The Grants Manager will be part of the Global Foundations and Partnership Office in the Milan Head Office. The Grant Manager (Desk Role) will be responsible for ensuring the efficient management of grants from institutional, private and corporate foundations. Working closely with field staff and internal departments, the Grant Manager will coordinate project implementation from headquarters, ensuring full compliance with donor requirements and internal procedures. This role involves both strategic and operational functions, including proposal development, reporting, donor communication, and project monitoring. The Grant Manager will report to the Office Coordinator and the Presidency Office.

The position is based in Italy. While the preferred location is Milan, candidates in Rome may also be considered, provided they are available to travel frequently to Milan. Please note that remote working applications will not be considered.

DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain effective and professional communication with donor officers, supporting relationship-building and ensuring alignment on priorities, expectations, and timelines;
• Support the Trusts and Foundations Office in identifying funding opportunities, conducting benchmarking research, and contributing to the design of fundraising strategies;
• Coordinate the preparation of high-quality project proposals, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and organizational priorities, in collaboration with field staff and relevant departments;
• Oversee the grant implementation process, ensuring that internal teams understand donor rules, regulations, and compliance standards from the outset of project implementation;
• Work with internal departments (e.g., Area Directors, Financial Reporting, Logistics) and field staff to support the smooth implementation of funded projects, ensuring consistency with approved proposals;
• Monitor and supervise the progress of projects implementation from the Head Office, organizing field missions when necessary to assess implementation and compliance;
• Lead the preparation and submission of accurate, timely, and high-quality narrative and financial reports, in accordance with donor guidelines

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• 3 to 5 years of previous experience in a similar role with NGOs, Foundations, International Organizations, DAF, etc.
• Solid understanding of and genuine interest in philanthropic funding mechanisms, both Italian and international, gained through experience either in the field or at Head Office level.
• Field experience and/or professional background in the migration sector will be considered a strong asset;
• Fluency in both Italian and English (minimum C1 level) in written and spoken communication is essential. Proficiency in French and/or German will be considered an asset;
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office Suite, with particular proficiency in Excel.
• Proven experience in project monitoring, budgeting, and financial reporting, ideally within the context of institutional or grant-funded projects;
• Attitude to teamwork and working under pressure, respecting short deadlines;
• Availability to perform field visit with short notice.