Head of Grants and Consultancy (HGC)

Position Summary: The Head of Grants and Consultancy (HGC) provides dynamic operational and technical leadership for the Grants and Consultancy unit. Reporting directly to the Director of Research, Innovation, and Outreach (DRIO), the HGC is responsible for executing the Institute's resource mobilisation strategy, expanding the consultancy portfolio, and driving the operational growth agenda. The successful candidate will coordinate the conceptualisation, development, and submission of high-value proposals while ensuring rigorous project management and donor compliance across all secured interventions.

B. Key Responsibilities

The Head of Grants and Consultancy is vested with the responsibility and authority required to manage the unit's portfolio in alignment with IEPA’s operational guidelines. Major responsibilities include:

● Operationalise Resource Mobilisation: Translate the strategic vision of the DRIO into actionable work plans to diversify IEPA’s revenue streams through targeted grant acquisition and competitive institutional consultancies.

●  Proposal Coordination & Technical Writing: Lead the hands-on development, writing, and editing of complex, multi-year institutional grant proposals and consultancy expressions of interest (EOIs) targeted at international development partners, foundations, and governments.

●  Pipeline & Landscape Management: Maintain a robust, proactive tracking system for upcoming funding opportunities, tenders, and donor calls relevant to IEPA's core mandates in educational planning, leadership, and policy.

●  Partnership Support & Stakeholder Engagement: Support the DRIO in cultivating and maintaining relationships with bilateral/multilateral donors, civil society organisations, and institutional partners to position IEPA for collaborative bidding opportunities.

● Project Governance & Quality Assurance: Oversee the implementation of all secured grants and consultancies, ensuring project teams meet contractual deliverables, adhere to strict timelines, and maintain high standards of output quality.

● Compliance, Risk & Financial Oversight: Monitor donor compliance frameworks and reporting requirements. Work closely with the finance team to ensure accurate budget development, expenditure tracking, and transparent financial acquittal.

● Capacity Building & Team Mentorship: Build the capacity of research associates, academic staff, and unit members by providing technical guidance, coaching, and mentorship in proposal development, budgeting, and project management.

●Reporting & Impact Documentation: Compile comprehensive progress reports and impact assessments for the DRIO, documenting technical achievements, financial performance, and institutional reach.

C. Key Competencies

● Technical Proposal Mastery: Exceptional expertise in writing, structuring, and reviewing technical proposals and budgets for major international development funders.

● Project & Portfolio Management: Strong operational acumen with a track record of successfully managing complex, multi-stakeholder consultancies or grant-funded projects.

● Donor Framework Literacy: Deep understanding of procurement processes, compliance metrics, and reporting mechanisms used by international agencies (e.g., UNESCO, World Bank, regional development banks).

● Collaborative Leadership: Proven ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams of researchers and technical experts under tight, deadline-driven environments.

● Professional Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex educational and developmental concepts clearly to diverse external audiences.

D. Qualification and Experience

● Academic Qualification: A Master’s degree in Educational Leadership/Planning, Business Administration, International Development, Project Management, Finance, Public Policy, or a related discipline from a recognised university. A PhD will be a distinct advantage.

● Professional Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressive, post-qualification experience in a management or senior technical capacity, with a strong focus on resource mobilisation, grant writing, and consultancy management. Experience within a higher education institution or international agency is highly desirable.

● Track Record: A verifiable history of successful grant acquisition and the end-to-end management of high-impact educational or public-sector consultancies.

●Team Leadership: Demonstrated experience in coordinating, coaching, and mentoring technical teams or proposal writers to achieve institutional growth targets.

●  Professional Affiliation: Active membership in a relevant, recognised professional body.