Grants Management Officer

The Grants Management Officer is responsible for leading the review of donor funding agreements, supporting and guiding implementing units in funding agreements, and developing grant policies and procedures. The role involves negotiation with donors, backstopping project officers, monitoring agreements, and updating grant management policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide active support in negotiations with donors on all types of funding agreements and ensure an effective system is in place for the review of funding agreements.
• Handle negotiations taking into account the requirements of donors and UNESCO's relevant regulations and rules, policies and procedures.
• Provide advice on risks that the Organization can take with regard to non-standard clauses and any other risks arising from the funding agreements.
• Coordinate consultations with relevant UNESCO services.
• Provide advice on choice of funding arrangement depending on donor's requirements to project officers.
• Provide advice and backstopping to project officers, at Headquarters and Field Offices, in the preparation of project agreements as well as Institutes as applicable.
• Process delegation requests for signature of funding agreements and ensure that funding agreements are recorded in a timely manner in the Organization's systems.
• Organize training on funding arrangements as appropriate for Headquarters and Field Offices in close relation with other DPA units.
• Maintain up to date the list of agreements under negotiations/review to ensure proper report on funding arrangements in the pipeline.
• Participate in the review, update and revision of grant management policies and ensure UNESCO funding agreement templates are regularly updated.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in public administration, economics, or a related discipline.
• At least four (4) years of relevant professional experience in the area of funding agreements negotiation or closely related fields, of which preferably two (2) years acquired at international level.
• Demonstrated experience in grants management and partnerships.
• Excellent understanding of grants management processes, especially on funding agreements review and negotiation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the international donor landscape.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain effective partnerships and participate in negotiations with various stakeholders.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a team and to maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent knowledge of English or French and very good knowledge of the other language.
• Good understanding of the United Nations System funding structure (desirable).
• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and/or Spanish) (desirable).

Skills

• Grants Management
• Funding Agreements Negotiation
• Donor Funding Agreements Review
• Partnership Management
• International Donor Landscape Knowledge
• Grant Policies Development
• Grant Procedures Development
• Project Backstopping
• Funding Agreements Monitoring
• Drafting Skills
• Public Administration
• Economics
• United Nations Funding Structure
• Multi-cultural Team Collaboration

Languages

English, French