Finance and Grant Director at Mary Dinah Foundation

Mary Dinah Foundation (MDF) is the largest NGO in the world preventing malnutrition in women and children across vulnerable communities and conflict areas. The Foundation provides emergency food relief and water sanitation, improves access to healthcare, scales up education programs, and protects women and girls from gender-based violence. Operating in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Liberia, Ghana, and the United Kingdom, our team works side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, and violent conflict.

We are committed to creating global change through local impact, with 85 percent of our team members coming from the communities where they work. We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. Furthermore, we go beyond emergency aid, working in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance and Grant Director

Location: Ikeja, Lagos

Position Overview

• We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Finance and Grants Director to lead the financial planning, analysis, and management of our projects.
• The ideal candidate will have a strong background in corporate finance, with expertise in infrastructure financing, restructuring, investment banking, and project management.
• The Finance and Grants Director will play a pivotal role in securing financing, managing financial risks, and optimizing the financial performance of projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive financial models to support investment decisions and long-term strategic planning.
• Conduct financial analysis, including NPV, IRR, ROI and sensitivity analysis, to evaluate project feasibility and profitability.
• Prepare financial forecasts, budgets, and variance analysis to track project performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Lead efforts to secure financing for projects/programs, including grants, debt, equity, and other funding sources.
• Evaluate financing options and negotiate terms with lenders, investors, and other stakeholders to optimize the capital structure.
• Manage relationships with financial institutions, investors, and donors to ensure adequate funding for project implementation.
• Identify and assess financial risks associated with projects, including market, credit, liquidity, and operational risks.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and controls to safeguard the organization's financial interests and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Monitor and report on key financial metrics, compliance issues, and emerging risks to senior management.
• Conduct due diligence, financial analysis, and valuation assessments to assess the feasibility and risks of strategic transactions.
• Lead negotiations, structuring, and execution of transactions, including drafting transaction documents and coordinating with legal, tax, and other advisors.
• Develop and implement investment strategies to optimize returns while aligning with the organization's mission and values.
• Assess investment opportunities, including capital investments, joint ventures, and strategic alliances, to enhance the organization's financial performance and sustainability.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion.
• Exercise sound judgment in decision-making and problem-solving.
• Undertake any additional responsibilities assigned by the CEO.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; an MBA or advanced degree is an advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking, or financial advisory roles, with a focus on infrastructure financing and project management.
• Excellent spoken and written English; working knowledge of French is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of financial analysis, modeling, valuation techniques, and accounting principles.
• Proven track record of successfully structuring and closing financing transactions, including debt, equity, and grant funding.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Solid knowledge of regulatory requirements, compliance standards, and best practices in financial management.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Mary Dinah Foundation, with a passion for driving positive social change through sustainable development initiatives.
• Uphold discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
• Demonstrated success in multicultural environments.

Success Factors:

• The Finance and Grants Director will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision making, have initiative, drive as well as high emotional intelligence.
• Successful MDF team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
• MDF team members represent the agency both during and outside work.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MDF’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Additional Information:

• In the spirit of our founder and namesake, MDF is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued and promoted.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
• This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties.
• This document is intended to outline the main duties of the job and does not constitute a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

Application Closing Date
Not specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using "Application for Finance and Grants Director Role" as the subject of the mail.