Title: Grants Manager, SPRING Philippines

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Grants Manager

Reports to: Senior Manager Program Services

Direct Reports: Three Grants Officers, one based in each SPRING subnational location

Location: Manila, Philippines

Duration: One year, renewable annually based on performance and program needs

SUMMARY OF PROJECT

The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender equality (SPRING) program is Australia’s flagship investment of support to the Government of Philippines (GPH) on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion and Indigenous Inclusion. It is an AUD 34 million investment over 5 years that will support the joint Development Partnership Plan (DPP 2024-2029) between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Philippines (GPH). The investment will be the DFAT’s primary avenue in the Philippines for supporting poverty reduction and bilateral funding on gender equality and social inclusion at the national level and with some select Local Government Units (LGUs). SPRING will support efforts under Australia’s new International Development Policy and its forthcoming new strategies on gender equality, disability equity and rights, and translate these into implementation in the Philippines.  

The intended goal of SPRING is to contribute to the goal that the social and economic transformation in the Philippines reduces poverty and provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos in line with the Philippines Development Plan.

The objective of SPRING is that Australia works in partnership with the GPH to improve systems and structures that reduce poverty and inequality and advance gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities. 

SPRING has four mutually reinforcing End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs): 

1. Philippine Government social protection plans, policies and programs increasingly close gaps in the social protection floor.

2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and select LGU systems increasingly deliver quality social protection that is inclusive, gender and shock responsive, and climate sensitive. 

3. The Philippine Government increasingly invests in gender responsive policies, plans, programs and systems.

4. The Philippine Government improves data, systems and targeting to enable people with disability and Indigenous Peoples improved access to targeted services.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Reporting to the Senior Manager Program Services, the Grants Manager will lead the day-to-day management and administration of SPRING’s CSO Grant Fund. The role will oversee the establishment, rollout and implementation of grant management systems, processes, tools and reporting arrangements that enable accountable, accessible and efficient grant-making to civil society organisations and local research institutions aligned with SPRING’s End-of-Program Outcomes.

The Grants Manager will manage three Grants Officers based in SPRING’s subnational locations and work closely with two Grants Advisers (one international and one national) who will support the design and strengthening of the grants mechanism. The position will coordinate closely with technical, finance, procurement, GEDSI, MEL and subnational staff to ensure grants are designed, selected, contracted, implemented, monitored, acquitted and closed in line with Cowater International policies, DFAT requirements, SPRING’s Operations Manual, safeguarding standards and the agreed grant management framework.

The role is central to operationalising SPRING’s localisation approach by supporting local CSOs and other eligible partners to access, manage and report on grants, while maintaining strong fiduciary, safeguarding, risk management, quality assurance and learning systems. The Grants Manager will help ensure that grant-funded initiatives contribute to SPRING’s reform pathways, strengthen subnational implementation, and generate evidence and learning for adaptive program management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant Fund Establishment, Systems and Tools

• Lead the day-to-day operationalisation of the SPRING CSO Grant Fund, including grants systems, procedures, manuals, templates, workflow tools and management protocols.

• Work with the International Grants Adviser and National Grants Adviser to translate the approved grant mechanism concept into practical processes for solicitation, screening, selection, contracting, implementation, monitoring, acquittal and close-out.

• Ensure grant management processes are aligned with Cowater International policies, DFAT requirements, SPRING’s Operations Manual, safeguarding requirements, fraud control procedures, procurement rules, financial controls and program risk management systems.

• Coordinate with the MIS team to ensure grants data, milestones, disbursements, reporting, risk tracking and partner documentation are appropriately captured in SPRING’s management information systems.

• Develop and maintain practical guidance, checklists and tools that make grant processes accessible to local CSOs, organisations of persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, women’s organisations, local research institutions and other eligible partners.

Grant Solicitation, Selection and Contracting

• Manage grant application processes, including calls for proposals, request for proposal processes, targeted outreach where approved, applicant information sessions, clarification processes and communication with applicants.

• Coordinate application screening and assessment processes, ensuring transparent, well-documented and conflict-of-interest-managed selection in line with approved criteria.

• Oversee partner due diligence processes, including review of organisational capacity, financial management, governance, safeguarding, risk management, implementation readiness and compliance requirements.

• Support the preparation of grant recommendation documentation, selection panel materials and approval records for review and endorsement through agreed governance pathways.

• Coordinate drafting, negotiation and finalisation of grant agreements, workplans, budgets, milestones, reporting requirements and risk mitigation measures in collaboration with finance, legal, operations, technical and safeguarding colleagues.

• Ensure unsuccessful applicants receive timely and appropriate communication on application outcomes.

Grant Implementation, Compliance and Partner Support

• Lead day-to-day oversight of active grants, ensuring grant activities remain on track, compliant, appropriately documented and aligned with approved objectives, budgets, workplans and milestones.

• Supervise Grants Officers to support grantee partners across the three subnational locations, ensuring consistent grant administration, communication, monitoring and issue resolution.

• Monitor grant implementation progress, deliverables, expenditure, disbursement schedules, acquittals and risks, escalating emerging issues to the Senior Manager Program Services and relevant program leadership in a timely manner.

• Work closely with finance colleagues to support grant disbursements, expenditure monitoring, budget revisions, financial acquittals, partner financial reporting and audit readiness.

• Coordinate with MEL colleagues to ensure grant-funded initiatives have proportionate monitoring arrangements, contribute evidence to SPRING reform pathways, and generate useful learning for program adaptation.

• Coordinate with GEDSI and safeguarding colleagues to ensure grant activities are inclusive, accessible, locally led, culturally appropriate and compliant with child protection, PSEAH, fraud, anti-corruption and other safeguard requirements.

• Identify partner capacity-strengthening needs and coordinate technical, operational, financial management, safeguarding, MEL or reporting support as needed.

• Maintain complete, accurate and up-to-date grant files, registers, approval records, correspondence, reports, risk logs and close-out documentation.

Team Leadership, Coordination and Reporting

• Provide line management, coaching and quality assurance to three Grants Officers, supporting consistent implementation of grant processes across subnational locations.

• Coordinate closely with subnational teams, technical leads and government engagement colleagues to ensure grant-funded activities are aligned with provincial priorities, SPRING reform pathways and approved workplans.

• Prepare regular grant portfolio updates, dashboards, briefing notes, risk summaries and management reports for the Senior Manager Program Services, program leadership, DFAT reporting and governance meetings as required.

• Support annual work planning, forecasting and budgeting for the grant portfolio, including input into implementation schedules, procurement plans, financial forecasts and risk registers.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of grant systems by capturing lessons, partner feedback, implementation issues and recommendations for adaptive management.

• Support grant close-out processes, including final reporting, financial acquittal, documentation of results, lessons learned and partner achievements.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in international development, public administration, business administration, finance, social sciences, law, project management or another relevant field.

• Postgraduate qualification or professional training in grants management, compliance, financial management, risk management, procurement, safeguarding or project management is an advantage.

Minimum Experience:  

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in grants management, partnership management, program operations, compliance or project management, preferably in international development or donor-funded programs.

• Demonstrated experience managing grant mechanisms, partner due diligence, grant agreements, reporting, compliance, risk management, disbursements, acquittals and close-out processes.

• Experience supervising staff and supporting distributed or subnational teams.

• Experience working with CSOs, local organisations, community-based organisations, research institutions or government partners in the Philippines or comparable contexts.

• Experience with DFAT-funded programs, Cowater International systems, or other major donor compliance requirements is highly desirable.

Key Abilities:  

• Strong understanding of grant lifecycle management, including solicitation, selection, contracting, implementation monitoring, financial management, reporting, compliance and close-out.

• Excellent organisational, coordination and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple grants, deadlines, stakeholders and documentation requirements.

• Strong judgement, integrity and attention to detail, including the ability to identify, document and escalate fiduciary, safeguarding, fraud, conflict-of-interest, performance or delivery risks.

• Ability to provide practical guidance and capacity support to local partners in a clear, accessible and respectful manner.

• Demonstrated commitment to localisation, locally led development, GEDSI, disability inclusion, Indigenous Peoples’ inclusion and safeguarding principles.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise reports, briefing notes, process documents and management updates.

• Ability to work collaboratively with finance, operations, procurement, MEL, GEDSI, safeguarding, technical and subnational teams.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; experience using grant management systems, MIS platforms or financial tracking tools is desirable.

• Proficiency in English and Filipino; knowledge of languages used in SPRING subnational locations is an advantage.

• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of GEDSI principles, with knowledge or experience in promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion especially within adaptive programs like SPRING. This includes a clear understanding of and practical experience in safeguarding, particularly in the context of child protection (CP) and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), with the ability to integrate safeguarding measures into program implementation.

• Compliance to DFAT policies on fraud control, financing terrorism, child protection and other social safeguards.

Application Process

Candidates are encouraged to apply by 28 August 2026. This is an ongoing, rolling recruitment, and candidates may be reviewed before and leading up to the deadline.

For your application to be considered, please upload or submit your documents using the following file naming format: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Please send your cover letter addressing the position selection criteria and CV with the name and contact details of three professional referees to hr.springphilippines.org, mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line: “SPRING Grants Manager”.

Women, persons with a disability and Indigenous Peoples are highly encouraged to apply.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. Persons with disabilities may send a request for reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process to hr.springphilippines.org.

Cowater International adheres to the highest standards of protection of children and vulnerable adults in the delivery of programs and services. Cowater is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

Cowater International upholds standards of ethical conduct and has zero tolerance against fraud and bribery.

Prior to any offer of employment, applicants will be subject to appropriate background checks.

We thank all applicants; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

About Us

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.