Senior Partnerships & Grant Officers at Grassroot Researchers Association (GRA) - 4 Openings

Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to fostering gender equality and advancing the rights and status of women and girls across Nigeria. We operate with a central vision of facilitating community-led initiatives and forging strategic partnerships with both local and international NGOs. Our core mission is to empower communities to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, with a specialized focus on survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), female genital mutilation/circumcision, early and forced marriage (E/FM), and persons with disabilities.

Based in Abuja, GRA supports women and girls, including persons with disabilities, through various projects implemented inNorthern Nigeria States enabling us to work directly with the communities most affected by conflict and inequality.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Partnerships & Grant Officer

Reference Number: GRA/BAY/2025/08/SPO
Location: Abuja (FCT), Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe
Employment Type: Contract
Job type Type: Full Time
Duty Station: BAY/FCT
Project Duration: 18 Months (renewable)
Issued Date: Monday, August 25, 2025

Project’s Overview

• GRA is the implementing partner for a portfolio of survivor-centered projects across 19 local government areas in northeast Nigeria. These projects are strategically funded by a diverse group of international partners: the Mukwege Foundation, the Global Survivor Fund (GSF), the French Embassy, and We Are Not Weapons of War (WWOW).
• Through these strategic collaborations, we are working to strengthen the network ofConflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) survivors by providing integrated support. This includes offering tailored livelihood empowerment and essential trauma-informed psychosocial services to facilitate healing and economic stability.
• We are also building the capacity of survivor-led networks, enabling them to become powerful advocates for their own rights. A key component of our work involves utilizing innovative technology by combining direct survivor support with strategic capacity building and cutting-edge technology, we are helping to build a sustainable foundation for resilience and long-term empowerment in the region.

Job Summary

• As a Senior Partnerships & Grants Officer, you will be a results-oriented and passionate member of our team, playing a critical role in securing the resources needed to support our mission.
• You will be instrumental in building and nurturing strategic partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, amplifying our impact, and ensuring the financial sustainability of our programs.
• This role requires a professional with strong experience in grant writing, proposal development, and donor relationship management.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive partnerships strategy to identify, cultivate, and secure partnerships with a diverse range of donors, government agencies, corporations, foundations, and NGOs.
• Lead the grant writing processfrom research and proposal development to submission, ensuring all applications are compelling and aligned with donor requirements.
• Conduct in-depth researchto identify potential funding opportunities and partners that align with GRA’s mission and strategic goals.
• Build and manage relationshipswith both existing and potential partners, fostering clear communication and collaboration.
• Represent GRA at meetings, conferences, and other networking events to promote our work and build our network.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and manage the full grant life cycle, ensuring compliance with all donor requirements.
• Monitor and report on the progress and impact of all partnerships and grants.
• Track all grant submissions, deadlines, and funding received.
• Work collaboratively with other departments, especially program teams, to ensure proposals accurately reflect program needs and activities.
• Stay up-to-dateon current funding trends, donor priorities, and best practices in the field.
• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive fundraising and communication strategy for the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, International Relations, Business, or a related field. A Master’s Degree is a significant advantage.
• A minimum of five yearsof progressive experience in grant writing, partnerships, or fundraising, with a proven track record of securing and managing significant funding from diverse donors.
• In-depth knowledge of the entire grant lifecycle, from prospecting to reporting, with strong expertise in donor compliance.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English, with a particular strength in crafting compelling, high-quality proposals and technical reports.
• Proven experience leading and collaborating with multicultural teams in challenging environments.

Most Preferred Skills:

• Extensive experience managing partnerships and grants for projects in complex, conflict-affected regions.
• A track record of writing and submitting successful, high-value proposals and reports for international funders.
• Highly proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Advanced planning, time management, and project management skills.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to mentor junior staff.
• Proficiency with donor databases and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.
• A highly results-oriented, professional, and proactive approach to work.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a proven ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Must be able to work independently, make strategic decisions, and solve complex problems with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

Application Closing Date
5th September, 2025; 12:00 PM (WAT)