Grant Program Specialist - 12 month contract

Job Purpose

The Grant Program Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) is a dual-focused role primarily responsible for the systematic monitoring and evaluation of grant-funded projects to assess their effectiveness, outcomes, and impact. This position also provides targeted grant management support, ensuring projects adhere to program guidelines and deliverables. The Grant Program Specialist will analyze data, produce insights, and create high-quality presentations to communicate results and impact to sponsors and stakeholders.

Major Accountabilities

Startup Selection & Risk Evaluation:

• Support the program lead and the program selection committee in evaluating the applicant startup companies and scoring them based on the program criteria
• Support the program lead in identifying the risks associated with each startup and support the founders in de-risking their milestone-based plan to ensure a higher likelihood of success
• Support the startup founders to adopt research & development best practices to increase the likelihood of project success.
• Help ensure that the startup proposal has significant gates to ensure proper governance on the funding released and minimize risk and exposure to all stakeholders.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):

• Develop and implement a comprehensive M&E framework to assess project progress, impact, and success examples.
• Understand key performance indicators (KPIs), develop data collection methods, and set evaluation benchmarks.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data from grantees to measure outcomes and project effectiveness.
• Identify trends, challenges, and success factors across projects, using data-driven insights to inform program adjustments and improvements.
• Create concise, insightful reports detailing program impact, including project metrics, growth areas, and overall program success.

Reporting and Presentation Development:

• Develop compelling presentations to effectively communicate project outcomes, insights, and impact to stakeholders.
• Rapidly prepare visually engaging reports, incorporating charts, infographics, and other visual aids to convey complex data clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with the program manager and finance team to ensure that all presentations and reports meet proper standards and requirements.
• Regularly present findings to stakeholders, providing updates on project milestones, impact, and any recommended program adjustments.

Grant Management and Grantee Support:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned grantees, offering guidance on project execution, adherence to grant guidelines, and troubleshooting as needed.
• Monitor grantee performance against agreed-upon milestones and deliverables, ensuring compliance with grant agreements.
• Conduct in person site visits or virtual check-ins to assess on-the-ground progress, address any project challenges, and support successful project completion.
• Review and approve grantee reports, budgets, and financial statements, ensuring transparent use of funds and alignment with program requirements.

Person Requirements

Competencies & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, grant management, or complex project management.
• Consultancy experience & government project experience preferred 
• Exposure to technology development funds, startup ecosystem, or software/product development lifecycle a plus
• Strong analytical skills and experience in M&E frameworks, conducting data analysis, and evaluating project impact.
• Proven experience in creating and delivering impactful presentations and reports for diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey data-driven insights in a clear and accessible way.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel and PowerPoint) and experience with data visualization tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Statistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in business or applied engineering preferred.