The Luminos Fund

Grants and People Associate

The Luminos Fund, a fast-growing international non-profit bringing education opportunities to the world’s most vulnerable children, seeks a Grants and People Associate to support our finance and administration processes. The ideal candidate is a proactive, organized, and collaborative team-player who is adept at project management and is passionate about Luminos’ education mission. As a member of the Finance and Administration team, the Grants and People Associate will collaborate closely with the Grant Finance and Compliance Manager to support contract management, grant management and financial reporting, and due diligence processes. The Grants and People Associate will also support administrative and human resource functions in close collaboration with the Global People Officer (approximately 20% of the workload.) The successful candidate is an early career professional with precise attention to detail, highly motivated to learn new things, and a self-starter who enjoys collaboration and process improvement.


This full-time position can be based anywhere in the GMT -6 to +1 time zones (e.g., Chicago, Boston, London, etc.). The Grants and People Associate will report jointly to the Grant Finance and Compliance Manager and Global People Officer, collaborating 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 Bill & Melinda 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

Grant and financial reporting support

  • Review budget utilization reports from implementing partners to ensure proper documentation is provided.
  • Support the development of financial reporting templates and training materials for implementing partners.
  • Manage the collection and review of due diligence documents to ensure compliance with Luminos policy and procedures.
  • Provide administrative support during budgeting and contracting processes with implementing partners.
  • Assist in preparing and reviewing financial reporting to donors.

Contract and compliance support

  • Review contracts with local partners and suppliers to ensure alignment with Luminos procurement guidelines.
  • Conduct and document due diligence checks as needed.
  • Support the development of a contractor database, including contract term dates, contract value, and required documentation.
  • Assist in managing legal and donor compliance across Luminos entities.

Administration and Human Resources support

  • Support the onboarding process for new team members, including office tools such as Outlook, Slack, and SharePoint.
  • Maintain and manage People data and systems, including Rippling HRIS, Lattice Performance Management, and BreezyHR Applicant Tracking System.
  • Provide frequent reporting and data analysis.
  • Communicate with and schedule candidates during the recruitment process.
  • Drafting of documentation, including contracts and other employment materials.
  • Audit of existing files and materials for accuracy and updates.
  • Prepare and maintain spreadsheets to support documentation and people/finance reporting.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

  • Bachelor’s Degree or demonstrated work experience. 
  • Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel. Advanced SharePoint skills strongly preferred. Eagerness to learn new applications. 
  • One to two years of work experience in administrative or organizational operations. Grant management or nonprofit experience is preferred but not required.
  • Ability to work remotely and cross-culturally with international teams with compassion, understanding, and respect.
  • Previous experience reviewing contracts, financial documentation (e.g., expense reports and receipts), and operational policies is preferred.
  • Effective communication, time management, and organizational skills.
  • Superb attention to detail. 
  • Willingness to learn and take initiative to work on new tasks and projects.
  • Passion for education in marginalized communities. 

Core Attributes

  • Belief and demonstrated passion for the mission, vision, and values of the Luminos Fund. 
  • Impeccable integrity and a can-do attitude. 
  • Readiness to problem solve creatively on a myriad of fronts and go above and beyond to deliver optimum success. 
  • Natural affinity for technology and a love of data. 
  • Team player, with a belief in the power of positivity and appreciative inquiry. 
  • Passion for unlocking the very best from diverse constituents, partners, and colleagues. 
  • Innate sense of responsibility for delivery of quality work, even in adverse circumstances. 
  • Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently in challenging international contexts, as required. 
  • Belief that success lies in the details. 
  • Ability to maintain highest level of confidentiality and discernment with critical organizational information.

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 generated by AI tools. We are looking for personal cover letters written by you, about you. We want to understand your interests, experience, and enthusiasm for the role. Cover letters written with AI support 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:

  • A summary of how your professional experiences to date will translate to the position.
  • Your motivation/objective for applying for the job
  • Permanent and present address (if different), e-mail address, and telephone number
  • Disclosure of any existing personal relationships with current Luminos Fund employees or Implementing Partners (IPs)

The expected salary range for this role is 25,000 to 40,000 GBP. This salary range is specific to the United Kingdom. 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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