Lead, Grant Governance and Donor Relations (maternity cover, 9 months)

This position is a maternity cover with a defined duration from 1 January 2025 to 30 September 2026.

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

Why We Are Recruiting

The Forum's Centres drive impactful initiatives across diverse topics such as climate, trade, economic inclusivity, healthcare, and more. These initiatives manage grant funding from a wide range of donors, including governments, corporates, and philanthropic organizations.

The Grant Governance team ensures a safe and sustainable grant-funded business model that supports the Forum's institutional impact goals while strengthening grant governance and operational efficiency

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The team’s work focuses on three key areas:

• Institutional Oversight: Tracking all grants in Salesforce, providing dashboards, templates, and insights.

• Advisory Support: Responding to grant-related questions and advising teams from proposal to closure.

• Grant Reviews: Managing end-to-end grant processes, including reviewing agreements and coordinating with support teams.

Reporting Lines and Interactions

The position reports to the Head of Procurement and Grant Governance and works closely with the Grant Governance Specialist.

Main Responsibilities

Lead Cross-Forum Engagement and Grant Visibility

• Proactively engage Centres to improve visibility on upcoming grants and act as the first point of contact for grant-related queries across the Forum.

• Engage regularly with internal stakeholders to capture grant pipeline opportunities, advise on donor mapping, concept notes, and grant proposals.

Provide Grant Advisory

• Offer expert advice to grant teams throughout the grant lifecycle, including proposal development, contract execution, and addressing grant-related enquiries.

Enable Team Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

• Promote collaboration and knowledge exchange within the Grant Governance team, fostering learning across workstreams and driving continuous improvements.

Manage Institutional Governance and Compliance

• Work with designated Centres on the review of grants, including preparing submissions for Managing Board approval and ensuring agreements meet Forum standards.

• Coordinate with internal support functions to maintain strong governance and compliance.

Enable Data Management

• Ensure accurate recording and management of grant data within Salesforce, maintaining up-to-date and compliant records.

Assessment Criteria

• Personal Motivation and Positive Attitude: Demonstrates high motivation, a proactive mindset, and enthusiasm for contributing to the Forum’s mission.

• Collaborative Team Player: Works effectively within teams, showing empathy, active listening, and constructive communication.

• Detail-Oriented: Ensures accuracy and compliance in all grant-related documentation and processes.

• Mission-Driven: Aligns with the Forum’s mission and values, showing a strong commitment to improving the state of the world.

Preferred Requirements and Experience

• Language Proficiency: Excellent verbal and written English.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Economics, Public Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is an asset.

• Professional Experience: 5–7 years of experience in grant management or grant support, ideally within a grant-receiving organization.

• Grant Expertise: Proven experience in grant making and management, including proposal review, reporting, risk identification, and process improvement.

• Donor Landscape Knowledge: Strong understanding of the donor ecosystem and grant-related requirements.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to convey complex information clearly.

• Data and Systems Proficiency: Skilled in tracking and managing grant data using tools such as Salesforce and Tableau.

Why Join Us

We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action.

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Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!