About IRRI

Job Purpose

The Position will manage IRRI’s active portfolio through sound negotiation of grant contracts with donors and sub-agreements with partners, ensure grant quality assurance and compliance that includes the execution of grant contracts, high-level monitoring of grants, prompt submission of project reports and other requirements to donors, and grant contract closure. Maintain good relationships with active donors and partners by ensuring IRRI’s contractual obligations in projects and grants are complied with, and contribute to establishing associations with new or emerging donors. Lead the development and/or improvement of appropriate work processes for the Portfolio Management team to ensure the efficient delivery of high-quality services to stakeholders within and outside of IRRI. Develop new tools and improve existing systems or platforms in disseminating research project outputs to internal external stakeholders, partners and donors. Engage with key internal stakeholders including Portfolio Development, Business Development, Finance, Communication & Advocacy, IRRI Tech Transfer, and all Research Units to ensure that relevant services, processes, and products that involve or refer to project grants and donors (e.g., donor profiles, communication materials, contracts, annual reports, newsletters, etc.), are based on accurate and updated information. Manage the performance of the unit members and foster adequate coordination and sharing of information. The Manager will report to the Head of Portfolio Development and Management.

This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and may only be filled by permanent citizens of the Philippines.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Head of Portfolio Development and Management Office, supervise the IRRI portfolio management team handling grant contracts development, donor compliance and reporting, partner agreements negotiations and sub-awards development
• Support the contract negotiations of IRRI’s projects by ensuring that contract terms and conditions uphold the standards of IRRI and aligned with donor requirements, and facilitate the internal clearance of contracts through to signing/execution
• Supervise the drafting, review, and processing of IRRI’s general agreements with host country partners based on guidance from the relevant country and regional representative and other relevant IRRI officials, to ensure sound presence of IRRI in key global countries and hub in the short term and long term following IRRI’s standards
• Manage and supervise liaising with donors to ensure IRRI’s compliance to contractual requirements of projects and other agreements
• Manage and supervise the review, execution, monitoring, and closure of IRRI’s sub-agreements with project partners
• Manage and identify process improvements in the use and maintenance of IRRI’s project management system (currently, Unit 4 ERP)
• Review and identify risks associated with the active portfolio and recommend ways to help mitigate the risks in coordination with other key offices and stakeholders in IRRI
• Coordinate with other units within PDMO, particularly Business Development and Portfolio Development, as well as other stakeholders in IRRI, especially Finance, Legal, Tech Transfer, Communications & Advocacy, and Research, to ensure complementation of processes, services, and products (e.g., agreements, contracts, project reports) in support of the Institute’s mission
• Work closely with key offices that include Units / teams within Finance, Legal and Human Resource in providing institutional high-level project management support in executing contracts, implementation and project closure
• Contribute to the initiatives of the PDMO in maximizing IRRI’s resource mobilization efforts by providing consistent, high-standard institutional support and standardized support in the processing of project agreements, general agreements, sub-award partner agreements, monitoring and ensuring contract compliance, and project closing initiatives
• Monitor/supervise the development of grant agreements, general agreements and partner agreements and provide recommendations to uphold IRRI’s standards in consonance with a partner or donor’s own standards
• Supervise the Portfolio management team to ensure that grant reports, due diligence and compliance documents follow IRRI’s and donor’s standards and are provided in a timely manner from inception until project closure
• Assess donors’ and partners’ grant and project management policies, standards, and practices to identify potential risks or challenges to IRRI’s ability to comply
• Coordinate with different units to identify and recommend steps to improve IRRI’s grant compliance and quality assurance

Qualifications

• Masters or Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Research, Economics, public management, finance, law, or international development

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Minimum of 6-8 years of excellent and relevant experience in managing grant management and donor relations in a large portfolio of similar International Organizations such as but not limited to IRRI
• Demonstrated excellence and ability to liaise with international and national donors, public, civil society, and private sector organizations
• Excellent knowledge of project management practices in the setting of an International Organization
• Proficiency in grants and contracts review and assessment
  

Preferred

• Has worked with an International Organization; Has liaised with donors and partners, basic understanding of how budget works for International Organizations
• Ability to synthesize and summarize large volume of information quickly and communicate the main points to stakeholders

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.