Strategic Initiatives Support Officer

Job Title:              Strategic Initiatives Support Officer

Cluster:                Strategic Initiatives

Salary:                   USD 37,425.91 Per Annum, (Excluding Benefits)

Contract Type:     12 months (renewable), subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

Location:               Global - Remote (the successful candidate must have the right to work in the location where they are based)

Reports to:           Advisor, Strategic Initiatives

Direct Reports:    None

Role Overview:

The Strategic Initiatives Support Officer will provide high-quality project and administrative support to CIVICUS' Strategic Initiatives workstream, supporting activities to: strengthen funder engagement and grant management; diversify resource mobilisation efforts; support cross-cutting initiatives, including organisational strategy development, annual planning and budgeting, knowledge management, evaluations and learning, and support implementation of the Norad Civic Space grant. Working closely with the Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, the Officer will help ensure that funder reports, correspondence, briefing materials and knowledge products meet a consistently high editorial standard. Excellent writing skills and a high level of organisation are essential to this role.

Areas of Responsibilities & Key Activities

Writing, Research and Knowledge Products

Draft, edit and proofread funder correspondence, briefing notes, concept notes, talking points and other written materials to a high editorial standard, ensuring clarity, accuracy and consistency with CIVICUS' voice and style.

Support the development of content for concept notes and proposals, working with the Advisor, consultants and colleagues across CIVICUS on funding diversification efforts.

Prepare summaries, minutes and follow-up notes from meetings, forums and convenings.

Maintain and update knowledge resources and filing systems (e.g. Knowledge Hub/SharePoint), ensuring materials are accurate, current and easy to navigate.

Funder Engagement Support

Maintain and update funder contact records and CRM databases, ensuring information is accurate and current.

Support coordination with fundraising consultants, including scheduling calls, tracking agreed actions and consolidating outreach records.

Assist with preparation for funder meetings, forums and events, including logistics, briefing preparation and note-taking.

Support research into good funding practices and ecosystem-strengthening approaches for organisations and activists at risk.

Help track quarterly funder updates and other scheduled communications, flagging upcoming requirements to the Advisor.

Grant Management and Reporting (Accountability)

Maintain and update the Grants Management Profile (GMP) and Smartsheet dashboard, ensuring grant details, deliverables and reporting deadlines are accurate and current.

Schedule and support report coordination calls with project leads, Finance and I&A ahead of funder deadlines, tracking action points and following up on outstanding items.

Support quality-checking of narrative and financial reports for consistency, clarity and adherence to funder requirements.

Support documentation of grant agreements, restrictions and compliance requirements in collaboration with relevant teams.

Cross-Cutting Initiatives Support

Provide coordination and logistical support for annual planning, budgeting, learning activities, and other cross-organisational convenings, including scheduling, materials preparation and follow-up.

Support coordination of Norad-funded and other cross-organisational grant activities, liaising with cluster leads and coordinators to track progress.

Assist with organisational strategy review processes by compiling inputs, tracking action points and supporting follow-up.

Support project close-out processes (e.g. subgrant close-out, exit planni