Grants under Contracts Manager

Position description

AIR is currently seeking a Grants under Contracts Manager for the anticipated USAID-funded Optimizing Food Assistance Programs, Processes, and Products for Nutrition (O3P) activity. The activity will re-emphasize programming aspects of food assistance-driven nutrition programs while focusing on product optimization and process improvement. The activity closely aligns with AIR’s mission to generate and use evidence to contribute to a better/more equitable world and AIR’s areas of expertise in designing and implementing impact evaluations and evidence syntheses in international development. The project involves a strong emphasis on research, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation to contribute to evidence-based policy. The position is contingent upon award.

O3P is a global program to provide assistance in low- and middle-income countries, and this position may require international travel.

This position will ideally be based in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area; however, we would consider a remote candidate based anywhere in the US as long as they are willing to travel to DC on short notice if needed. Candidates hired for the position must be eligible to work in the United States. 

Responsibilities:

The GUC Manager will be provide leadership in compliant management of the O3P Grants under Contracts Program. This position will report to the Director of International Finance and will closely coordinate with O3P Program Manager and Technical Leadership, O3P partners and beneficiaries as well as AIR home office finance, contracts and compliance staff. The GUC Manager will oversee the full grant lifecycle from design to implementation and will ensure alignment with O3P’s objectives and compliance with the applicable USAID and US Government regulations and AIR internal policies. The GUC Manager will design and lead pre-and post-award training for grantees, that will improve their understanding of GUC mechanism, compliant grant management and build related capacities. The responsibilities for the position include: 

• In coordination with the Contracts Manager, O3P Program Manager and O3P Technical Leadership, design GUC manual and related templates and documentation for USAID approval. Ensure that the GUC manual is current throughout the life of the project.
• Working closely with pertinent technical, finance and contracts team members, draft, manage and publicize Requests for Applications (RFAs) on various platforms, in line with the approved GUC Manual.
• Oversee GUC procurement and resulting GUC awards, including orienting and supporting potential applicants, overseeing the review of grant applications for responsibility, cost-reasonableness and realism, regulatory compliance, sustainability.
• Support potential grantees with refining grant applications, aligning concepts with O3P objectives and reviewing budgets to ensure costs are allowable and reasonable.
• Perform due diligence and responsibility determination of potential grantees, conduct risk analysis and mitigation, as well as draft, improve, and negotiate GUC agreements.
• Provide capacity building to the grantees in the areas including but not limited to pre- and post-award orientation, application process and requirements, compliance, GUC management and reporting. Support technical team in implementation of grantee capacity building plans and reaching related training objectives.
• Maintain and manage records of GUC agreements, including an inventory of sub-awards, and a schedule of dates and deadlines relevant to those sub-awards.
• Provide regular updates to core project team members on grantees compliance and performance, monitor risks and challenges that may arise, and offer and/or implement solutions accordingly.
• Design an effective GUC tracking system or database for the grant and procurement lifecycle, including grantee database, financial tracking of expenditures, and projections and identifying grant stages. Manage compliance of multiple, simultaneous grantees for their duration by tracking project activities and grantees’ work against timelines, budgets, objectives, and deliverables
• Contribute to or draft GUC-related sections of periodic deliverables and reports, such as quarterly reports, annual work plans, and other updates requested by USAID.
• International travel may be required to provide face-to-face support to grantees.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 9 years of work experience and demonstrated capability considered; or a Master’s degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience.
• At least 7 years of demonstrated experience in managing full-cycle grant programs of international development projects, with a particular focus on USAID-funded projects with substantial grants, procurement, and subcontracts components. Direct Grants under Contracts experience is strongly preferred.
• Substantial knowledge in utilizing US government rules and regulations governing contractual management (e.g., ADS, FAR, AIDAR, Uniform Guidance).
• Strong background in procurement, contracts and compliance is required.

Skills:

• Proven project management and leadership skills, such as: collaborating with team members and partners towards common goals; negotiating and problem solving; training, informing and building capacity; and holding oneself and others accountable.
• Demonstrable cross-cultural and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to maintain professional, respectful conduct even while under pressure.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a virtual work environment and adapt and timely respond to changing requirements and shifting program needs.
• High-level of proficiency in both spoken and written English.

Application instructions

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