Care Best Initiative (CBI) is a fast-growing, woman-led, and youth-driven Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 2019 and presently operational in states within North-East, Nigeria. Our objectives are to save lives, alleviate the suffering of children, women, and other vulnerable people; and maintain human dignity during and in the aftermath of man-made crises and natural disasters; as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations; and to promote the right of children, women and vulnerable people in the society. Our actions are multi-sectorial inclined, gender-sensitive, and socially inclusive.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Grant Officer
Location Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Contract
Department: Program
Reports to: Program Coordinator
Purpose of Role
- The Grants Officer will be responsible for identifying and securing funding opportunities to support Care Best Initiative’s (CBI) programs.
- This includes researching potential donors, developing high-quality grant proposals, and ensuring alignment with CBI’s mission, strategic goals, and donor priorities.
- The officer will collaborate closely with program teams to design impactful project concepts, develop budgets, and establish performance indicators that meet donor and organizational requirements.
- Additionally, they will oversee the entire grants management lifecycle, from award negotiation and compliance monitoring to financial tracking and timely reporting.
- While the Grants Officer will focus primarily on funding acquisition and compliance, they will also work closely with the finance and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) teams to ensure proper documentation and adherence to donor regulations.
- They will support internal capacity-building efforts by training staff on grant compliance, financial accountability, and reporting standards.
- Through a proactive approach to grant management, the Grants Officer will play a vital role in ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of CBI’s humanitarian and development initiatives.
- They will be responsible for resource mobilization and support for grant management for CBI-Nigeria.
- They will report to the Program Coordinator.
Job Description / Accountabilities
- Conduct in-depth research on funding opportunities from international organizations, government agencies, and private foundations, ensuring alignment with CBI’s mission and strategic objectives.
- Maintain an organized and updated database of potential donors, tracking funding cycles, eligibility criteria, and priority areas to support proactive grant-seeking efforts.
- Lead the drafting and submission of high-quality grant proposals, ensuring adherence to donor guidelines, strong program alignment, and inclusion of well-structured budgets and work plans.
- Oversee the implementation of awarded grants, ensuring compliance with donor agreements, adherence to reporting timelines, and fulfillment of financial accountability standards.
- Collaborate with finance teams to develop and manage grant budgets, track expenditures, and ensure funds are allocated appropriately in line with donor requirements.
- Work with M&E teams to collect accurate project performance data, develop grant impact reports, and ensure timely submission of financial and narrative reports to donors.
- Identify potential financial and programmatic risks associated with grant implementation and collaborate with relevant teams to develop proactive mitigation strategies.
- Train program and finance staff on grant compliance, reporting requirements, and financial accountability, ensuring adherence to donor regulations and organizational policies.
- Maintain accurate and well-organized grant records, support internal and external audits, and ensure all necessary documentation is readily available for compliance checks.
- Stay updated on donor policies, industry best practices, and regulatory changes, ensuring CBI remains compliant with evolving funding requirements and grant administration standards.
Staff Performance Management, Learning, and Development:
- Support a collaborative and inclusive work environment, fostering teamwork and mutual respect among grants staff to enhance productivity and efficiency in grant-related tasks.
- Provide ongoing supervision and mentorship to direct-report staff, ensuring clear expectations, setting achievable performance objectives, and conducting structured performance evaluations to track progress and address areas for improvement.
- Identify capacity-building needs within the grants team and develop structured training plans, including workshops, on-the-job coaching, and peer learning sessions to enhance grant writing, compliance, and financial management skills.
- Facilitate professional growth opportunities by encouraging participation in external grant management courses, donor engagement forums, and relevant industry training to strengthen technical expertise and career development.
- Work closely with Human Resources to document and address any performance-related concerns within the grants team, ensuring adherence to CBI’s employment policies and best practices in staff management.
- Promote staff well-being by encouraging a balanced workload, providing necessary support to mitigate stress, and fostering an environment that grants staff feel valued and motivated in their roles.
- Ensure proper time management within the grants department by approving and tracking attendance, leave requests, and monthly timesheet submissions, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and grant implementation timelines.
Job Requirements
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in international development, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field.
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
- Professional certification in Grant Management, Project Management (PMP, PRINCE2), or Financial Management (such as Certified Grants Management Specialist – CGMS) is highly desirable. Specialized training in donor compliance, proposal writing, or nonprofit financial management is an added advantage.
- Strong proficiency in grant management software, financial reporting tools, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is required.
Experience:
- Experience Requirements for a Grants Officer
- At least 3 years of experience in grant writing, grants management, or fundraising, preferably within the NGO or development sector.
- Proven track record of securing funding from institutional donors, government agencies, foundations, or multilateral organizations.
- Experience in grant administration, compliance, and financial reporting, ensuring adherence to donor guidelines and regulatory requirements.
- Strong background in budgeting and financial oversight, working closely with finance teams to develop and manage grant budgets.
- Hands-on experience in project monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, with the ability to translate programmatic impact into compelling grant reports.
- Familiarity with donor policies and funding mechanisms, including USAID, EU, UN agencies, DFID, FCDO, and private philanthropic organizations.
- Experience using grant management software and financial reporting tools to track funding opportunities, grant disbursements, and expenditure monitoring.
- Prior involvement in capacity-building initiatives, training internal teams on grant compliance, proposal development, and donor engagement strategies
Skills (Special Training or Competence):
- Ability to observe and understand cultural and social contexts and reflect the understandings in programming
- Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
- Strong community engagement and facilitation skills
- Attention to detail, keen at following procedures and meeting deadlines
- Ability to organize tasks simultaneously and prioritize work
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills working with cross-cultural and multi-diverse teams
- Ability to build strong working relationships for partnerships
- Standards of Professional Conduct especially integrity, service, and accountability
- Fluency in English Language
Key Behaviours:
- Interpersonal and intercultural sensitivity.
- Willingness to align with CBI’s core values, including empathy, integrity, and a commitment to service.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Social and receptive (active listener).
- High degree of integrity.
- Ability to work independently and as a part of the team, as the situation dictates.
- Proactive and ready to take initiative.
- Ability to assimilate and handle a wide range of information efficiently and effectively.
- High level of stress tolerance and ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision.
Key Relationships (excluding own line manager and staff):
- Internal:
- Program Coordinator
- Finance and Support Services team
- Various staff based in all CBI core departments, as and when necessary (e.g. funding, MEAL, finance, logistics and procurement, etc.)
- External:
- Partners
- Consultants
- Service Providers/Stakeholders (Other NGOs)
- Government agencies
- Community leaders/CBOs.
Application Closing Date
31st March, 2025.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply Online
Note
- Only applications submitted online will be reviewed
- Only one application email should be submitted as multiple submissions will be tantamount to automatic disqualification
- By submitting your application for this position, you agree to CBI ZERO Tolerance to:
- Fraud
- Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, Abuse, and Child Abuse
- Our employees enjoy a work culture that promotes diversity and inclusion.
- Care Best Initiative (CBI) provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.
- Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.