Partnerships and Grants Manager – Right To Play

Employer: Right To Play
Position: Partnerships and Grants Manager (PGM)
Grade: 8
Department: Global Program Partnerships
Reports to: Senior Fund Manager (SFM)
Job Type: Full-time, 40 hours/week
Contract: 1-year fixed-term, renewable subject to funding, performance and operational needs
Location: Tanzania is eligible
Target Start: As soon as possible
Application Deadline: September 13, 2026 at 23:59 GMT
Salary in Tanzania: TZS 7,276,275 per month

Job Purpose

The Partnerships and Grants Manager will manage and strengthen relationships with local Civil Society Organization (CSO) sub-grantees participating in Right To Play’s No Child on the Sidelines programme.

The role focuses on partnership management, grant implementation, compliance monitoring, reporting, risk management, capacity building and coordination of technical assistance across a multi-country portfolio.

Main Responsibilities

1. CSO Partnership & Grant Management – 70%

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for CSO sub-grantees.
• Build strong, trusted and partnership-oriented relationships with CSOs.
• Support CSO onboarding and programme implementation.
• Coordinate partner reporting requirements.
• Support storytelling and communication initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate programme and partnership risks.
• Conduct regular virtual partner check-ins.
• Undertake periodic country visits where security permits.
• Review and consolidate CSO financial and programme reports.
• Support milestone-based grant disbursements.

2. Technical Assistance & Capacity Building – 15%

• Assess CSO capacity and identify technical assistance needs.
• Coordinate with Right To Play’s global technical teams.
• Support delivery of technical assistance to CSO partners.
• Coordinate Community of Practice (CoP) activities.
• Help facilitate virtual and in-person learning sessions for CSOs.

3. Stakeholder Engagement – 15%

• Represent the programme at regional and global forums.
• Maintain relationships with:
  • Civil society networks
  • Women-led organizations
  • Refugee-led organizations
  • Government and governance bodies
  • Humanitarian coordination mechanisms
  • Programme partners
• Support engagement with national education authorities, ministries and UN agencies.
• Assist with identification and outreach to potential CSO partners.

Scope of the Role

This is a global/multi-country programme role supporting the implementation of No Child on the Sidelines through CSO sub-grant partners.

The manager will be responsible for ensuring:

• Programme outcomes are achieved.
• Partner workplans are implemented.
• Results are properly reported.
• Donor requirements are followed.
• Grant partners meet compliance requirements.
• Risks are identified and addressed.

Significant financial, strategic or reputational decisions are escalated to the Senior Fund Manager.

Leadership Responsibilities

There are no direct reports.

However, the position provides indirect leadership to CSO sub-grantees through:

• Programme coordination
• Compliance oversight
• Capacity building
• Community of Practice activities
• Setting expectations
• Providing guidance and technical support

Required Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Post-secondary degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and practical experience.
• PMP or similar professional certification is an asset.

Experience

The key requirement is:

7 years of experience working with local CSOs in areas such as:

• Partnership management
• Capacity building
• Organizational development

Experience should be within one or more of:

• Africa
• Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
• South Asia

Candidates should also have proven experience with:

• Localization
• Trust-based grant making
• Results-based reporting
• Donor compliance
• Grant/partnership management
• Capacity assessment
• Working in complex operating environments

Additional Experience Required

• Experience working in conflict-affected or fragile contexts.
• Understanding of do-no-harm principles.
• Experience facilitating learning across different cultures and languages.
• Strong relationship-building and diplomacy skills.
• Ability to manage funder-grantee power dynamics.
• Experience with digital collaboration tools and emerging AI technologies.

Desirable Technical Background

Experience in any of the following is an advantage:

• Education in emergencies
• Child protection
• Psychosocial support
• Sport/play-based development

Language Requirements

Required:

• Fluent written and spoken English
• Fluent written and spoken French

Assets:

• Arabic
• Urdu

Core Competencies

Collaboration

Ability to work effectively with internal teams, CSO partners and technical specialists.

Growth Mindset

Ability to learn from partners, feedback and programme experience and adapt approaches accordingly.

Resilience

Ability to maintain quality and sound judgement while managing multiple deadlines, compliance requirements and implementation challenges.

Professionalism

Strong integrity, confidentiality and accountability, particularly in relation to donor compliance and financial reporting.

Management & Interpersonal Skills

Excellent communication, diplomacy, relationship management and ability to handle competing priorities.

Travel & Working Hours

The role requires periodic international travel to engage with CSO partners and attend partner/advisory meetings.

Occasional work outside normal working hours may be required because of international time zones, including regular meetings with the Senior Fund Manager based in Eastern Time.

Tanzania Salary

The advertised hiring salary for Tanzania is:

TZS 7,276,275 per month

The salary is subject to normal statutory deductions, including applicable taxes.

About the Programme

The position supports No Child on the Sidelines, a Right To Play initiative developed in partnership with Global Citizen and aligned with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

The programme is backed by a $5 million investment over four years from Global Affairs Canada and aims to expand access to sport- and play-based education for children aged 3–18, with substantial funding directed toward local civil society organizations.

Important Application Information

• Application deadline: September 13, 2026, 23:59 GMT
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged.
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country for which they apply; the position does not provide work visa sponsorship.
• Submit a CV/resume and cover letter in English.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY