Grants Officer

About Malala Fund

Registered in the U.K., U.S. Nigeria, and Pakistan, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organizations, the people who best understand girls in their communities in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

About the position

The Grants Officer will be responsible for supporting Partnership Managers for Malala Fund’s non-registered priority countries in all stages of the grant lifecycle by managing and implementing all non-programmatic components of grants processing and administration. Reporting to a Partnership Manager, the Grants Officer will be a member of the Grants team that carries out grant operations and management across Malala Fund’s portfolio of grant awards in its non-registered priority countries. The ideal candidate is a highly organised self-starter with experience in the administration of grants to local and national organisations in low- and middle-income countries.

Location: Hybrid position out of our Washington, DC Office

Responsibilities:

Due Diligence and Compliance

• Conducts organisational legal, financial and reputational diligence on prospective grantees.

• Ensure any legal questions are resolved in consultation with the Director, Grants and (where relevant) outside legal counsel.

• Monitors country-specific grantmaking rules and regulations to keep abreast of changes that may be required in policies and procedures, and communicates any changes to the Director, Grants.

• Stays up to date on grantmaking best practices, IRS regulations, and guidelines.

Grant Agreements, Amendments and Payments

• Prepares grant agreements and amendments and coordinates their execution.
• Prepares grant disbursement requests, and ensures payments are processed and payment confirmations are shared with grantee and filed.
• Offers Partnership Managers support with no-cost extensions, where needed.

Filing, Data Management and Budget Tracking

• Inputs and updates grantee data into grants management system; assures integrity of data in the grant management system.
• Ensures all grantee-related documents are properly filed, and grant files are updated as needed.
• Works closely with Partnership Managers, Director, Grants and Finance team to track actual and projected grant expenses against annual grantmaking budgets.
• Updates grant payment schedules in grants management system, where needed.
• Provides ad hoc reporting and analysis as requested.

Other Responsibilities

• Project manages all grant-related processes for grant portfolios in Malala Fund’s non-registered priority countries, ensuring Partnership Manager and (where relevant) other team members stay abreast of workflows and meet deadlines.

• Sends proposal invitations to, tracks proposal submissions from and collates and submits requests for proposal edits from prospective grantees.

• Reviews proposed grant budgets alongside Partnership Managers.

• Prepares financial report templates.

• Oversees close-out process on all grant awards.

• Identifies opportunities and makes recommendations to improve grants-related processes and increase grants administration efficiencies.

• Adaptability and flexibility required as the grants management function evolves and expands in scope.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential

• Three to five years of relevant work experience in grantmaking and grants administration.

• Experience interfacing with grants management systems or software (such as Foundant, Fluxx, Salesforce, etc.), including inputting and updating data and information into grants management systems.

• Experience reviewing grant budgets and financial information.

• Familiarity with IRS regulations for intermediary funders.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.

• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail; ability to maintain systems that enhance organisational efficiency.

• Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines under time pressure, and to take initiative and solve problems.

• Ability to adapt, meet competing demands, and manage expectations and timelines to meet deadlines.

• Experience with reviewing and analysing organisational audited financial statements.

• Strong commitment to Malala Fund’s mission, purpose and values.

• Excellent team player with ability to work independently and in collaboration with colleagues at all levels across departments and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience with grantmaking focused on advocacy or international education.

• Experience with grantmaking and/or grants administration for grants to organisations in Malala Fund’s priority countries.

• Experience with grants administration at public charity or intermediary fund.

Why work at Malala Fund?

• Make an impact: Malala Fund works for a world where all girls can learn and lead.

• Great company culture: We are a collaborative, global team with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, London, Islamabad and Abuja. Our values inform our fun, welcoming work culture and the work we do for girls:

  • We set ambitious goals
  • We dare to be brave
  • We seek and amplify diverse perspectives
  • We think creatively
  • We act with integrity

• Flexible hybrid work models: Hybrid work options with one or two days in the office and a monthly stipend by country to support work from home expenses.

• Fully paid health, income protection and life benefits: Based on country and legal requirements.

• Retirement plan options: Based on country and legal requirements.

• Rest and relaxation: Generous paid time off and country-specific paid public holidays including sick leave and birthday leave.

• Paid parental leave: Generous paid parental leave.

• Employee assistance and mental health benefits

• Give back: Get paid to volunteer in your community.

• Professional development and educational benefits: Annual company contribution towards professional development or higher education and free LinkedIn Learning access to 20,000+ online courses.

If fighting for girls’ education excites and inspires you, we might be the perfect fit!

Malala Fund is an equal opportunity employer and inclusive organisation that welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people with different backgrounds, cultures, ages, experiences and identities to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund.

Malala Fund is also committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organisation.

Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.