the full lifecycle of a diverse grant portfolio, coordinate funding proposals, ensure regulatory compliance, and support program development for the IRC’s operations in Sudan. You’ll collaborate closely with multiple teams including the Deputy Director for Programs, finance, MEAL, and partnerships units.
Key Responsibilities
1. Proposal Development
- Identify new funding opportunities by researching donor trends and strategies.
- Support the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) and sector leads in shaping new program designs.
- Lead Go/No Go decision-making meetings for potential opportunities.
- Coordinate proposal design processes with internal teams and partners.
- Ensure all proposals align with IRC’s partnership approach and values.
- Serve as lead writer or editor for concept notes and full proposals.
- Review all proposal components for coherence and accuracy.
- Manage the submission process with headquarters to meet donor timelines.
2. Grants Management
- Act as the main liaison with HQ for all grants-related matters.
- Review and coordinate donor agreements and pre-award approvals.
- Facilitate project revisions, extensions, and realignments.
- Oversee Project Cycle Meetings including design, launch, implementation, closure, and learning reviews.
- Maintain updated grants trackers and documentation systems.
- Ensure internal systems like OTIS are current and accurate.
- Guide partnership risk assessments and due diligence processes.
- Build staff capacity in grant-related functions through training and mentorship.
3. Donor Compliance
- Offer technical guidance to program and operations teams on donor regulations.
- Coordinate with HQ compliance experts to handle complex issues.
- Proactively flag and resolve potential compliance risks.
- Share compliance resources and create grant-specific cheat sheets.
- Ensure donor branding and visibility guidelines are adhered to in all materials.
4. Reporting
- Lead the preparation and submission of all internal and external reports.
- Coordinate with finance, MEAL, and program teams to ensure report quality.
- Maintain a comprehensive reporting schedule to track deadlines.
- Review report drafts for accuracy, completeness, and donor alignment.
- Facilitate review and approval processes with HQ and technical teams.
5. Departmental Leadership and Staff Management
- Oversee the grants unit, defining team roles and workloads.
- Promote a high-performance culture through staff engagement and accountability.
- Manage team performance appraisals and provide growth opportunities.
- Recruit and onboard new staff as required.
6. Additional Duties
- Undertake other tasks as assigned by the Deputy Director for Programs in support of IRC’s mission and operations.
Key Qualifications and Competencies
While specific academic qualifications are not provided in the listing, the following experience and skills are essential:
- At least six years of experience managing multi-donor grants in complex humanitarian settings.
- Proven ability to lead inter-departmental coordination and balance multiple stakeholder priorities.
- Strong proposal writing and editing capabilities, especially for technical donor submissions.
- Extensive experience in drafting high-value proposals and managing large-scale grants.
- Advanced reporting skills, with an eye for detail and deadline management.
- Comprehensive understanding of institutional donor compliance.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills to juggle multiple projects.
- Prior experience in conflict or crisis environments is highly desirable.
Who Should Apply
This position is ideal for humanitarian professionals who thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments and have a proven track record in grants and project management. If you’re looking to take on a leadership role that requires strategic thinking, effective communication, and international collaboration, you are encouraged to apply.
Why Join IRC?
Joining the IRC offers the chance to work with a world leader in humanitarian assistance. You’ll become part of a global team dedicated to saving lives, restoring dignity, and building brighter futures for people affected by crisis. At IRC, your work will have real impact on vulnerable communities, and you’ll contribute to sustainable change through high-quality programs.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, you can submit your application directly through the IRC job portal. Please ensure your resume and cover letter clearly outline your experience in grants coordination and program development.
Apply Now
Note: We will be prioritizing internal IRC staff or recently employed IRC team members. External candidates may be considered if no internal matches are found.
