Job Description  

Grant Management Officer

About IM-Defensoras

The Mesoamerican Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (IM-Defensoras) is a local to regional alliance of diverse women, trans and non-binary human rights defenders (WHRDs), organizations and networks from Mexico and Central America. Created in 2010 as a united response to the heightened violence against Mesoamerican WHRDs, it is the first large-scale collective regional effort to prevent, document, denounce and expose acts of violence against WHRDs. It currently brings together close to 3,000 WHRDs and 240 organizations from diverse social movements and territories in various Mesoamerican countries.

IM-Defensoras pursues strategies of Feminist Holistic Protection (FHP) at the local, national, and regional level that help sustain efforts of Mesoamerican WHRDs to defend human rights under conditions of security, well-being, strong leadership, and autonomy. It provides WHRDs and their organizations with access to gender-sensitive and timely protection and empowerment resources and tools to combat gender-based and other forms of violence connected to their work.

Overview of the Position

We are seeking an experienced, bilingual (Spanish – English) professional to manage a portfolio of project grants awarded to IM-Defensoras. Key functions in this role are monitoring financial and programmatic project implementation, coordinating with IM-Defensoras teams to gather information, preparing reports and other donor requirements, and ensuring compliance with all requirements and deadlines of each grant.

IM-Defensoras operates in high-risk environments and thus requires someone with proven expertise in navigating such challenging contexts and realities. The position also requires excellent oral and written fluency in both Spanish and English. The ideal candidate will have a broad skill set as an effective communicator and proactive, collaborative team player, and bring technical expertise and detail-orientation to their work. IM-Defensoras carries out much of its work virtually, so experience and ease working and communicating online are important.

This is a full-time position that would start as soon as possible and is renewable on an annual basis.

Responsibilities

The Grant Management Officer manages IM-Defensoras’ project grants in coordination with the Resource Mobilization and Finance-Administration teams and Co-Executive Directors. Key functions are:

 

Project management:

• Understand all aspects of grant programmatic objectives and requirements including grant agreements, project deliverables, financial requirements, reporting, timelines, compliance issues and any other aspect for ensuring successful project management.

• Coordinate across several teams at the national and regional level on activities and budgets for each grant and their implementation; track progress on grant activities and expenditures; advise these teams in the preparation of narrative and financial reports, and revise reports as needed.

• Act as a bridge between teams to foster effective communication, coordination, shared understanding and cohesion on project grant implementation and outcomes; this role is the key point person for implementing teams regarding grant and financial reporting.

• Support ongoing communications with donors on matters relating to project grants.

 

Financial:

• Support the finance team with coding and justification (documentation) for expense allocations for project activities.

• Collaborate with the finance team on preparation of budgets and financial reports.

• Provide support during project audits and financial reviews.

 

Program:

• Work directly with teams in the development of proposals and funding applications ensuring they are aligned with annual workplans and budgets.

• Work directly with teams to ensure understanding of project grant activities and to track progress.

• Support strengthening of national teams in administrative and financial processes. 

• Produce narrative reports on program activities in coordination with resource mobilization teams.

 

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a role with similar functions in the non-profit sector, ideally with Mesoamerican feminist, women's and/or human rights organizations.

• Experience and understanding gained from management and monitoring of projects and grants from various types of foundations and donors, particularly Spanish State decentralized cooperation and other European institutional funding.

• Solid knowledge and skills relating to financial aspects of project grants, working with accounting ledgers, financial audits, etc.; experience working in accounting software is an asset.

• Proven experience of effective coordination and communication with diverse teams working in different cultural settings.

• Strong detail orientation and thoroughness of work – produces work with few errors.

• Proven problem-solving experience, with good analytical skills, judgment and ability to think strategically; discretion and ability to handle confidential matters.

• Excellent working knowledge of Spanish and English; good writing and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work proactively and collaboratively to meet multiple deadlines, at times under pressure.

• Post-secondary education in a related area.

• Commitment to women's human rights and social justice.

 

Compensation:

Salary to be determined, based on experience, with an allowance for retirement and health benefits. Annual paid leave is also provided. 

Location: we are looking for a person who could work remotely, preferably based in a Mesoamerican country.

How to apply?

Please submit a 1-page cover letter and CV in PDF format, explaining how you meet the qualifications and outlining why you want to work for IM-Defensoras to trabajos-jobs@im-defensoras.org.  Please put Grant Management Officer as the subject line of your email.

Deadline: February 28th, 2025.

IM-Defensoras is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment due to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other condition.

We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.