Grants Manager

GIZ Kenya

Nairobifull time~KES 180k – 300k/mo3w ago

Quick Take

The Role

You'll manage the full lifecycle of grant portfolios — from compliance tracking and disbursements to donor reporting and partner liaison — across GIZ Kenya's development programmes.

You Need

At least 5 years of grants management experience in international development, strong financial management and compliance skills, and excellent English report writing ability.

You Get

A well-paying senior role (up to KES 300K/mo) with one of the world's most respected development organisations, offering real impact across Kenya's development sector.

Job Description

•Role Overview

GIZ Kenya — the local arm of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Germany's leading international development organisation — is looking for an experienced Grants Manager to join its team in Nairobi. This is a pivotal role within GIZ Kenya's development programmes, sitting at the intersection of financial oversight, partner coordination, and donor accountability.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the full grants management cycle, ensuring that all grant activities are executed in line with donor requirements, organisational policies, and programme objectives. If you thrive in a structured international development environment and have a proven track record of managing complex grant portfolios, this opportunity is worth exploring.

•Key Responsibilities

Oversee and administer grant portfolios end-to-end, covering compliance requirements, timely disbursements, and all associated reporting obligations
Serve as the primary liaison between GIZ Kenya and partner organisations, providing guidance and support throughout the grant implementation process
Prepare accurate and well-structured donor reports as well as financial statements that reflect programme performance and expenditure
Contribute to the development of new funding proposals and assist in the preparation and management of programme budgets

•Required Skills & Experience

A minimum of five years of hands-on grants management experience gained within the international development sector
Demonstrated strength in financial management, with a solid understanding of donor compliance frameworks and grant regulations
Excellent written communication skills in English, particularly in producing high-quality donor and programme reports
Proficiency in German is an added advantage, though not a requirement for this role

•Who Should Apply

This role is best suited to a detail-oriented development professional who is comfortable navigating the demands of multi-stakeholder grant environments. You should be confident working with partner organisations at various levels, possess strong analytical and financial skills, and be able to produce clear, compelling written reports under deadline pressure. Candidates with prior experience working with German development organisations or similar bilateral donors will have a distinct advantage. Based in Nairobi, you should be prepared to work within GIZ's established operational and compliance frameworks while contributing meaningfully to programme impact on the ground.

•How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this position through the GIZ Kenya recruitment process. Please ensure your application includes an up-to-date CV and a cover letter clearly demonstrating how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and requirements outlined above. Submit your application directly to GIZ Kenya through the official channel indicated in their recruitment notice.

Requirements Breakdown

Must Have

5+ years of grants management experience in international development
Strong financial management and compliance skills
Excellent report writing skills in English
Experience preparing donor reports and financial statements
Demonstrated experience in proposal development and budget planning

Nice to Have

German language proficiency
Experience working with bilateral or multilateral donors (e.g. EU, USAID, BMZ)
Familiarity with GIZ-specific grant management systems or frameworks
Experience managing partner organisations in a sub-granting context

Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →

Salary Context

Above market rate for Grants Manager roles in Nairobi

Grants Managers in Kenya's NGO and development sector typically earn KES 120,000–200,000/month, making this range — especially the upper band of KES 300,000 — notably competitive and indicative of GIZ's willingness to pay for experienced talent. Pay in this field is heavily influenced by the donor (bilateral agencies like GIZ tend to pay more than local NGOs), the complexity of the portfolio, and whether the role involves sub-granting or multi-donor management.

About GIZ Kenya

GIZ Kenya is the Kenyan office of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Germany's leading federal enterprise for international cooperation and development. Operating across sectors including health, agriculture, governance, and climate, GIZ implements programmes on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and other international donors, with a significant footprint across East Africa. Working at GIZ Kenya means contributing to high-impact, well-resourced development programmes while being part of a globally respected organisation known for professional standards, structured processes, and strong institutional support.

Likely Interview Questions

1
Can you walk us through a complex grant portfolio you managed — how many grants, what donors, and how did you ensure compliance across all of them?
2
Describe a situation where a partner organisation was struggling with grant implementation. How did you identify the problem and what steps did you take to resolve it?
3
How do you ensure accuracy and timeliness in donor reporting, especially when you're managing multiple reporting deadlines simultaneously?
4
What financial management tools or systems have you used for grants tracking and disbursement, and how do you maintain an audit trail?
5
How have you contributed to proposal development in a previous role, and what is your approach to aligning budgets with programme objectives?

Application Tips

Quantify your grants experience in your CV — include the number of grants managed simultaneously, total portfolio value in USD/KES, and names of donors (e.g. BMZ, EU, USAID) to immediately signal relevant credibility.
Highlight any experience with bilateral or German-funded development programmes, as GIZ will value familiarity with their compliance frameworks, reporting cycles, and partner management approach.
Include a tailored cover letter that references your ability to bridge financial compliance with programme quality — GIZ values candidates who understand that grant management is both a financial and programmatic function, not just administrative.

Career Path

Roles that lead here

Grants Officer / Senior Grants Officer

Finance and Compliance Officer (International Development)

YOU

Where this leads

Head of Grants / Grants Director

Country Finance and Operations Manager

Skills & Keywords

grantsngogizdevelopmentdonor-reporting

Honest Assessment

Green Flags

GIZ is a globally recognised and highly reputable employer in the international development sector, offering strong institutional credibility and professional development opportunities.
The salary range of KES 180,000–300,000/month is above the market average for this role in Nairobi, signalling that GIZ is serious about attracting experienced talent.
The role spans both financial management and strategic functions like proposal development, offering a broad and career-enriching scope of work.
Working directly with partner organisations and donors provides high visibility and strong networking opportunities within Kenya's development ecosystem.

Watch Out

The job description is fairly brief and does not specify the size of the grant portfolio, the number of active grants, or the donors involved — making it hard to assess workload or complexity before applying.
No mention of benefits, leave entitlement, or contract duration (permanent vs. fixed-term) — important details for a senior-level role that candidates should clarify before accepting an offer.

A Day in the Life

☀️

A typical week might begin with a grants compliance review meeting with programme colleagues to flag upcoming reporting deadlines and disbursement schedules, followed by a morning spent updating grant trackers and reviewing financial statements from partner organisations. Midweek, you could be deep in drafting a quarterly donor report for BMZ or supporting a colleague with budget narratives for a new proposal, while also fielding questions from a partner NGO in the field about allowable expenditures. By Friday, you might be preparing a disbursement memo for sign-off and joining a call with GIZ regional colleagues to align on cross-country compliance standards — all while managing email threads in both English and possibly German.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to be a Grants Manager at GIZ Kenya?

You need at least 5 years of grants management experience in international development, strong financial and compliance skills, and excellent English report writing ability. German language skills are an added advantage but not mandatory.

Is the Grants Manager role at GIZ Kenya remote or office-based?

The role is listed as based in Nairobi, suggesting it is primarily office-based or hybrid; candidates should confirm remote work flexibility directly with GIZ Kenya during the application process.

How much does a Grants Manager earn at GIZ Kenya?

GIZ Kenya is offering KES 180,000–300,000 per month for this role, which is above the typical market rate for Grants Manager positions in Nairobi's NGO and development sector.

What are the career growth opportunities after working as a Grants Manager at GIZ Kenya?

This role positions you well for senior leadership positions such as Head of Grants, Grants Director, or Country Finance and Operations Manager, both within GIZ and across other bilateral or multilateral development organisations operating in Africa.

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