STAY CONNECTED

JOBS

Job Title: Grants Administrator

Applications due June 1, 2012

Reports to: Program Officer

BACKGROUND

The Firelight Foundation is a public charity based in Santa Cruz, California, USA. The mission of the Firelight Foundation is to improve the well being of children made vulnerable by HIV, AIDS and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Firelight provides grants of US$1,000 - 15,000 to community-focused organizations that support families and communities to meet the material, educational, and psychosocial needs of children. We strive to make grants that support local initiatives and leadership, strengthen the community’s capacity to address its own needs, and are sensitive to the capacity of smaller groups to absorb and utilize funds. To date, Firelight has made over 1,200 grants totaling $16 million to organizations serving children in sub-Saharan Africa.

OVERALL FUNCTION

The Grants Administrator works closely with the team to enhance effectiveness of the grantmaking procedures and implementation of system-wide improvements. The Grants Administrator will play a critical role in grant processing, tracking data and information, ensuring legal and administrative compliance and sharing information. The Grants Administrator position is pivotal to Firelight’s ability to enhance and sustain the quality of its core grantmaking functions.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Monitors Foundation’s regulatory compliance with IRS regulations, Patriot Act, and Treasury Guidelines, as well as audit and internal policies.
Leads team efforts to enhance and streamline grantmaking systems and procedures.
Generates grant contracts, processes payments, and monitors grant reporting.
Administers grants management database and monitors integrity of grants data.
Produces standard and customized data reports.
Assists in the production and assembly of Advisory Council meeting materials.
Supports Program Officer in overall administrative and programmatic management of grant portfolio, including preparing grant files, review of report and proposals, data coding and data entry, initial draft and final formatting of funding recommendations, closing of grants, and research.
Responsible for grantee communications, including responding to inquiries, inviting proposals, sending declines, acknowledging proposals and reports; and sending final report reminders.
Writes up both internal and external documents.
Leads special projects as assigned.

EXPECTATIONS

Strong logic and analytic thinking.
Excellent writing and oral communications skills.
Impeccable attention to detail. Strong work ethic.
Strong project management skills, planful, highly organized, and systematic.
Effective time management and skilful multi-tasking and prioritizing to meet competing deadlines.
Balanced, reasoned and creative problem-solving.
Ability to handle sensitive information with diplomacy and discretion.
Timely, respectful, and engaging communication with a wide range of grassroots organizations.
Outstanding interpersonal relationship skills with demonstrated ability work well with diverse groups of people, personalities, and situations.
High degree of professionalism, respect, and collegiality in both internal and external interactions.
Understanding of financial information in budgets.
Excellent team player and team facilitator.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree.
Highly competent computer skills including Excel and MSWord.
Database administration and data management.
Data analysis and data presentation skills.
At least 3 - 5 years professional work experience.

PREFERRED

Commitment to Firelight’s mission to serve community-based organizations responding to the needs of vulnerable children and families and Firelight’s values to respect local leadership and ownership.
Familiarity with Mac applications and relational databases, such as Filemaker Pro.
Prior experience in grants administration or systems administration.
Authorization to work in the United States.
Self-starter, creative, and adaptive.
Good sense of humor.

The Firelight Foundation values flexibility, innovation and collaboration in our approach to grantmaking. We operate with a small, creative staff in Santa Cruz, CA. We actively collaborate with other foundations to promote awareness of the issues facing children and communities in Africa, to engage in strategic problem-solving and to enhance our effectiveness as grantmakers. We work closely with our Advisory Council and Program Consultants in Africa to develop a grantmaking program that supports local expertise and enhances communities’ capacity to support vulnerable children and families.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Send updated CV, cover letter, and writing sample by June 1, 2012 to jobs@firelightfoundation.org or by fax to 831-429-2036 (e-mail submissions preferred). Please note “Grants Administrator” in subject line of e-mail or fax. Only persons short-listed for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Full benefits include: medical/dental/vision/acupuncture/chiropractic coverage, generous vacation, life insurance and a retirement plan.

The Firelight Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

^ Back to Top