Head – Grants

AGRA is an organization dedicated to driving agricultural transformation and food security across Africa through various initiatives, including strategic grants management.

The Head of Grants will be responsible for leading the comprehensive redesign, implementation, and continuous enhancement of AGRA's grants management framework. This includes policies, operational models, systems, controls, and service standards throughout the grant lifecycle. The role encompasses managing grant administration, conducting grantee due diligence and onboarding, verifying expenditures, ensuring compliance, monitoring portfolio performance, reporting, grant closure, and tracking corrective actions. A key focus is on improving turnaround times, resolving backlogs, enhancing data quality, strengthening controls, and ensuring that grant investments achieve their intended results. The Head of Grants will collaborate extensively with various internal teams (program, finance, legal, procurement, ICT, internal audit, country teams) as well as external partners (donors, grantees) to foster a user-centric and technology-driven grants function. This position also involves business ownership of AGRA's management information systems (AMIS) and grants dashboards, promoting a risk-based approach to grant management, supporting the decentralization of decision-making to country teams, and embedding a culture of disciplined execution, evidence-based decisions, compliance, and continuous improvement.

1. Develop and refine all grant-related policies and procedures for organizational approval.
2. Ensure accurate preparation of grant materials and program-related contracts, adhering to AGRA policies, procedures, and IRS regulations.
3. Drive continuous improvement initiatives for grants administration, aligning solutions with strategic objectives.
4. Conduct grants portfolio reviews to assess health and performance, recommending necessary remedial actions.
5. Provide strategic oversight and manage AGRA’s grants management systems to support governance, portfolio management, reporting, compliance, and decision-making.
6. Collaborate with ICT, Finance, and Program teams to optimize systems, enhance processes, adopt technology, and continuously improve grants management effectiveness and user experience.
7. Lead organizational capability-building in grants management, ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures, controls, and best practices to strengthen compliance and operational effectiveness.
8. Advise the President, Divisional Heads, and COO on proposal development and managing incoming donor grants, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements.
9. Engage with the Board subcommittee GRC for proposal reviews, approvals, and provide regular Board updates and reports.
10. Foster collaboration between the Head of Resource Mobilization and Head of Monitoring & Evaluation for grant proposal and report formats, and tracking project milestones.
11. Work with the Legal Department to facilitate legal review of grants and agreements, ensuring risk assessment and compliance.
12. Oversee the preparation, quality assurance, and timely execution of grant agreements and supporting documentation.
13. Lead talent management within the grants function, including workforce planning, capability development, succession planning, and team leadership.
14. Enhance organizational and grantee capability in using grants management systems, tools, and processes for compliance and efficient resource stewardship.
15. Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to grants personnel and stakeholders, promoting professional growth and consistent application of standards.
16. Design and structure AGRA’s annual grant-making budget in consultation with Division Heads.
17. Plan the annual flow of grants, advising leadership on timing and potential issues.
18. Provide analytics on grants performance and uptake projections.
19. Establish robust fiscal administration systems, conduct financial analyses of audits and reports, and ensure grantee compliance with AGRA’s procedures.
20. Offer investment portfolio advisory to country teams and maintain performance management logs.
21. Create management indicators for the Board, Leadership, and internal use by analyzing grant data.
22. Integrate grant reports and other related sections for periodic donor reports, board dockets, and AGRA’s annual reports.
23. Assist in preparing grant-related schedules for AGRA’s annual regulatory reports, such as Form 990-PF.

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or an equivalent field from a recognized institution.
2. A Master’s degree is considered an advantage.
3. Professional certification in grants management, project management, finance, or compliance (e.g., ACCA, CPA, PMP) is desirable.
4. Minimum of 12 years of experience in Grants Management, Finance, or general accounting.
5. At least 5 years of senior management experience in grants management within a multi-donor, multi-program international NGO, including team leadership.
6. Strong working knowledge of not-for-profit and private foundation law, as well as US funding regulations.
7. Deep understanding of regulatory, compliance, and governance requirements for grant-funded organizations and development programs.
8. Proven ability to utilize grants management systems, data analytics, and digital tools for effective portfolio oversight, compliance, and decision-making.