Grant Operations Manager

Do you believe education is key to transforming lives and communities?  Would you like to be part of reimagining education for millions of children?  This is your chance to work at the heart of our mission: supporting changemakers across India and South Africa to unlock life-changing learning for every child.

The Maitri Trust is looking for an experienced Grants Operations Manager to join our team. This role will lead the process and operations which form the backbone of our grantmaking, coordinating application and selection cycles, ensuring compliance and due diligence are robust and timely, and building systems that support our team, as well as both existing and future partners.

Preferred start date: January 2026.
Hours: Full-time (35 hours a week), 80% FTE will also be considered. Flexible working possible.
Location:  Hybrid, within the UK. This role will be home based, with regular travel required to our office in Edinburgh. 
Travel requirements: Occasionally
Reporting to:  Head of Programmes

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Grants Operations Manager plays a central role in ensuring the Maitri Trust's grantmaking processes are efficient, compliant, and supportive of both our team and our partners. You will coordinate operational workflows across the grants pipeline, manage high-volume application cycles, and ensure seamless communication between applicants, reviewers, and internal teams. You will also ensure efficiencies within our current active grant portfolio, ensuring that reporting and systems are set up to be as effective as possible. Working closely with colleagues across Programmes, Operations, and Impact & Engagement, you will help build and maintain the systems that enable our grantmaking to deliver maximum impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant Operations Management

• Review and improve operational processes for managing the current active grant portfolio to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
• Coordinate the implementation and smooth running of workflows across the full grant management lifecycle, including open and closed calls.
• Manage and coordinate high-volume application cycles to ensure smooth and timely processing.
• Facilitate clear communication between current partners, applicants, reviewers, external providers, and internal teams to support effective grantmaking.
• Prepare regular updates and reports for the leadership team and Maitri Trust Board of Trustees.

Grant Processing & Review

• Co-lead the operational design and delivery of open calls with the Head of Programmes.
• Configure and test the Fluxx grant management system to optimally support open call processes.
• Maintain high quality standards in application processing, proactively identifying and implementing process improvements.
• Draft, customise, and send outcome notifications and feedback to applicants.
• Manage escalated correspondence and queries from applicants and partners as needed.
• Coordinate the timely assignment and review of applications throughout the funding pipeline, ensuring shortlisted applications progress smoothly through review and approval stage.
• Maintain application processing quality standards and identify process improvement opportunities.  

System Management, Grant Administration and Contract Management

• Act as System Administrator for the Fluxx grant system supporting its end-to-end management.
• Coordinate the due diligence relationship with external provider, consolidating internal technical and   financial due diligence. 
• Oversee protocol on information/records management, ensuring information is appropriately recorded and archived in accordance with data protection requirements.
• Monitor and report on application numbers, quality metrics, and process performance and regularly report on these to the Maitri Trust team and Board of Trustees.

Collaboration and Support

• Work closely with the Head of Programmes and Grants Portfolio Manager to ensure seamless grant management of both new and current grants. 
• Deputise for Head of Programmes when required.
• Back stop Grants Portfolio Manager on key partnership management as necessary.
• Undertake occasional travel to support partners on-the-ground, providing operational assistance as needed.

YOUR SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND PROFILE

Essential

• Minumum 5-7 years of experience in grant operations, grant management, or related roles within international development, philanthropy, or a funding organisation.
• Strong operational and process design skills, with a track record of managing high-volume application cycles, compliance workflows, and grant systems.
• Experience with grant management systems (ideally Fluxx), and confidence in configuring and optimising digital tools for process efficiency.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and maintain high attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting guidance, documentation, and reporting for diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with open call funding processes, including application review, due diligence, and contracting stages.
• Comfortable working across teams and functions, especially in roles that bridge programmes, finance, and external financial compliance.
• Ability to work across time zones and to occasionally travel within the UK and internationally.

Desirable

• Understanding of data protection regulations and experience managing data and records in line with compliance standards.
• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems, and how they integrate into grant cycles.
• Experience working in small or medium-sized trusts, NGOs, or philanthropic organisations.​

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a covering letter and CV via the link to our website below. Please use the job title in the subject line. Interviews will take place in the week commencing 8th December 2025.

The Maitri Trust reserves the right to conduct early interviews for the right candidates.

AI use: Please note, at The Maitri Trust we value authenticity and individuality in the hiring process. While we accept that the thoughtful use of AI tools can add value, we ask that applications reflect your own ideas and personal experiences. This helps us better understand your unique skills, perspectives and passion for our mission.