Job Summary

The Senior Resource Mobilization and Fund-Raising Specialist will support ChildFund International’s overall grant acquisition and management strategy and is responsible for providing leadership for Grant acquisition within the Country Office (CO).  Supported by other program specialists she/he will be the lead proposal writer; this includes strengthening staff capacity in proposal writing, enhance systems, and tools in the areas of proposal preparation. Responsible for building CO execution capability for its grants and contracts, focusing on effective on scope, on time and on budget delivery, compliance with organizational and donor policies, procedures and regulations, as well as risk mitigation. Mainly Prepare and review CO proposals and oversight of donors’ reports submission.  The Senior Specialist will work in close coordination and collaboration with ChildFund’s Global Business Development and Grant Management Teams.

Major Responsibilities

• Ensures that all CO grant Business Development activity aligns with ChildFund’s Business Development Policy, Procedures and Practice.
• Ensure the Country office meets the grant acquisition targets for the various categories of donors.
• Prepare of the Country Office’s grant acquisition strategy and ensure alignment with the Country Office’s Country Strategic Plan.
• Working in close coordination with the CO’s Technical Team and the Global Business Development Team ensure that the CO pre-positions itself successfully on relevant grant funding opportunities.
• Leads the Country Office’s Grant Acquisition efforts; responsible for strengthening the CO’s institutional capacity to acquire relevant grants and increase the CO’s grant portfolio.
• Leads the preparation and presentation of grant proposals and budgets and the successful submission of competitive grant proposals, operational and financial reports in collaboration with the relevant Program and Finance staff; ensure best practice is communicated, followed and shared.
• Supports project implementation to ensure on scope, on time and on budget Project implementation and that all grant funded projects meet institutional donor requirements and in accordance with ChildFund, donor, country and international standards.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate systems and procedures to ensure compliance with donor contracts and ChildFund Project Management standards.
• Supports the development and maintenance of effective relationships with current and prospective donors. Provides appropriate and timely feedback to ensure management is fully informed of grant acquisition progress and success with all new and existing donors.
• Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with Child fund’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

Job Requirement

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant area. MSc/MA in relevant fields is advantageous.

Required Skills and Experience

• Very high level of proposal writing skill is mandatory.
• Certification from a reputable service provider in Project Management (PMP, PMD) is preferred
• Five to seven years of experience in grants acquisition and management

Demonstrate Competencies

•  Proven ability of articulating the organization’s core intent, strategic direction in ways that respond to donors’ expectations and requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating capacity building program/training, coaching and/or mentoring project staff in the basics of grant management.
• Knowledge of major donors’ requirements, applicable local regulatory and legal requirements.
• Demonstrated capability in execution of various stages of the grant lifecycle including pre-award review, grant progress monitoring, and award closure.
• Proven excellent communication, networking, presentation, public speaking and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team for a successful achievement of proposal development
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

Place of work: Addis Ababa, with frequent field travel to ChildFund’s operational areas