USAID Speed Program – Call For CVS: Grants Manager

Description

• The USAID Supporting the Enabling Environment for Development (SPEED) program supports the Government of Mozambique (GRM) to develop and implement policies that improve the country’s business enabling environment, thereby enhancing the role of the private sector in agriculture, trade facilitation, health, energy, and biodiversity conservation. The program also strengthens economic governance and public financial management and enhances the role of civil society in supporting Mozambique’s ability to plan, manage, and finance its own development
• Overview of the Position : The Grants Manager will play two key functions: 1) serve as the primary lead for managing the SPEED grants-under-contract (GUC) manual and fund and 2) support grantee management, progress monitoring and tracking, performance, and capacity development efforts. The Grants Manager will form part of a dynamic, high energy, and multi-disciplinary team and will be expected to actively participate in team discussions, contribute ideas to design processes, remain flexible with assigned responsibilities, and think creatively about how to structure and develop grants that facilitate technical and operational excellence while meeting high standards of regulatory compliance
• Scope of Work: Because the SPEED grants program will include a focus on identifying local and niche technical partners, this will require the Grants Manager to build the capacity of prospective partners on how USAID award administration functions, while ensuring that agile programming, accountability for performance, and grant compliance remain in place. Evidence-based approaches will be important to ensure SPEED’s collaboration, learning, and adaptation agenda is successfully captured. The Grants Manager will assist SPEED to identify and vet potential partners, ensuring participation from a broad and strategic range of prospective applicants that understand and are eligible to participate in SPEED grant funding opportunities, including matching grantee capacity with the appropriate and available grant mechanism
• The Grants Manager is responsible for the award administration, management, and collaborating with the implementation of SPEED grants in accordance with the USAID approved Grants-Under-Contract (GUC) Manual and DAI policies and procedures, including using DAI systems for grant award administration and closeout

Duties

Award Administration (Pre-Award, Award, Closeout)

• Oversee and manage the full award life cycle for grants (pre-award, post-award, closeout), including conducting market research, ensuring technical requirements are accurately captured in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), responding to questions, organizing and leading grant evaluation committee and cost reasonableness reviews, preparing approval documents, assisting technical leads with implementation management, ensuring monitoring and evaluation and learning agenda requirements are captured in grant awards, providing capacity building support to non-traditional partners in grant administration, and ensuring proper grant closeout
• Ensure all grant budget estimates meet the standards of allowability, allocability, cost reasonableness, and consistency
• In coordination with the GEC, negotiate grant terms and budgets with prospective grantees
• Conduct pre-award audits of prospective grantee organizations, in addition to periodic audits during implementation and at close-out
• Provide support to program staff as well as grantees to ensure adherence to grant management policies and the delivery of on-time technical excellence, evidence, MEL indicators, and learning under the grants fund
• Draft and issue Annual Program Statements (APS) and Request for Applications (RFAs)
• In coordination with the GEC, participate in fine tuning pre-award grant applications after the competition stage has closed to ensure activities meet program objectives

Award Compliance, Tracking, and Reporting

• Establish clear grants policies, update the GUC manual as needed, and ensure effective communication for systematizing grant award administration procedures that blend technical and operational innovation
• Oversee and ensure proper maintenance of documentation and reporting in accordance with USAID and DAI guidelines, including preparing regular reports on grantee performance, and raising issues and risks related to grantee implementation to the DCOP
• Ensure that all grantee/activity monitoring reports and data are correctly entered into the project’s Activity Database (i.e. TAMIS) on a regular basis, and that databases are capable of monitoring, tracking, and reporting different funding sources from USAID and components
• Contribute data required on a recurrent basis to assist in the preparation of reports, analysis, and presentations on grantee/activity performance, including but not limited to monthly grantee updates, quarterly, and annual reports
• Ensure grantees submit all required financial and administrative documents in compliance with awarded instruments to ensure efficient review and approval processes for timely grant disbursements
• Work with Portfolio Managers to monitor grantee performance closely to ensure that deliverables, milestones, and expectations are met and are of high quality
• Ensure grant implementation is in compliance with the SPEED Grant Manual and any other relevant policies and procedures
• Ensure that grants are closed out in compliance with project policies and procedures, collecting and filing signed closeout letters, final reports, and any other specified final deliverables according to the latest checklist / guidance available in the Field Operations Manual
• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to make sure grantee results are accurately captured in the program’s regular reporting (monthly, quarterly, annual, newsletters)
• Perform regular spot audits of grant files to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance

Requisites

• B.A. Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or relevant university degree that demonstrates complementarity to the scope of requirements
• At least three years of progressively higher-level experience in grants design and administration on USAID-funded projects or with other donors in a related field
• Experience implementing grants for USAID funded projects is preferred Knowledge of the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR), and USAID Automated Directives System (ADS) is required
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills; provides sound business judgement and contractual oversight
• Excellent organizational skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive in managing a grants program
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office suite, and other relevant software
• Must have English and Portuguese language proficiency, verbal and written
• Desired Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in business administration, market systems development, private sector development, or relevant Master’s degree that demonstrates complementarity to the scope of requirements
• One to two years of USAID-field experience in grants or operations management

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Interested candidates must submit their CV in English
• Reporting: The Grants Manager will report to the Deputy of Chief of Party (DCOP)
• Salary Range: This position is rated at a Grade 9 with an expected salary range of $34,457 - $59,170, per year. Final salary determination will be determined based on the degree to which candidates meet the required qualifications, years of relevant experience, and other considerations

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to speed_recruitment@dai.com with the Subject line “USAID Speed Program - Call For CVS: Grants Manager”