Grants Manager – Fixed Term Contract

Safaricom PLC is a leading telecommunications company founded in 1997, based in Nairobi, Kenya. This role is specifically for the Safaricom Foundation, focusing on social impact initiatives.

Reporting to the Executive Head of Finance, the Grants Manager is responsible for the strategic oversight and administration of the Foundation’s grant portfolio. This involves ensuring that grants are effectively designed, awarded, monitored, evaluated, and reported, all while adhering to the Foundation’s mission, strategic priorities, governance standards, and regulatory requirements. The role also entails providing leadership in various aspects of grant-making, including stakeholder engagement, due diligence, impact measurement, and managing partner relationships. The ultimate goal is to ensure the Foundation delivers measurable and sustainable social impact, maintaining high standards of compliance, transparency, and accountability.

1. Uphold the company's code of conduct, policies, and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in all work aspects.
2. Adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines, and procedures in all actions and decisions.
3. Support the development and execution of the Foundation’s grant-making strategy.
4. Identify and assess funding opportunities aligned with strategic priorities.
5. Manage a diverse portfolio of grants across thematic focus areas.
6. Ensure grant allocations contribute to the Foundation's agreed social impact objectives.
7. Recommend grant funding priorities and allocation decisions.
8. Determine grant portfolio performance improvement actions.
9. Provide recommendations on the continuation, scaling, modification, or closure of grants.
10. Lead grant application review and evaluation processes.
11. Conduct organizational, financial, governance, and reputation due diligence on prospective grantees.
12. Assess project feasibility, risk profiles, sustainability, and impact potential.
13. Prepare grant assessment reports and funding recommendations.
14. Approve the progression of applications through review stages.
15. Recommend grant approvals or rejections to relevant governance structures.
16. Escalate material risks for executive and board consideration.
17. Oversee end-to-end grant administration processes.
18. Ensure grant agreements are developed, executed, and maintained.
19. Monitor compliance with grant terms, policies, legal requirements, and donor obligations.
20. Maintain accurate grant records and management information systems.
21. Approve routine grant modifications within delegated authority.
22. Recommend corrective actions for non-compliance issues.
23. Determine reporting and documentation requirements for grantees.
24. Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) to establish monitoring frameworks and performance indicators for funded projects.
25. Track grant performance against agreed outcomes and impact metrics.
26. Analyze reports, site visit findings, and program performance data.
27. Facilitate organizational learning and continuous improvement from grant outcomes.
28. Recommend performance improvement interventions.
29. Determine monitoring priorities and evaluation schedules.
30. Advise on project continuation based on performance evidence.
31. Manage grant budgets and financial utilization.
32. Monitor disbursements and financial accountability of grantees.
33. Identify, assess, and mitigate grant-related risks.
34. Ensure sound stewardship of Foundation resources.
35. Recommend fund disbursement schedules.
36. Flag financial, compliance, or reputational risks requiring escalation.
37. Recommend suspension or termination of grants where necessary.
38. Build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, community organizations, development partners, government agencies, and internal stakeholders.
39. Serve as the principal point of contact for assigned grants.
40. Facilitate collaboration and partnership development opportunities.
41. Determine stakeholder engagement approaches within the assigned portfolio.
42. Recommend strategic partnerships that enhance impact and sustainability.
43. Prepare grant reports for management, foundation committees, and boards.
44. Support governance processes related to grant approvals and oversight.
45. Determine audit priorities and support grant audits.
46. Ensure grant portfolio reporting is accurate, timely, and evidence-based.
47. Contribute to annual impact reports and strategic reviews.
48. Validate grant performance data prior to reporting.
49. Recommend governance actions based on portfolio performance and risk assessment.

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Project Management, Public Policy, Business Administration, Finance, International Development, or a related field.
2. A Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline is an added advantage.
3. Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in grant management, philanthropy, donor-funded programs, CSR, foundation management, development sector, or non-profit organizations.
4. Demonstrated experience managing large-scale grant portfolios and partnerships.
5. Experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, and impact measurement.
6. Strong knowledge of grant lifecycle management processes.
7. Understanding of donor compliance, governance, and risk management requirements.
8. Experience conducting financial and organizational due diligence.
9. Proficiency in grant management systems and data management tools.
10. Advanced report writing, budgeting, and analytical skills.
11. Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
12. Project Management Professional (PMP), PRINCE2, or equivalent certification.
13. Monitoring and Evaluation certification.
14. Risk Management certification.
15. Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) or equivalent grant management qualification.
16. Strong understanding of corporate philanthropy and social impact frameworks.
17. Knowledge of ESG, sustainability, and community development principles is an added advantage.
18. Willingness to travel for project monitoring and stakeholder engagement when required.
19. Strategic thinking ability to align grant-making activities with the Foundation's strategy and long-term social impact goals.
20. Analytical and critical thinking skills to evaluate complex proposals, financial information, and impact data.
21. Strong relationship-building skills for effective stakeholder management.
22. Ability to manage multiple grants and competing priorities effectively (Project and Portfolio Management).
23. Financial acumen, including understanding budget management, financial analysis, and grant accountability requirements.
24. Ability to identify and mitigate operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks.
25. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports and presentations.
26. Demonstrated ability to drive performance and deliver measurable impact outcomes.
27. Commitment to ethical grant-making, transparency, and strong governance practices.
28. Ability to apply evidence, lessons learned, and emerging best practices to improve grant effectiveness.