Programme Manager

Responsibilities

The Programme Manager is the “line manager” charged with grant and project management. S/he will serve as the main interface between the Trust and grantees/project implementers.  The Programme Manager is responsible for ensuring that the Trust’s grantmaking processes follow approved policies and are in line with the Trust’s commitments and contract obligations to funders.  S/he acts as the main pragmatic resolver of problems that arise in the course of project implementation. The Programme Manager is bound by the Trust’s policies with respect to conflict of interest. 

The Programme Manager’s specific responsibilities include:

1.  Grantmaking procedures

• Develop intimate understanding of the Trust’s Grants Manual and other policies and procedures related to grantmaking and contracting for project implementation.
• Lead in developing grant competitions, calls for proposals, informational materials, application and budget templates, timeline and submission processes and related documents for CEO approval.
• Lead in answering questions, clarifying terms and conditions.  Ensure application processes are operational, that submissions are cataloged and acknowledged, that application/applicant confidentiality is maintained as required.
• Assess applications in accordance with terms of grant competition, general policies/criteria and grant specific policies, procedures and criteria.  Obtain additional information as directed by CEO, grants committee or other authority, including due diligence materials.

2. Grant management

• The Programme Manager serves as default Grants Officer on all Trust grants and contracts for programmatic outcomes.
• Monitor compliance with grant/contract terms and notify CEO of failure or probable failure on part of grantee/contractor.
• Monitor grantee/contractor activities in the field with regular visits.
• Review and comment on grantee interim and final reports in a timely manner and report concerns to CEO.
• Serve as main point of contact for grantees/contractors reporting difficulties or seeking variance on grant terms or conditions and inform CEO.
• Supervise contracted outside parties (chiefs of party, project managers, project/programme consultants) as assigned.
• Supervise Programme Assistants/Officers as assigned.

3.  Monitoring, evaluation and learning

• Serve as the Trust’s lead with respect to monitoring, evaluation and learning from grants and contracts. Regular reports on lessons learned with respect to grantmaking, grantee selection, project design, impact and related matters.
• Supervise MEL specialists as assigned.
• The PM is also responsible for the management and use of knowledge gained from Trust’s funded projects to inform the continuous improvements of the Trust’s funding Strategy, and for communication of Trust Programme information to key stakeholders.

 

Requirements

1. Extensive experience with grant and/or project management, particularly environmental grantmaking involving international funding partners (bilateral agencies, UNDP).
2. Deep understanding of strategies for safeguarding biodiversity and climate change adaptation, or demonstrated ability to quickly master key concepts and strategies, including with respect to mitigation and offsets (the mitigation hierarchy), payment for ecosystem services, carbon markets.
3. Ability to travel, often to remote locations under difficult circumstances, to monitor grantee/contract activities, project impacts and similar developments.
4. Strong writing skills and ability to write clear, compelling reports, assessments, evaluations and similar documents.
5. Strong understanding of project budgets, grantee financial reporting. Understanding of main ways in which grant funds are misused or diverted.