The Luminos Fund

Proposal & Grant Manager

The Luminos Fund, a fast-growing international non-profit bringing education opportunities to the world’s most vulnerable children, seeks an experienced Proposal & Grant Manager to further expand our fundraising and grant management efforts. The ideal candidate is a proactive, collaborative team-player and talented writer who is adept at grant writing, complex proposal development, and grants management. As a member of the Development team, the Proposal & Grant Manager will collaborate closely with senior Development leadership in the coordination and design of inputs for concept notes, large proposals, and strategic documents, as well as support the timely, high-quality fulfillment of Luminos Fund’s responsibilities to our donors. The successful candidate is a proactive project manager who works well under pressure, loves to write, has experience translating complex concepts into compelling prose, capably manages multiple deadlines, and is excited to convey the impact, details, and urgency of Luminos’ education mission.

This full-time position can be based anywhere in the GMT -5 to +3 time zones (e.g., Boston, London, Addis Ababa, etc.). The Proposal & Grant Manager will report jointly to the Directors of Development and will collaborate closely with team members throughout the organization. The role may involve limited travel, including to challenging contexts in low-income countries.

About the Luminos Fund

The Luminos Fund (www.luminosfund.org) provides transformative education programs to thousands of out-of-school children, helping them to catch up to grade level, reintegrate into government schools, and prepare for lifelong learning. Working in partnership with community-based organizations, Luminos is scaling up its accelerated learning program to ensure all children have equal access to joyful, foundational learning, especially those shut out of education by crisis, poverty, or discrimination. To date, Luminos has helped over 277,787 children secure a second chance to learn. A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Luminos works in Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, Liberia, and The Gambia.

Luminos is supported by a range of funding partners, including Cartier Philanthropy, the Gates Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, UNICEF, and USAID. Luminos has been recognized for its achievements globally, receiving the 2022 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize, the Library of Congress International Literacy Award, the Lipman Family Prize, the WISE Award, and the HundrED Global Innovation Award for the last seven years.

Duties and Responsibilities

Proposal Writing and Development

  • Lead in writing and coordinating the development of new concept notes and complex proposals in line with Luminos Fund’s programmatic priorities, development strategy, and donor requirements, and in close collaboration with colleagues including on the Program and Finance teams.
  • Coordinate promptly and comprehensively to address feedback received from donors on proposals in consultation with relevant staff in e.g., the country programs, Programs, and Finance.


Grant Management

  • Maintain thorough knowledge of Luminos grant agreements to ensure understanding of contractual obligations and regulations at both HQ and country program levels in coordination with leadership and the Finance department.
  • Support on quality control on all contracts before signature and facilitate signing of grant agreements in coordination with the Finance department.
  • Ensure that grant kick-off meetings are held for new and complex projects, in coordination with Development leadership and others. This entails making clear presentations of all project components, including activities, budgets, monitoring and evaluation plans, timelines, reporting requirements, and visibility. 
  • Troubleshoot challenges for meeting deliverables during project implementation budgeting, in close consultation with relevant staff in the country, Programs, and Finance departments to propose potential solutions that exceed donor expectations and regulations. 
  • Lead on writing and coordinating grant amendments including cost extensions/no-cost extensions, budget realignments, and project revisions in coordination with relevant internal stakeholders.


Report Writing

  • Write compelling, detailed, accurate donor reports that highlight key programmatic and financial updates, reflect a high standard of professionalism, and comply with Luminos and donor standards and timelines.
  • Collaborate with the Finance and Programs team to monitor spending and ensure the timely utilization of all grants.
  • Develop a consolidated reporting package (templates, deadlines, and focal points) that is shared with all concerned parties in a timely manner to ensure an on-time, quality product submission to donors.

Development Pipeline and Strategy Support

  • Conduct research to identify prospective donors including bilateral/multi-lateral donors, foundations, individuals, and others, working closely with colleagues across the organization to identify areas of opportunity.
  • Develop and maintain up-to-date and in-depth knowledge of donor and government policies and support implementing teams to ensure full compliance.
  • Support the Directors of Development to develop and manage donor engagement strategies, with a goal of exceeding donors’ expectations and maximizing renewals.
  • Engage in open, frequent communication with teammates to support the Luminos Fund's overall fundraising strategy and progress to goal, and to share best practices and lessons learned.
  • Maintain accurate, timely records in Salesforce to track donor touch points and communication, grant and reporting deadlines, upcoming tasks, and reporting requirements.

Qualifications

Required Experience

  • Bachelor’s Degree required
  • 5+ years of professional experience in non-profit grant writing, grant management, business development, or program management with increasing levels of responsibility and a demonstrated track record of success.
  • Experience managing grants withf US, UN, and European partners (e.g. USAID, UNICEF, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, LEGO Foundation) and their compliance requirements, with a significant track record of compelling, in-depth writing.
  • Excellent understanding of the principles of budgeting, financial, and contract management.
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills.
  • Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (especially Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.
  • Proven success working remotely is strongly desired.

Core attributes

  • Demonstrated passion for education, children’s causes, international development, and the values of the Luminos Fund.
  • Impeccable attention to detail and an innate sense of responsibility for the delivery of high-quality work.
  • Empathetic.
  • Can-do attitude: comfortable working with a dynamic team in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment.
  • Self-motivated and tenacious.
  • Ability to juggle multiple assignments, adhering to strict deadlines.
  • Natural curiosity and hunger for continuous learning.
  • Strong sense of integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.
  • Readiness to problem solve creatively.
  • Deep appreciation for working with diverse constituents, teams, and colleagues.

Luminos Core Beliefs and Values
1. We believe that every child is capable of learning a remarkable amount in a short period of time, if given the chance.
2. We keep children’s joy and well-being at the heart of everything we do.
3. We embrace assessment as a key component of effective teaching and learning.
4. We celebrate and empower local leadership throughout our work with partner communities and governments.
5. We use research, program data, and skilled classroom observation in the tenacious pursuit of excellence.
6. We celebrate the unique contexts and cultures of the communities we serve in our curricula and pedagogy.
7. We act with the highest standards of integrity and care, ensuring mutual accountability among colleagues and partners.
8. We take the initiative to solve problems where we find them, managing details large and small, with urgency.
9. We act deliberately to ensure that our organization is inclusive for people of different genders, racial backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, abilities, and other sources of diversity.
10. We build deep, authentic relationships with our supporters in celebration of the mutually transformative power of giving.

To apply for this role, please complete the online application with your resume or CV and a cover letter describing why you are a good match for this position.

We often receive hundreds of applications for our roles and many applicants submit cover letters which have been generated by AI tools. We are looking for personal cover letters that were written by you about you. We want to understand your interests, your experience and your enthusiasm for the role. In our experience, cover letters written with AI support are less competitive since they tend to be generic and do not give us enough insight into your unique profile.

You will be asked to confirm the following information as part of your application:

  • Summary of how your professional experiences to date will translate to the position you are applying for
  • Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
  • Permanent address and present address (if different from permanent), e-mail address, and telephone number
  • Disclose any existing personal relationships with existing Luminos Fund employees or Implementing Partners (IPs)

The expected salary range for this role is 42,000 to 57,250 GBP per year (55,000 to 75,000 USD.) This salary range is specific to the United Kingdom and United States. Compensation may be adjusted based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and location. For candidates residing outside of these areas, the salary range may differ to reflect local market conditions and cost of living considerations.

We are committed to ensuring competitive and equitable compensation for all employees, regardless of location. If you have any questions regarding how compensation may vary by location, please let us know during the application process.

The Luminos Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

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