National Grants Management Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The organization is currently implementing a 3-year project under the Multi-Donor Action “Circular Economy in the Food Sector,” which addresses critical issues such as food loss and waste reduction, circularity in agri-food systems, and the transition away from single-use plastics. This project is funded by the European Union and is a collaborative effort with Expertise France and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Job Overview:
The National Grants Management Specialist will play a crucial role in the implementation of the CIRCULAR Beneficiary Grants Programme. This position requires a technically sound, timely, transparent, and fully documented approach to managing the grants from launch through to results reporting. The Specialist will be responsible for establishing and maintaining operational links between the requirements of the Grants Operational Manual (GOM), FAO's technical and operational procedures, and the work of technical experts and service providers. The role involves close coordination with various FAO functions, including operations, procurement, finance, and monitoring and evaluation personnel. The Specialist will also support the governance arrangements for the grants programme, ensuring compliance with established procedures while facilitating the smooth operation of the grants process.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Grants Implementation Specialist will undertake a variety of tasks, including: developing and maintaining a detailed implementation plan for the grants programme, coordinating implementation across FAO functions, maintaining a consolidated grants pipeline, identifying bottlenecks and proposing corrective actions, supporting the preparation of calls for beneficiaries, coordinating technical assessments of proposed investments, monitoring implementation schedules, coordinating beneficiary orientation, ensuring compliance with beneficiary obligations, and preparing regular implementation dashboards and progress reports. The Specialist will also be responsible for documenting lessons learned and recommendations for improving the grants mechanism, ensuring that all grant files contain the necessary documentation, and maintaining an auditable trail from application through to closure.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree or a university degree in fields such as Agricultural Economics, business administration, development studies, agriculture, food systems, engineering, project management, finance, or other relevant fields. Additionally, a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in grants management, investment programmes, or comparable assignments is required. Candidates should also demonstrate strong analytical and documentation skills, an understanding of grant-cycle and investment implementation, and the ability to coordinate diverse investments and stakeholders.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree or a university degree in relevant fields such as Agricultural Economics, economics, business administration, development studies, agriculture, food systems, engineering, project management, finance, or other related disciplines. It is essential that candidates have their qualifications recognized by the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in grants management, investment programmes, private-sector development, or agricultural/food-sector projects. Experience with UN, EU-funded, or other international development programmes is highly desirable, as is knowledge of Sri Lanka's agriculture, fisheries, food processing, MSME, or circular-economy sectors.

Languages:
A working knowledge (level C) of English and Sinhala is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. The position may involve full-time engagement, and the appointment will be subject to security clearances. The FAO emphasizes the importance of maintaining an auditable trail for all grant processes and ensuring compliance with established procedures.