Grants & Partnerships Manager

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

The organisation is a lean backbone organisation, being set up to anchor Common Ground, a collaborative systems entrepreneurship initiative in the domain of environmental governance and rural livelihoods, in India. It will focus on field setting, so that entrepreneurial action by multiple actors is accelerated and multiplied, seeding the ecosystem with institutional apparatus and change leaders to leave a legacy that is beyond any single initiative. By connecting and convening actors, the organisation will nurture relationships with and between networks of partners (governments, philanthropy, and other market and civil society actors) to provide the catalytic impetus necessary to spur action and amplify impact. The organisation will endeavour to help establish trust, agility and diversity within the initiative, by promoting a collegial way of working, while also ensuring regulatory compliance and accountability to outcomes.

The Common Ground Initiative:

Common Ground seeks to leverage the unique opportunity presented by the Commons to address three interwoven issues livelihoods, climate, and social equity by bringing in a socio-ecological narrative into mainstream development models, through a collaborative action framework. 205 million acres, a quarter of Indias landmass, is covered by community forests, pastures and water bodies. These land and water Commons are deeply intertwined with peoples lives and livelihoods, are associated with traditional institutions of self-governance, and are central to climate action and resilient rural economies. Through clearly defined pathways and intervention strategies, Common Ground aims to purposefully tackle the system level barriers and opportunities faced by several organisations and initiatives in the environmental
governance and rural livelihoods domain, to amplify impact at scale. By building connections, processes, and shared knowledge systems, and by convening and connecting actors at various levels (local to national), across thematic domains (water, forests, pastures, fisheries, climate, rural livelihoods) and across functional domains (government, business, tech initiatives), Common Ground will catalyse the Commons ecosystem for resilient ecological, social and economic outcomes at the local level. The initiative is being led by Jagdeesh Puppala (former Chief Executive of the Foundation for Ecological Security), as the Chief Convener.

JOB SUMMARY
The person will be responsible for managing the organisation's grant portfolio, including the identification, acquisition, and management of grants. This role involves working closely with the programme team, finance team, and external stakeholders to ensure the successful execution and compliance of grant-funded programmes through successful partnership management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Grant Making and Partnership Development:

• Oversee the partner engagement process, ensuring effective funding for partners working across domains such as water, forests, pastures, fisheries, climate, and rural livelihoods
• Facilitate the formalization of partnerships, ensuring agreements are clear, aligned with values and long-term impact indicators stated by Common Ground.
• Act as a mediator between partners and programme team, ensuring alignment with larger goals of Common Ground, during the partnership development process.
• Collaborate with the programme team to formalize partnerships and frame collaborative projects.

2. Legal and Compliance Management for Execution of Partner Agreements:

• Manage the onboarding process for Common Ground partners, ensuring clear communication of project expectations and alignment with goals.
  Collaborate closely with the programme and finance team to frame partner agreements and budgets that align with Common Grounds strategy.
• Ensure legal and fiscal compliance in all partner agreements, including adherence to public goods and commons frameworks and other relevant legal requirements.
• Lead on all legal aspects related to partnerships and grant management, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and donor requirements.
• Draft, review, and finalize agreements with partners, ensuring they meet Common Grounds mission and compliance obligations.
• Ensure adherence to compliance standards and reporting obligations set by donors and stakeholders.

3. Partnership Management and Donor Reporting & Process Improvement:

• Continuously review, vet, evaluate, and improve partnership management processes, ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives of Common Ground.
• Collaborate with the Program teams to prepare and submit accurate and timely reports to funders, including financial, progress, and final reports.
• Set up processes for the program team to maintain records of all grant activities, proposals, agreements, reports, and correspondence. Ensure that all grant documentation is well-organized and easily accessible for audits and reviews.

4. Grant Research and Acquisition:

• Identify potential grant opportunities from government agencies, foundations, corporations, and other funding sources.
• Conduct thorough research to determine grant eligibility, application requirements, and deadlines.
• Collaborate with the programme team to develop compelling grant proposals that align with Common Grounds mission and programme goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with key funders to ensure a steady pipeline of grant opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven track record of successfully managing grants. Strong understanding of grant compliance and reporting requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Detail-oriented with strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and grant management software
• Min. 8+ years of experience in grant writing and grant management. Education: Masters degree

BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:

• A creative and innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mind-set, resilient outlook, adaptability and humour. Collegial, within the team and with network partners
• Ability to successfully navigate complex institutional dynamics, frequently involving tension over competing priorities and perspectives; and having high tolerance for and comfort with ambiguity, with ability to switch between strategic and practical thinking
• Readiness to travel in different parts of the country as required