Grants & Compliance Manager

Position Title: Grants & Compliance Manager

Job Grade: 9

Project: Thabat Enhancing Community Resilience – World Bank Funded

Reports To: Deputy Project Director, Operations

Number required: 1 (One)

Location: To be based in Ethiopia/ Kenya/ Sudan or other locations where CRS is operating and within EAT working time Zone.

Term of of Employment: This position is offered on an annual fixed-term contract, renewable based on satisfactory performance and continued project needs.

Position Summary

The Grants & Compliance Manager will oversight grants and compliance activities under the Thabat World Bank–funded project. The role ensures that all financial, programmatic, and operational activities are fully compliant with World Bank regulations, donor contractual requirements, and organizational policies. The role operates within the organization’s established Ethics and Compliance framework. The position maintains strong coordination with Country Program Ethics & Compliance Manager. The role serves as the focal point for grant compliance within the Thabat project but operates within the broader institutional compliance architecture, ensuring harmonization with organizational systems, tools, reporting lines, and escalation protocols. The role holder must be able to demonstrate experience working with World Bank–funded projects with solid experience in managing Client Connect, Financial Reporting, STEP and Bank’s Audit requirements.

A critical responsibility of this role is to establish and maintain a robust reporting and tracking system that monitors donor deliverables, deadlines, and compliance obligations. The position involves proactive monitoring of grant processes across multiple states, the implementation of rigorous compliance systems, and the provision of technical guidance to hub and state-level teams in Medani, Darfur, and other project locations.

The Grants & Compliance Manager will also oversee sub-granting processes in collaboration with the Country Program Ethics & Compliance Manager and Regional R&C teams, ensuring due diligence, monitoring, and documentation are conducted in accordance with organizational standards and global compliance guidance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Grants Management & Compliance

• Maintain an up-to-date compliance tracker for all donor deliverables, deadlines, and contractual obligations, ensuring alignment with country reporting systems.
• Tracking donor reporting and ensuring timely preparation and submission of narrative and financial reports in coordination with Program and Finance teams, and in compliance with World Bank and organizational requirements.
• Track and follow up on all World Bank requests, conditions, and agreed actions throughout project implementation, ensuring documentation and accountability are maintained.
• Provide regular compliance updates, risk analysis, and status reports to the Project Management Unit, and share relevant compliance information with the Country Program Ethics & Compliance Manager in line with established governance structures.
• Ensure timely internal reporting and escalation of compliance concerns, including but not limited to suspected fraud, misuse of funds, Environmental and Social Standards (ESS)–related issues, safeguarding concerns, or other breaches of donor or organizational policies, in close coordination with ESS Manager and the Country Program Ethics & Compliance Manager and in accordance with organizational incident reporting protocols.
• Coordinate Annual Audit preparations in collaboration with Finance and the Country Program Ethics & Compliance Manager, including development of Audit ToR, preparation of audit trails and supporting documentation, and follow-up on audit findings and corrective action plans

  2. Reporting & Tracking

• Establish and manage a centralized reporting system for donor deliverables and program milestones.
• Consolidate reports and data from state-level teams, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Monitor progress toward grant deliverables, identifying potential delays or risks, and coordinating corrective actions.
• Maintain documentation and records in compliance with audit and donor requirements.

3. Sub-Granting & Partner Oversight

• Lead the full cycle of sub-grant management, including development and dissemination of RFAs.
• Conduct due diligence and organizational capacity assessments of potential sub-grantees.
• Draft, review, and monitor sub-grant agreements to ensure clear deliverables and compliance obligations.
• Provide training and ongoing support to sub-grantees on compliance, reporting, and World Bank requirements.
• Monitor sub-grantee performance, conduct compliance visits, and address any issues of non-compliance.

4. Capacity Building & Technical Support

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to hub and state-level teams on grants management and compliance.
• Design and deliver training sessions on donor compliance, reporting, and documentation standards.
• Strengthen internal systems to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability across all project locations.
• Foster a culture of compliance, learning, and continuous improvement within the project.

5. Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Identify, document, and assess compliance risks related to grants and sub-grants in coordination with the Country Program Ethics & Compliance Manager, ensuring alignment with the country risk register and organizational risk management framework.
• Develop and monitor mitigation plans in collaboration with relevant program, finance, and operations teams, and escalate significant risks through established country and regional Risk & Compliance reporting channels.
• Ensure the project maintains continuous audit readiness by strengthening documentation, internal controls, and compliance monitoring mechanisms in line with organizational and donor standards.
• Coordinate external and internal audit processes in close collaboration with CP Finance and Ethics & Compliance Manager/s.
• Integrate lessons learned, audit recommendations, compliance reviews, and best practices into ongoing and future grants management processes, and share key insights with country and regional compliance forums to support institutional learning.

Basic Qualifications: 

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, International Development, Public Administration, or a related field (master’s degree preferred).

Professional Experience

• Must be able to demonstrate experience working with World Bank–funded projects with solid experience in managing Client Connect, Financial Reporting, STEP and Bank’s Audit requirements.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in grants management, compliance, and donor reporting within large-scale, donor-funded projects. Expereience in managing World Bank projects is required.
• Proven expertise in sub-grant management, including RFAs, due diligence assessments, agreement development, and compliance monitoring.
• Experience coordinating donor audits and managing compliance documentation.
• Strong track record of providing technical assistance and capacity building to multi-level project teams and local partners.
• Experience working in multi-state or fragile/conflict contexts is highly desirable.

Skills & Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of World Bank regulations, donor compliance frameworks, and financial reporting standards.
• Excellent analytical, risk management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• High proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with grant management systems; experience with World Bank reporting platforms (e.g., STEP, Client Connection) is an asset.
• Fluency in English required.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 5%.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Qualified female and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

CRS is Equal Opportunity Employer!

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