Grant Executive, LEAD at Krea University

About LEAD at Krea University

LEAD is an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act), leverages the power of research, innovation and co-creation to solve complex and pressing challenges in development. LEAD specialises in developing in-depth granular understanding of socio-economic contexts and harnessing actionable insights that have a wide range of applications in industry, policy, and academia. LEAD is a collaborative hub that brings experts from diverse disciplines and sectors together to develop innovative solutions by harnessing innovation, technology and analytics.

Position Overview

We are seeking a skilled Grant Executive to manage our grant management operations while providing essential financial management support. This role focuses primarily on grant lifecycle management, donor relations, and compliance (75%) with additional responsibilities in financial operations (25%).

Key Responsibilities

Grant Management (75% of role)

Grant Proposals with Budgets and Project Creation

• Support grant proposal
  and budget finalisation with collaboration team, project leads, and field teams;
• Support agreement preparation & signing of contracts and facilitate smooth project onboarding;
• Prepare and submit PI forms and maintain MMT master’s;
• Process donor compliance forms submission to IFMR and maintain comprehensive records;
• Manage agreement amendments including signing addendums and updating IFMR on revised clauses.

Grant Compliance & Donor Relations

• Ensure strict compliance tracking and adherence to all grant requirements and donor stipulations;
• Maintain reporting schedules and manage due dates for all active grants;
• Provide financial due diligence details to donors as required.

Grant Portfolio Management & Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive grant portfolio including active grants summary (donor details, amounts, duration, terms);
• Update monthly MIS reports and support in conducting monthly discussions with project teams;
• Roll out action
  recommended during the monthly meetings with project teams.

Financial Reporting (Grant-specific)

• Help in preparing external reports for donors and regulatory bodies as per payment schedules;
• Generate internal management reports highlighting pending issues and project status;
• Ensure timely submission of all grant-related financial documentation.

Budget Creation & Maintenance (Grant-focused)

• Monitor project actuals against approved budgets on monthly basis;
• Prepare 3-month forward projections and variance analysis with actuals.

Financial Management (25% of role) – Co-ordination with the group finance department

Accounts Receivable and Collections

• Track outstanding receivables with aging analysis and systematic follow-ups;
• Oversee invoicing plans and ensure timely raising of invoices.

Accounts Payable Support

• Support vendor payments and maintain outstanding invoices tracking;
• Monitor major payment schedules and recurring expenses;
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and vendor agreements.

Required Qualifications

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field;
• 2-4 years of experience in grant management, preferably in NGO/research/academic sector;
• Good understanding of donor compliance requirements and grant lifecycle management;
• Experience with financial reporting and budget management.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in financial software and grant management systems;
• Advanced Excel skills for financial analysis and reporting;
• Knowledge of accounting principles and financial compliance;
• Experience with donor reporting formats and requirements.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional attention to detail for compliance and reporting accuracy;
• Strong communication skills for donor relations and internal coordination;
• Project management capabilities for handling multiple grants simultaneously;
• Analytical thinking for financial analysis and problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field;
• Experience with international donors compliance and multilateral funding agencies;
• Certification in grant management or project management.

Key Performance Indicators

• 100% compliance with grant reporting deadlines;
• Timely submission of donor reports and compliance documents;
• Accurate budget variance analysis and forecasting;
• Efficient receivables management with reduced aging.

Work Environment

• Office-based role with occasional travel for donor meetings;
• Deadline-driven environment with multiple concurrent projects;
• Collaborative work with internal and external stakeholders.

Application Instructions:

Deadline:

Note: