Strategic Partnerships and Grants Manager

The job

ACAPS is undergoing the most significant transformation in its history. The organisation became independent in early 2026, at a moment when the humanitarian sector and its funding landscape have changed profoundly. As Strategic Partnerships and Grants Manager, you will help ACAPS successfully develop and implement our partnership and donor engagement strategy while ensuring well-managed, compliant, accountable service contract and grant management. You will work closely with senior leaders across ACAPS to support global teams and hubs in building and expanding new partnerships and funding opportunities. You will also provide management support and guidance to the Grants Coordinator, who will be the main focal point for donor reporting and grants compliance. When you are successful, you will have played a key role in ACAPS becoming a stable, future-proof organisation that is stronger networked, better known and widely respected by our partners, peers and donors across the humanitarian sector and beyond.

What you’ll do

• Fundraising Strategy (10%). With the current changes in the humanitarian sector, ACAPS needs to retain strong relationships with existing donors while exploring alternative funding routes. You will be a key contributor to the CEO-led fundraising strategy group, staying updated on donor trends and priorities, including keeping an overview of potential funding opportunities for ACAPS. You will build strong external partnerships, working closely with the CEO and ACAPS’ senior managers. You will support the strategic evolution of ACAPS' business model, ensuring that new partnerships and revenue opportunities are successfully pursued.
• Partnership Development (15%). You will act as initial focal point for new partnership enquiries made to ACAPS and support the COO to explore external opportunities to expand partnership base. You will develop a global overview of current partnerships across ACAPS and collate learning/best practices for future reference. You will represent ACAPS at external networking and business development events to improve positioning, brand awareness and to foster long-term collaboration.
• Programme Development (40%). Your role will coordinate ACAPS’ programme development approach, from concept to contract including input into strategic design of new project approaches. You will lead the proposal development and programme revision process, overseeing quality assurance of the programme design, including log frames and budgets, adhering to donor policies and securing required internal approvals. You will coordinate the completion of donor due diligence processes as well as applications processes for new donors (such as DG ECHO Certificate 2028-2034). Where there are joint proposals, you will lead negotiations with partner organizations, providing support to the Grants Coordinator for technical review of contractual terms and consortium/subgrant agreements. You will also provide guidance to the Grants Coordinator for donor communications related to contractual, budget or grant administrative issues, including leading negotiations around project amendments.
• Advisory Support to Global teams and Hubs (15%). You will provide strategic direction and support to global teams and hubs with new funding and partnership opportunities to ensure consistency in approach. This includes the development of thematic donor priorities e.g. climate change, anticipatory analysis/action, and protection. Where needed, you will provide regular, tailored capacity support to hubs and global teams on partnership and funding issues, ensuring a sustainable donor base is maintained.
• Line Management (15%). You will supervise and support the Grants Coordinator, based in Kenya. Through your leadership and management, you will promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews. You will create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Grant Management and Compliance Systems and Processes (5%). As ACAPS continues to build and evolve its systems and approaches as an independent organisation, you will lead on ensuring that the required donor due diligence, contract and grant management/compliance systems, guidance, and processes are in place.

Your profile

• University degree or equivalent qualification, preferably at master degree level
• At least 7 years of experience in an external facing partnership, proposal development, and/or grants management role in an international organisation in the humanitarian or development sector.
• Proven experience in service contract and grant management, with special focus on European donors. Practical experience in navigating due diligence processes such as DG ECHO Certification is a strong plus.
• Attention to detail, strong planning skills, including computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint)
• Excellent communication skills and proven experience in communicating to different audiences as a core part of previous roles
• Fluency in English: excellent written skills are required.
• Prior experience with the following donors is an advantage: Dutch MFA, Norad, Sida, ECHO, FCDO, DFAT Australia, GAC, GFFO, and/or large international foundations, and philanthropic organisations.

Why us?

Join ACAPS at an exciting stage in our evolution as an independent humanitarian organisation. Our analysis helps humanitarian decision-makers better understand crises, identify emerging needs and make informed decisions where reliable information is often limited.

As Strategic Partnerships and Grants Manager, you will help shape how ACAPS builds strategic relationships, mobilises resources and develops partnerships that enable our work to reach further. With ACAPS continuing to grow as an independent organisation, you will have the opportunity to build, influence and shape our approach to partnerships and resource mobilisation.

You’ll work with a diverse, international team and engage with donors, partners and humanitarian actors across different contexts.

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, alongside a flexible and international working environment.#### How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their application via the appropriate channel. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, early applications are strongly encouraged.

About us

ACAPS believes that evidence must be at the heart of humanitarian action and together with our partners we turn data into decisions that truly matter. We cut through the noise and make sense out of chaos. We analyse complex data and provide clear insights so that decision-makers can take the best possible course of action.

We do this by:

• Providing independent analysis that helps humanitarians make informed choices.
• Deploying experts to support assessments and analysis in crisis.
• Driving innovation to collect better, faster, and more reliable data.

We have embarked on a new exciting chapter building up our independent organisation. That’s why we’re looking for builders, problem-solvers, and innovators, people who thrive on challenges, love creating structures out of complexity, and are excited to be part of something new and impactful.

If that sounds like you, we’d love to have you on this journey!