Head of Award Management (Grants and Contracts)

Focus of the Role

The Head of Award Management (Grants and Contracts) will lead and provide oversight and quality assurance in management of the Institute’s grants and contracts for specific projects/ programmes. The role will be responsible for ensuring the Institute complies with donor rules and requirements and that projects/programmes are delivered on time and to budget and reported on according to donor expectations.

The core aspects of this role include leading and overseeing project/programme kick-off, award management structures and close out meetings for projects/ programmes with restricted resources under a grant/contract from client governments, large foundations and bilateral/ multilateral funders, taking a lead role in the coordination across technical and project teams as well as functions such as finance, legal, security and operations and human resources to support management of awards, including reporting, payments and donor compliance. The role will also build and maintain best practice approaches to contract/grant management, ensuring roles and responsibilities as well as rules and regulations are clear, budgets are well managed and narrative and financial reporting made in alignment with donor expectations. In addition, the role will also include leading preparations and facilitating engagements with donors and partners on grants/ contracts.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial problem solver that thrives on fast-paced start-up-like operations but has advanced knowledge of best practice structures. The candidate will enjoy working across global teams to ensure frequent check-ins with programme and IR teams at project start, implementation and close out, and deliver high quality reports.

This role is within the Global Business Development & Income Partnerships Division of TBI, part of the wider Strategy & Partnerships group (S&P). S & P is one of three external facing business critical departments, the other two being: Policy & Politics, and Global Government Advisory. The S&P department leads and oversee the Institute’s strategic direction and growth, with specific responsibility for future proofing growth, developing scalable partnerships, innovating in tech and securing financial resources to measurably advance the Institute’s operational goals and drive sustainable impact. This is both a rewarding and positively challenging post in the organisation, with direct working relationship with other teams across the organisation. The role reports to the Director, Programme Development & Contracts.

Key Responsibilities

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Lead kick-off meetings for new grants and contracts, working closely with proposal lead for the opportunity, ensuring donor reporting and compliance requirements met and roles and responsibilities are clear
• Lead and enable strong award management systems and reporting processes that ensure compliance, accountability and successful awards delivery working with key counterparts across Global Government Advisory, Global Client Solutions, Policy & Politics and Institute Operations (People, Finance, Legal and IT) teams as well as external partners and TBI report development consultants
• Act as report manager or oversee report manager, and provide oversight of the report development plan and team, quality assurance and ensure reports meet funder requirements and deadlines
• Monitor donor portfolio performance and issues and ensure coordinated approach to delivery, renewal and closure in collaboration with account managers, the Programme Development & Contracts unit and PD&C Director
• Monitor and coordinate analysis and internal reporting across TBI's restricted funding contracts portfolio with responsibility for contributing to regular and ad-hoc unit, division and executive or board level reporting.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, finance, legal, resourcing and other Institute specialists to ensure TBI is compliant with signed contracts and grants.
• Provide other technical inputs, such as drafting capability statements, organisation information and standardised responses
• Use strong financial skills and working with the finance team contribute to financial report reviews and development of financial reports costing for projects/programme
• Manage reporting and payment schedules, and ensure all information systems are updated
• Support and where relevant lead contract/grant negotiation processes with clients and partners working closely with proposal development lead, Institute Resources legal team on contracting
•  Lead the deployment of, embedding and continuous improvement of award management and reporting best practice, processes and safeguards for the Institute including quality assurance, due diligence, burn rate tracker, budget versus spend reviews, and report development processes
• Lead the development of resources and mentor and train staff on award management and reporting best practices, processes, and procedures as needed
• Oversee the development and revision of tools, templates, and other materials critical for award management and reporting processes
• Deputise for Director, Programme Development & Contracts as needed for internal and external projects and audiences

Key internal relationships: Global Business Development & Income, Strategy &Partnerships, Global Client Solutions, Global Government Advisory, Policy & Politics and Institute Resources.

Person Specification

This post would be a fit for a senior manager looking to use their expertise to embed best practice and deliver quality programme delivery, award management and donor compliance who has these skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree or equivalent practical experience
• Significant experience managing grants and contracts and report development for a range of high value donors (over $1 million), including bilateral and multilateral donors, and large trusts and foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of high-level relationship management with donor and partners in the delivery of a project/programme
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience with negotiating and managing commercial contracts
• Experience of direct management in high quality/high value grant and contract management including reporting and donor compliance, and setting up systems to support this work
• Knowledge of bilateral, multilateral and trusts and foundation donors, including strategic priorities, and organisational setup
• Demonstrable success in coordinating cross organisational teams to manage large scale grants or contracts
• Strong numeracy skills including advanced knowledge of budget development and management
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a demanding workload comprised of diverse and challenging tasks and responsibilities
• Strong influencing skills and the proven ability to deliver absent of ‘command and control’ models, in a highly matrixed organisation
• Patient, adaptable, able to improvise, and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure
• Demonstrate leadership and management skills in a complex international setting
• Keenly interested in the work of TBI and share in our mission and values

#LI-Hybrid
 

About The Institute

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a mission-driven not for profit organisation. We exist to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies.  We do this through developing policy and advising governments.  We work hard, every day, to make a difference. When governments work well they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We work relentlessly to support leader and governments with the challenges they face. Giving them practical solutions and actionable insights, that once implemented, can be transformative for their people  

As an organisation, the core beliefs we all embrace are: 

• Open and Progressive: you’ll believe in the value of teamwork 
• Bold and Pragmatic: you’ll approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity 
• Optimistic Changemaker: you’ll be focused on results 

TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work.  It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\'re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.