Business Development and Grants Manager

About Trócaire

Trócaire is an International NGO. We work with local partners in the world's most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We work towards five goals:  

• Promote Access to Justice;  

• Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice;  

• Ensure Women & Girls' Protection, Voice & Influence;  

• Save Lives and Protect Human Dignity and  

• Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice. 

Our work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and in our values of Solidarity, Courage, Participation, Perseverance and Accountability.

Since 2011, Trócaire has responded to the protracted humanitarian crisis in the South Kordofan, Sudan through the national/local organisations. This has been achieved through a hybrid arrangement of remote support from Nairobi, Kenya and on the ground presence. Trocaire works with five national partners. Our programme focuses on the provision of humanitarian assistance in the current context of the displacement crisis, delivering integrated health and nutrition services to remote communities and in strengthening food security, livelihoods and resilience. The programme is also responding to a rising health need in neighbouring Blue Nile State. 

Trócaire Sudan has recently grown in funding and in response to the current conflict. To strengthen and diversify Trócaire's institutional funding base and ensure donor compliance with existing and future institutionally funded grants, Trócaire seeks to recruit a Business Development & Grants Manager, to be based in Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to the field locations

Reporting to the Country Director with close coordination and input from the Global Partnership and Funding Unit, this is a Fixed Term Contract of one year (with the possibility of extension). The position holder will line manage the Grants Officer. The role is based in Nairobi with regular travel to programme locations, and occasional travel to Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

Overarching:

• Maintain, increase and broaden the institutional funding base of Trócaire's programmes in Sudan in line with the organisational and country specific institutional funding strategy.
• Coordinate and manage all components of the proposal development process, ensuring a high quality and timely submission to institutional donors, consistent with Trócaire's Organisational and Country Strategic Plan.
• Support the programme team in the development of well-designed projects and programmes for submission to institutional donors, consistent with Trócaire's Organisational and Country Strategic Plan.
• Provide oversight and support to programme staff in the management and compliance of all institutional funding grants.
• Position Trócaire as potential partner (sub and lead) for consortia in Sudan.
• Build the capacity of Trócaire's programme staff and partners to manage existing and future institutional funding grants/contracts. In particular, this role will involve the following components:

Business Development & Programme Growth (50%)

In close coordination with the Country Director and the Global Partnerships and Funding Unit (GPFU) staff in Trócaire HQ:

Pre-Positioning:

• Identify relevant upcoming funding opportunities, track grant forecasts, and using advance intelligence gathering prepare recommendations based on specific bid/no bid decision criteria.
• Identify potential partners; manage pre-solicitation proposal preparations; participate in pre-design meetings; draft sections of the proposal in advance of the solicitation; coordinate and facilitate design workshops; and support field teams to collect relevant country and technical information that informs design

Proposal Preparation and Coordination:

• Lead the coordination and development of proposals from initial development to grant submission. 
• Manage partners' inputs to the cost application; provide technical input to the finance team to support the completion of the cost application in alignment with the technical programme design.
• Manage the proposal review process and budget alignment and compliance with donor guidelines; build effective working relationships with partners on proposal bids.
• Support the management of consultants recruited to support proposal development; support the recruitment process to ensure identification and inclusion of qualified key personnel in proposals.

Post Submission:

• Manage and or/support post submission and lessons learned processes contributing to shared learning.
• Engage in the Team's development of best practice and evidenced base approaches utilised in proposals.

External Engagement and Networking:

• Identify international and local partners for future opportunities; arrange meetings and calls with partners.
• Conduct potential partner outreach and follow up with subject matter experts for organising meeting.
• Support technical advisors to develop organisational capability statements in coordination with the GPFU/Programme/Communications team.
• Lead the review and implementation of Trócaire's country institutional funding strategy, in line with country programme needs and institutional funding landscape and opportunities. 

Grants Management & Compliance (40%)

• Keep up to date with donor regulations, relating to all current grants, and communicate relevant changes to staff, ensuring links with HQ in terms of global donor strategies and updates on regulations.
• Support programme staff to manage grant agreements for all institutional grants including adherence to supply chain and financial management policies and procedures, fraud etc. Keep relevant HQ staff informed about the progress of grant agreements/ contracts through the programme cycle.
• Develop appropriate procedures, tools and operational systems to support partners in adherence to Trócaire and donor compliance requirements, including adherence to Trócaire's minimum requirements.
• In coordination with programme / finance staff, monitoring and ensure compliance of programmes with donor rules and requirements incl. financial tracking and reporting/amendments, visibility, communication strategies etc for all grants.
• Advise and support programme team on building the capacities of partners to handle contractual compliance issues, including project audit and verification requirements.
• Support programme staff, and take responsibility for as the need arises, in preparing high quality reports for submission to donors in a timely manner. This will involve close liaison and joint working with the Grants Officer and institutional funding staff in HQ.
• Support the organisation and follow-up of grant inception meetings, grant review meetings, and grant close out meetings.
• Ensure that all information relating to proposals and donor compliance is stored on Trócaire's information management system (Salesforce). Work with the GPFU staff in Trócaire's HQ, as well as the finance and programmes staff in country to ensure Salesforce and Agresso funding figures reconcile.
• Provide training and tools for Trócaire staff and partners entering into new institutional donor contracts, including compliance with regulations on financial management, procurement, audit, reporting, visibility and communications.
• With the Grants Officer and Finance & Administration Manager, advise and support programme team and partners on how to comply with donor specific audit and expenditure verification requirements.

Representation / Networking (10%)

• Actively represent the organisation at donor/partner meetings as well as other relevant fora or meetings/workshops which are relevant to Trocaire and our programme in Sudan.
• Ensure maximum visibility of the organisation amongst the NGO/donor community in relevant fora.
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of Trocaire's Code of Conduct, ethics, values and standpoint with regard to internal and external actors.

Other

• Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director or Head of Portfolio FCAS.

Requirements

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in development, Humanitarian, Business Administration or related field of study.
• Minimum of 3-5 years' experience working in international development and the humanitarian sector.
• Experience of proposal and report writing for major international donors including Irish Aid, UN Agencies incl. UNICEF and WFP, EU and other relevant institutional donors and trusts/foundations.
• Proven record of accomplishment of securing institutional funding from successful grant applications, incl. in consortia.
• Experience of managing grants financed by donors such as: Irish Aid, UN Agencies, EU, other European and non EU Governments, UN agencies and other relevant institutional donors and trusts/foundations.
• Project cycle management using results frameworks and/ or logical frameworks.
• Working with civil society partner organisations.
• Training/capacity sharing in a multi-cultural environment.
• Work experience in either or more of the following areas: Agriculture/nutrition and Livelihoods, Health, Protection (GBV, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support); WASH, Cash/Voucher programming and M&E experience highly preferred

Skills

•  Keen interest and excitement in business development, entrepreneurial interests, willingness to learn, ambition to take on positions of increasing responsibility.
• In depth knowledge of managing grants requirements of institutional donors.
• Proven strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively, analyse and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress.
• Experience working with civil society partners and good understanding of partnership approach.
• Critical thinking on emergency response, women, climate change & resilience.
• Detail-oriented, flexible, and able to handle multiple concurrent tasks.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Able to quick build cross cultural relationships with teams and partners.
• Highly developed relationship, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent facilitation & capacity building skills and experience of applying them when working with individual partners or groups of partners.
• Excellent written, oral and presentational communications skills.
• Computer literacy skills in word, excel and internet/email.
• Fluency in English.

Qualities

• Dynamic, willing to take initiative and able to manage multiple priorities.
• A team player but also willing and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Capacity to be flexible and adaptable to changing contexts and priorities.
• Deep commitment to social justice.
• Ability to travel internationally at short notice, to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Patient and pays high degree of attention to detail.
• Understanding of, and empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development/humanitarian settings

Safeguarding – Preventing Abuse and Exploitation

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people from exploitation and/or abuse by our employees or others working on our behalf or as a result of our programmes or activities. Trócaire has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct, Global Safeguarding Policy) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all employees, consultants and other organisational representatives. As an employee of Trócaire you are required to abide by these policies. More information on Trócaire's safeguarding policies available here.

Diversity and inclusion

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire.

Diversity and Inclusion statement available here

Benefits

What we can offer you:

Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits including pension scheme and life assurance. Local terms and conditions apply. We have an excellent range of work life balance friendly policies

To be considered for this role, you must already hold the necessary legal permissions to work and live in Kenya. Regrettably, we cannot offer work permit sponsorship or relocation assistance for this role.

Closing Date: 17th December 2025