BACKGROUND

 Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) is a Malawian Non-Governmental Healthcare Organization established in 1987.  BLM provides quality Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare including HIV/AIDS information and interventions. BLM is a senior member of the MSI Reproductive Choices partnership which works in 37 countries globally. BLM exists to improve the quality of life in Malawi through family planning and reproductive health care services. BLM serves over 800,000 clients annually and makes a significant contribution to national family planning objectives. The organization has a national coverage, operating through 25 clinics, and numerous outreach clinic sites.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant position of:  

PROJECT GRANTS MANAGER

REPORTING LINE: PROGRAM OPERATIONS DIRECTOR            

DUTY STATION: LILONGWE-MALAWI

 ROLE PURPOSE:

The position is responsible for projects grant management, technical support and capacity building to the entire program implementation team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. Multiple project management (including astute financial management expertise) and donor compliance.

• Demonstrable expertise in the management of multiple projects/ grants and their deliverables.This includes supporting relevant departments to understand their roles and responsibilities in project delivery, for core key performance indicators (KPIs) and other deliverables.
• Diligently monitor project performance to ensure projects are on track against KPIs. This includes monitoring project deliverables, budgets, spend against budget, and appropriate coding and cost recovery against each grant and swiftly raising any areas of concern to the Programmes and Operations Director and the respective finance team
• Lead the donor reporting process and coordinate inputs from relevant departments to ensure high calibre donor reports that critically analyse performance and make informed recommendations for future activities.
• Work collaboratively with the research, monitoring and evaluation department (RME) to gain project insights and rigorously analyse data to drive programmatic decision making, problem-solve and strategy setting.
• Maintain a dotted line to relevant finance personnel and maintain overall responsibility for spend against donor grants.This includes regular meetings to analyse variances and develop forecasts for all donor projects with appropriate staff involved.
• Active engagement in project meetings with relevant internal stakeholders to recap performance, set strategy for the next month and flag any underperformance.
• Manage project start up and close out processes. Organise meetings and/or briefings with the relevant individuals and departments and ensure the appropriate processes are followed.
• Liaise with relevant donors, partners and stakeholders and participate in project stakeholder meetings as required.
• Be an expert on and ensure compliance with donor regulations and rules, as well as BLMs policies and procedures, to ensure project implementation is compliant with these regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Embed a culture of project management excellence at BLM.
• Timely communicate relevant information from donors with regard to the grants to all teams, managers and directors as appropriate and ensure proper documentation of proposals, reports and other relevant data related to the grant activity.
• Ensure BLM maintains an updated database of project documents and information.

 b. New Business Development / Resource Mobilization

• With the support of the Program Operations Director, facilitate strategic planning for BLM, identify and explore new partnerships.
• Keep abreast of the development of national policies, laws, strategic directions and the general situation in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and suggest programme adjustments.
• Contribute proactively to the development of new concept papers and project proposals (technical and financial)
• Monitor donor trends and lead on identifying new funding avenues accordingly.
• Develop partnerships with external institutions working on sexual and reproductive health to meet and share best practices.
• Cultivate relationships with donors – positioning BLM as a trusted and reliable partner that can deliver.

 c.      Interdepartmental coordination of and collaboration on project activities within BLM and MSI

• Cultivate and maintain a spirit of teamwork across all departments to ensure effective and efficient project cycle management and swiftly identify and respond to challenges.
• Collaborate with key departments to ensure adequate resources are allocated for the effective and efficient delivery of projects, including with:

Finance  

• To ensure that all charging to the project is allowable and auditable.
• Work with the Finance and MSI project leads to track spend against costed work plans and most recent forecast using budget variance analyses reports on at least a monthly basis.
• The Finance department ensure accurate forecasting.
• MSI project leads and finance team to ensure expenses are charged to the relevant donor reporting lines and coded accordingly.

Research, monitoring and evaluation (RME) 

• To ensure all grants KPIs are reviewed and updated on a regular basis to inform project progress and to timely and respond to challenges.
• The RME team to ensure that data validation standards are met for all routine data collected and data validation exercises are carried out for quality.

Marketing, communications and advocacy  

• To capture qualitative and quantitative data, including case studies and human-interest stories to inform project narrative reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Management, Finance, Public Health, International Development or related field (Master’s degree in related field preferable).
• Public health or health related post graduate degree would be an added advantage.
• At least 7 years’ experience in a project management position with expertise in project cycle management
• Demonstrable expertise in the management of multiple projects/grants.
• Proficient financial management expertise including financial reporting, variance analyses and donor compliance both programmatic and financial (advanced skills in excel required).
• Experience and knowledge of the Malawian SRHR landscape, excellent understanding and experience in donor engagement and grant compliance.
• Monitoring and Evaluation experience.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, is a motivated self-starter with good initiative.
• Proven ability to ‘sell’ ideas and concepts both internally and externally to a broad range of stakeholders.
• Excellent computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Passionate about sexual and reproductive health and aware of the barriers impeding equitable access to services for women and men of all ages.
• Results driven and a transparent communicator.
• Motivated and energetic with a creative mindset used to problem solve and identify innovative solutions.
• Resilient – be able to anticipate and respond to setbacks with the ability and pace to change direction.
• Strong commitment to the goals and vision of BLM and supportive of diversity in the workplace.
• Pro-choice.

If you are interested and you meet the above requirements, please send your curriculum vitae and cover letter including the names and contact details of at least three traceable referees (at least one reference from your current employer or most recent employer; or any previous employers from the recent past)

All applications should be addressed to:

 The Corporate Services Director, Banja La Mtsogolo, P.O. Box 1854, LILONGWE.          E-mail: recruitment@banja.org.mw; no later than Friday, 24^th May 2024. 

 “Our organization is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and therefore expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment as per the MSI global Code of Conduct”

BLM is an equal opportunity employer. No canvassing of any kind is allowed.