Associate Grants Management Officer
Organizational Context
The Partnerships Division (DPA) coordinates UNESCO's public and private partners, including bilateral donors, UN organizations, regional institutions, civil society, philanthropy, foundations, and corporations. Its mission is to diversify and expand UNESCO's donor base and provide support and guidance to UNESCO Programme Sectors, Field Offices, and Category 1 Institutes. The Division is responsible for developing strategies for partnership and resource mobilization, and it manages Grants Agreements.
Job Purpose
Under the authority of the Director of the Division for Partnerships and the direct supervision of the Grants Management Officer, the Associate Grants Management Officer will contribute to the review of donor funding agreements. This role supports the Agreement Management Unit in guiding implementing units on funding agreements and ensuring their proper recording. The incumbent will assist in coordinating internal consultations with services like Legal Affairs and Financial Services, and support validation processes for agreement signatures. They will also provide advice on setting up funding agreements and donor negotiations, process requests for agreement implementation, and oversee the upload of signed agreements and related information into ERP Systems.
Responsibilities
Provide support to the Grants Management Officer in reviewing funding agreements, assessing them against standard templates or previously signed non-standard agreements, and offering comments for decision-making. Assist in coordinating internal consultations with relevant services such as Legal Affairs, Ethics, and Financial Services. Support validation processes, including requests for delegation of authority for signing funding agreements. Offer advice to Programme Specialists at Headquarters, Field Offices, and Category I Institutes on setting up funding agreements and negotiating with donors. Backstop the processing of requests related to funding agreement implementation, including amendments for extensions and budget revisions. Oversee the upload of signed agreements and related information, such as amendments and reports, into ERP Systems. Maintain an up-to-date monitoring list of funding agreements under review to ensure accurate pipeline information. Contribute to internal briefing notes for senior management, policy development in grants management, standard funding agreement templates, and internal guidance notes, fostering institutional memory.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in Agreements Management or a related field is necessary. Preferably, one year of this experience should have been acquired at the international level. Experience in multicultural working environments is also beneficial.
Skills
Requires a strong understanding of Agreements Management processes, particularly funding agreement review. Demonstrated knowledge of the international donor landscape is essential. Excellent written and oral communication skills are needed. Ability to work effectively in a team, participate in meetings, and maintain good working relationships in a multicultural setting is important. Flexibility to manage competing priorities and organize workloads to meet deadlines is also required.