The Grants Manager (East Africa) will oversee and build upon a portfolio of 19 active grantee partners, while identifying and assessing promising new opportunities aligned with the Foundation’s mission to advance the education and wellbeing of children and young people. The role requires a balance of analytical rigour, relationship management and strategic insight – ensuring that each partnership is well-supported and aligned with the Foundation’s mission.
Key responsibilities
· Manage the East Africa portfolio of grantee partners, building strong relationships and evaluating governance, financials, operations, programmes and impact.
· Identify and assess new funding opportunities, presenting high-potential partners and recommendations to the Board.
· Support delivery of the Foundation’s five-year strategy and continuous improvement of grant-making systems and processes.
· Conduct portfolio analyses and sector reviews, providing comparative insights and identifying opportunities to strengthen the portfolio.
· Organise and lead virtual and in-person meetings and site visits with grantee partners and those under consideration for the East Africa portfolio.
· Work with the Director of Grants to expand the Foundation’s presence and reputation within East Africa’s and the global philanthropic community and education sector.
· Build relationships with peer funders to explore co-funding, collaboration and shared learning opportunities.
· Contribute to other regional portfolios (Canada and UK) when required, in line with team priorities and capacity.
· Undertake additional tasks that support the Foundation’s goals and the effective delivery of its strategy.
Candidate Profile
· 10+ years’ professional experience, including at least 5 years in decision-making roles within philanthropy or the non-profit sector in East Africa, ideally in education.
· Self-motivated and highly organised with strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
· Deep understanding of the political economy of education in East Africa, and what constitutes an effective non-profit organisation – including governance, finance, programme design and impact measurement.
· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to produce clear, concise and insightful reports and information briefs of the highest quality.
· Strong emotional intelligence, maturity and cultural sensitivity, with the ability to effectively navigate complex grantor/grantee relationships.
· Demonstrated success in building relationships and partnerships with both non-profit organisations and philanthropic organisations.
Please submit your CV, a cover letter outlining your interest and suitability, and two samples of your own written work by midnight on Friday 12th December 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly encouraged.