Officer, Grant Management

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NS). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member NSs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Societies Development (NSD) and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has CCD and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Under the umbrella of the Federation’s Country Cluster Delegation, the ARC provides support for Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) National Societies (NS) implementing programmes in the area of DM/DP, Capacity Building and other general support that arises between ARC and RCRC through client services, and mutual relationship building between RCRC Societies. ARC is expanding its projects in the region and needs support to do this.

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The American Red Cross International Service Department seeks to strengthen our local partners in the global Red Cross Red Crescent Network to deliver critical assistance across the disaster management cycle.

The Grant Management Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in the Panama Division Office and reports directly to the Deputy Director, is responsible for ensuring that grants within the assigned portfolio are developed and implemented in compliance with internal standards, donor requirements, and applicable regulations.

This role supports effective grant management by coordinating with internal teams to monitor deliverables, ensure timely donor reporting, and uphold financial accountability. It ensures that grant funds are used in accordance with donor agreements and principles of the American Red Cross and the movement.

The ideal candidate has experience in grants and donor relations, communicates clearly across audiences, and brings strong organizational skills, adaptability, and commitment to collaboration and inclusion.

Country Portfolio Oversight

• Maintain and analyze data on country portfolios.
• Support program teams in resolving grant issues and adapting to changes.
• Organize internal meetings and provide tools to strengthen project effectiveness.
• Act as a liaison for donors, partners, and internal stakeholders.

Grants Administration & Compliance

• Ensure donor and internal compliance throughout the grant lifecycle from proposal to close-out.
• Oversee agreements and amendments, including sub-awardee due diligence with Grants Compliance and Agreements unit support.
• Ensure timely and high-quality submission of donor documents.
• Drafts and/or copy edits proposals and donor reports, and as needed, coordinates the process for developing specific concepts and proposals and sub-awards, and facilitates translations of relevant documentation.

Grants Monitoring

• Assist in developing project proposals and sub-awards.
• Track program progress with country teams to ensure timely, compliant delivery.
• Support division meetings and maintain monitoring systems and dashboards.
• Identify financial and operational risks.

Other Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers.
• Participate in special projects or other tasks relevant to the position, as assigned by the Deputy Director, and in alignment with evolving programmatic needs and organizational priorities.

Cross-Cutting Functions

• Promote collaboration with key partners to ensure that cross-cutting themes such as protection, inclusion, community engagement, safeguarding, and others are integrated into our programs.

Confidentiality

• Maintain strict moral confidentiality and do not disclose or spread any confidential or sensitive
• Organize archives of all reports and documents, and treat them as confidential material

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education degree in a relevant field
• Master’s Degree in a relevant field, preferred

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience
• Prior track record in successful grants management
• Strong experience managing complex programmatic portfolios on tight timelines essential
• Proven track record supporting the delivery of programmes on time, scope and budget
• Field experience working in developing countries managing disaster response, disaster preparedness, or recovery programmes, preferred
• Experience working with local partner organizations, preferred
• Experience recruiting and supervising volunteers, preferred

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively and in a collegial fashion with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures
• Responsible, self-motivated, and work well in both team and matrix structures
• Willing to maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate time zone differences, deadlines and responsibilities related to surge assignments
• Up to 25% international travel required with possible long assignments to support country or regional priorities.

LANGUAGES

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Proficiency in relevant languages, preferred

Core competencies a high degree of competence in Teamwork; integrity & professional personal conduct; sensitivity to diversity; flexibility & adaptability; proactive, and regularly taking initiative; Problem solving and solution focusing; accountability; good interpersonal skills.

Management competencies - a high degree of competence in management of monitoring and reporting; management of communication and networking; management of self and management of resources