Country Grants Manager, Philippines

Development Alternatives, Inc.; Philippines; On-site; PHP 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Development Alternatives, Inc. in the Philippines seeks a Country Grants Manager to lead grant design, selection and management across COAST’s country portfolio.

The role ensures grant processes align with COAST principles of partnership and collaboration and works closely with the Country Team Leader to support reporting and learning across the portfolio. The Country Grants Manager will serve as a principal contact for grantees from application to closeout, coordinate with Finance, MEL and

Responsibilities

• Lead country grant competitions and management processes.
• Develop competition plans with timelines, budgets, evaluation and materials.
• Design and deliver applicant engagement events to improve volume and quality.
• Facilitate co-creation of direct-award applications aligned with COAST priorities.
• Configure COAST E-Platform, guide applicants and assessors, log improvements.
• Manage applicant queries, ensuring equal and consistent access to information.
• Coordinate transparent evaluations, including contracting and training evaluators.
• Oversee due diligence and contracting, including letters, agreements and milestones.
• Lead grantee kickoff meetings, set reporting schedules and onboarding with COAST MEL and Finance teams.
• Serve as grantee point of contact, update delivery status and elevate risks to leadership.
• Review milestones, flag risks and provide feedback for client reporting.
• Monitor grant forecasts with COAST Finance and MEL teams and aid delivery improvements.
• Integrate grantee learning into priorities and programme improvements.

Job description

Job position: Country Grants Manager, Philippines

Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) Facility

Background

The COAST Country Grants Manager (Country GM) will support the design, selection and management of the grants across their country portfolio – providing oversight and management for all grants made in the relevant priority country. The Country Grant Manager will ensure that the grant processes, applications and grant management aligns with COAST Facility’s principles of partnership and collaboration.

The Country Grant Manager will work closely with the Finance Manager, MEL Manager, and Country Team Leader to ensure the grant activities effectively contribute to the wider COAST country objectives and strategy. The Country Grants Manager will support on collated reporting across the grant portfolio including results data and learning. The Grant Manager will be responsible for providing consistent and supportive point of contact for COAST’s grantee partners from application to close out including trouble shooting and risk management communication to the Country Team Leader and the facilitation of problem resolution.

The Country Grants Manager is a full-time role based in the Country Team Office and will be line managed by the COAST Country Team Leader. The Country Grants Manager will work closely with the Head of Grants and Technical Assistance to provide coherence across all grant management approaches for COAST.

Roles and Responsibilities

Grant process management and oversight:

• Lead country grant competitions and management processes, including solicitation, screening, evaluation, due diligence, contracting and onboarding.
• Improve COAST grant management processes and establish country-level systems with the Head of Grants and Technical Assistance and Deputy Team Leader.

Country Grant Competitions coordination and oversight:

• Develop competition plans covering timelines, budgets, evaluation, team responsibilities and tailored application materials.
• Design and deliver applicant engagement events to improve application volume and quality.
• Facilitate co-creation of direct-award applications aligned with COAST priorities.
• Configure the COAST E-Platform, tailor applicant and assessor guidance, troubleshoot issues and log improvements.
• Manage applicant queries, ensuring equal and consistent access to information and requirements.
• Coordinate transparent, accountable evaluations, including contracting and training evaluators where needed.
• Lead moderation meetings and submit recommendations to Defra in line with COAST’s Schedule of Authority.

Grantee Contracting, Mobilisation and Management

• Oversee due diligence and contracting, including offer letters, agreements, annexes, payment milestones and special conditions.
• Lead grantee kick-off meetings, agree reporting schedules and complete onboarding with COAST MEL and Finance teams.
• Serve as the grantee point of contact, maintain proactive communication, update delivery status and elevate risks to the Country Team Leader.
• Review milestones and supporting evidence, flag risks and achievements for client reporting, and provide clear feedback to grantees.
• With COAST Finance Managers, review grantee forecasts and financial performance and provide feedback to improve delivery.
• With COAST MEL Managers, review MEL reporting and help grantees improve reporting and understanding of the project logframe.
• Monitor compliance with grant agreements and guidelines, consolidate country-team feedback and track performance in the Delivery Tracker.
• Coordinate Traffic Light Report input sessions.
• Oversee grant amendments, including financial and programmatic changes, due diligence and monitoring requirements.
• With the Country Team Leader and Head of Grants and Technical Assistance, integrate grantee learning into priorities and processes.
• Analyse portfolio finances and contribute to country and programme forecasting, narrative and results reporting.
• With COAST Finance Managers, consolidate country grant forecasts, keeping quarterly variance within 5% of actuals.
• Identify opportunities to scale, replicate and share portfolio learning.
• With the Head of Grants and Technical Assistance, develop grantee feedback loops to inform programme improvements, reporting and annual reviews.
• Identify capacity-building needs and coordinate targeted support for applicants and grantees.
• Coordinate with Grant, MEL and GEDSI colleagues to report against the COAST logframe, cross-cutting themes and targets.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the advert will close once suitable candidates have been shortlisted for subsequent steps in the application process.