Grant and MEL Operations Manager

Job information

• Term: Full time, 40hrs per week. Part-time hours may be considered for the right candidate.

• Reports to: Director of Strategy and Programmes, with close working relationship with finance manager

• Location: Amsterdam, NL or Nairobi, Ke

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The Grant and MEL Operations Manager is a new role within GOGLA. They will work collaboratively with GOGLA’s project and technical teams to support high-quality delivery of application, monitoring and reporting of grant activities. They will support the development and implementation of efficient MEL and grant management systems and processes to ensure that deliverables, MEL, and donor reporting is effectively and centrally coordinated within GOGLA, that compliance requirements are well understood, and that projects support evidence-based institutional learning.  

The role-holder will operate within defined scope, independently delivering assigned activities of moderate complexity. They are accountable for quality, timeliness, and accuracy of outputs.

Key responsibilities 

Grant management and coordination: 

• Support new grant applications by coordinating inputs from across the GOGLA team and ensuring adherence to GOGLA’s fundraising process, including development of budget and resource plans, approvals, and submission timeline. Track funding opportunities from existing and new donors.  

• Work closely with project managers/teams and the finance manager to align the project lifecycle with grant deliverables, monitoring, reporting and closure. Ensure compliance to contractual terms and GOGLA’s internal processes. 

• Assist project managers to deliver high-quality project reports that show evidenced impact. 

• Support the Director of Strategy and Programmes and the Director of Finance to develop and maintain grant management systems, policies and procedures. Proactively identify and suggest improvements that reduce operational drag and increase quality and efficiency. 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning: 

• Coordinate and monitor MEL requirements across the organisation (e.g., originating from grants and projects), ensuring alignment with GOGLA’s strategic objectives and key results, and compliance with grant agreements. 

• Work with GOGLA’s project managers to consolidate and improve data capture across teams, standardizing and strengthening MEL systems that support evidence-based reporting to donors and other stakeholders. 

• Ensure timely data capture, evaluation and reporting of GOGLA’s organisational KPIs and facilitate an annual learning review with the management team.  

• Undertake quality assurance across MEL systems and provide feedback to the team through individual support and team-wide training.  

Shared responsibilities for managers at GOGLA 

The role holder is expected to contribute flexibly to evolving organisational priorities in support of GOGLA’s mission. All roles at GOGLA contribute to advancing our mission through delivery of its strategic pillars – Convene, Influence and Inform – and operational excellence. All managers work towards the following joint responsibilities: 

Project and budget management: At this level, managers are expected to independently deliver assigned activities across the project lifecycle, ensuring high-quality outputs, with accurate budget and time management. 

Problem solving: Collects, organizes, analyses, and shares information to produce credible, stakeholder-ready outputs. 

Team and organisational culture: Contributes to GOGLA’s collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture. Guides junior colleagues and supports team delivery and cross-organisational collaboration.

Communications and Influence: Communicates clearly and professionally in written and verbal formats and adapts information to specific internal and external audiences.

Relationship Management: Build and maintain effective working relationships with GOGLA’s members, donors and partners. Puts Members at the heart of everything we do, including acting as a member relationship manager, supporting member recruitment and continuous engagement.

Your experience, qualifications and personal attributes 

• Bachelor's degree in a related subject (e.g., international development, economics, geography). A post-graduate degree will be an added advantage.  

• Minimum 5 years’ experience working in the development or non-profit sector, with demonstrable experience of grant administration and MEL systems.  

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and online management systems.  

• Experienced in quantitative and qualitative evaluation and ability to handle data from disparate sources. 

• Excellent English language communication skills – able to convey complex ideas, data and information verbally and in writing. A second language (e.g., French) is an advantage. 

• Proven ability to operate in a diverse and remote team environment. Shows self-motivation and ability to work independently without supervision. 

• High attention to detail and organisation skills. 

• A passion for GOGLA’s mission and energy access; eager to learn and grow to support our operational excellence. 

• Eligible to live and work in one of our office locations, either the Netherlands or Kenya.  

What GOGLA offers 

• A dynamic, fun and friendly international team who share a passion for GOGLA’s mission.

• Opportunity to travel to GOGLA’s focus markets in support of our events and team activities.

• Exposure to a multitude of stakeholders across the energy access and adjacent sectors.

• Personal and team development budget to support learning and professional growth. 

• Flexible working arrangements – minimum 2 office-days per week for staff in Amsterdam and Nairobi. 

• 25 days paid holiday leave per year, plus 8 paid public holidays. 

• Access to occupational welfare support services. 

• Annual gross salary: €38,000 – €48,000 dependent on experience, location and performance. 

GOGLA’s commitment to our values, culture and inclusivity 

All staff at GOGLA are required to work in line with our organisational values: Change-maker, Inclusive, Responsive, Passionate and Trusted. This means bringing energy and commitment to our mission, driving meaningful impact for our Members, the sector and the organisation. It means responding proactively to challenges and opportunities, fostering an inclusive and respectful environment, and acting with integrity and transparency in all that we do.  

GOGLA embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive team that represents a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills - making the organisation stronger and enhancing the quality and impact of our work.