Grants Officer - Fixed Term. Berlin. Posting Date: 09/04/2026. Deadline: 09/17/2026
Role Title:Grants Officer – Fixed Term
Contract Type:Fixed Term Contract
Workstyle Arrangement: Hybrid
Reporting To:Associate Director, Grants Management
Department:Grants Management
Location:Amman and Berlin
Team Name:Grants Management
Opportunity or TeamDescription
The Grants Officer will manage complex strategic grantmaking activities, including grant triage, due diligence, monitoring,complianceand closeout. The role will also conductthe equivalencydeterminationprocess, supportnon-US fundedgrant administration and address conflicts of interest, sanctions,and dataprivacy requirements.
Role Purpose
The Fixed-Term Grants Officer will provide specialist capacity across complex strategic grant-making activities, withparticularresponsibilityfor processingequivalencydeterminations and reviewing and closingnon-US fundedgrants. The role will conduct pre- and post-award due diligence,monitorgrant compliance, maintainaccurategrant data, and address sanctions, conflictsofinterest(COI), dataprivacyand wider regulatory risks. The Grants Officer will also support urgent leadershipdirected grants and help ensure thatgrantmakingactivities are delivered accurately, efficiently andin accordance withfundingentity requirements and Open Society policies.
KeyResponsibilities
AsaGrantsOfficer, you will:
- Conduct and train staff on Grants Management processes for equivalency determination.
- Contribute to planning the annual funding cycle to estimatefundingresourceallocation requirements throughout the year.
- Liaise with Finance and Accounting & Compliance on Open Society audits and in preparing financial statements.
- Conduct pre-awardandpost-award due diligence to ensure that grants are consistent with funding entityrequirements,comply withOpenSocietyFOSIrequirements and foundation policies for Opportunities and othergrantmakingprograms.
- Coordinate with Opportunity and otherprogram staff to ensure proposal compliance review, structure of grant award, issuing of grant letters, payments and amendments, and the review of reports and closeout of grants aretimelyand efficient.
- Educate and train Grants Management and Open Society staff on grant award compliance,grantmakingprocess and procedures,GrantSmith, and Power BI.
- Collaborate and serve as a resource to Grant Associates and other Grants Management colleagues.
- Conduct Grants Management processes forOffice of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)and COI compliance.
- Assistin processes for data privacy.
- Assure integrity of data in thegrantmakingsystem and provide reporting and analysis.
- Monitor grant payment schedules and program budgets.
- Liaise with Communications, Finance, Information Technology, Office of General Council, and other departments and outside organizations and/or affinity groups on matters of shared interest.
- Develop, document, revise and implement Grants Management policies, procedures, documents, templates, and multimedia materials.
- Participate in staff meetings.
- Manage internal Grants Management operations.
- Contribute to special projects.
The ideal candidate(essential criteria)
Essential Education
- A university degree at BA or BSc level.
- Relevant professional experience within a large and complex nonprofit, foundation,or internationalgrantmakingorganization.
- Demonstrable experience making and administering grants to organizations and/or individuals.
- Direct, hands-on experience processingequivalencydeterminations and working with specialist vendors.
- Demonstrable experience processing and closingnon-US fundedgrants.
- Experience reviewing grant reports and conducting pre-award and post-award due diligence.
- Experience applying OFAC sanctions, conflictsofinterest or comparable grantcompliance controls.
- Strong understanding of goodgrantmakingpractice and howgrantmakingsupports program strategy.
- DemonstratedproficiencyusingGrantSmithand Power BI, or closely comparablegrantsmanagementand reporting tools.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data and evidence to make informed decisions.
- Proven projectmanagement, organizational and prioritization skills.
- Excellent written and spoken English and German.
- Availability to travel approximately50%tooffice under the applicable hybrid-working model.
Essential Experience
- A university degree at BA or BSc level.
- Relevant professional experience within a large and complex nonprofit, foundation or internationalgrantmakingorganization.
- Demonstrable experience making and administering grants to organizations and/or individuals.
- Direct, hands-on experience processing Equivalency Determinations and working with specialist ED vendors.
- Demonstrable experience processing and closing FOSI grants.
- Experience reviewing grant reports and conducting pre-award and post-award due diligence.
- Experience applying OFAC, sanctions, conflictsofinterest or comparable grant-compliance controls.
- Strong understanding of goodgrantmakingpractice and howgrantmakingsupportsprogramstrategy.
- DemonstratedproficiencyusingGrantSmithand Power BI, or closely comparable grantsmanagement and reporting tools.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data and evidence to make informed decisions.
- Proven projectmanagement, organizational and prioritization skills.
Desirable Experience
- Experience supporting grant, financial,or compliance audits.
- Experience preparing information for regulatory filings or financial statements.
- Experience training or coaching colleagues on grantsmanagement processes.
- Knowledge of Arabic or another relevant language.
- Previousexperience working across multiplejurisdictions,culturesand time zones.
Travel
- Travel isrequired. Travel frequencyis 30% of working days per year.
Functional Competencies
- Strongproficiencyin Microsoft 365, CRM tools, and digital organization platforms, including the ability to use technology to organize work, track priorities, manage information, and improve administrative processes.
- Exposure tocompliance requirements to ensure the organization adheres to laws and regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to use verbal and written communication to deliver support for multiple professionals including in the virtual environment.
- Ability to handle information with the utmost confidentiality.
- A proactive,serviceorientedapproach to resolving administrative issues and improving processes.
Personal Competencies
- Demonstrates commitment to Open Society’s core values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity,and integrity
- Strong analytical mindset.
- Strong interpersonal skills enabling relationship building at various levels within and outside the organization, with sensitivity to cultural differences.
- Demonstrated resourcefulness and self-motivation, able to work independently and solve problems creatively.
- Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion by recognizing and responding positively to individual and group differences in the workplace and beyond. Building an inclusive workplace by respecting and seeking out diverse viewpoints and perspectives.
What we offer
- Exceptionalopportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
- Excellentbenefits andperksto promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance,including:
- Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
- Staffare required towork in an Open Society office 50% of working days per month.
- Employerpaid health insurance for individuals and families (no employee contributionrequired).
- Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
- Progressive paid parental leave,reproductiveand family planning support, and much more.
- A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.
WHO WE ARE
Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.
Guided by our founder’s values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.
Competitive rates of pay apply.
Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.
This position was originally posted by OSF and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
