ACDI / VOCA
Position Title: Grants Director
Summary: Feed the Future USAID Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity is a Leader with Associate (LWA) Mechanism that is based on the premise that through collective action; expanded and viable economic opportunities; strengthened formal and informal institutions, systems, and governance; and improved human capital will strengthen people’s resilience in the face of shocks and stresses and reduce the prevalence and depth of poverty, household hunger, and chronic under-nutrition.
The program is implemented by ACDI VOCA across five counties in the arid lands of Northern Kenya that is, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana, Garissa and Wajir.
The Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems Leader Award manages a grants facility to support program activities.
The use of grants enables the Livestock Market Systems activity to address market system constraints and incentivize innovation to ensure the program remains responsive to market system changes.
All grants are competitive and transparently awarded. ACDI VOCA is therefore seeking to recruit a Grants Director.
The position will be based in Kenya- Nairobi, reporting to the Chief of Party.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Grants Director will be responsible for overseeing grants management under the Livestock Market System Activity Leader Award and integrating the departments’ role with the other to ensure program goals are met.
He/ She will supervise staff and monitor the overall grants portfolio ensuring high quality administration of grants across the Associate Awards.
As part of the Senior Management Team, the Grants Director will participate in strategic planning for the program.
The position holder will lead in development grant management systems and processes; oversee grants management; ensure compliance; and continuously build staff capacities.
Grants Design
- Design grant processes, tools, and templates for administering grants under the Activity.
- Periodically review the grants system to ensure it meets the basic principles of grants management and compliance requirements and recommend revisions as necessary.
- Oversee the use of the Sub Award Management System (SAMS) for managing grants while ensuring that it is effectively maintained, up to date with accurate records for all grants.
Grants Management Oversight
- Provide guidance, direction, leadership and support necessary to ensure grant staff succeed in performing their jobs, achieve their goals and develop professionally.
- In conjunction with the Technical Director, supervise the process of soliciting and review of applications while promoting a transparent and competitive process.
- Act as a non-scoring member of the growth grants selection committee. This will include participation in field assessments by the committee.
- Oversee the grants selection process for other grant categories to help ensure the procedures are fair, transparent, and compliant with USAID regulations
- Review final grant packages from the grants team before submission to COP-Leader for subsequent approval by USAID
- Conduct regular grantee monitoring to assure proper management of grants.
- Coordinate regular internal reviews/spot-checks of grant files maintained by the Associate Award grant teams to ensure they are complete and up to date.
- Monitor possible grant risks and develop mitigation measures for all risks identified during the grant life cycle
- Coordinate with the Director of M&E to ensure that all grantee activities are linked with the overall program indicators and outcomes
- Coordinate with the Director of Finance to ensure accurate and timely payment of grant and procurement related costs and consistent reporting of financial data between the two departments including resolution of any grant data differences
- Assess grant results through SAMS and using the results to provide evidence of program success and/or identify ways of improving program performance
- Collate reports from associate projects for overall reporting of the grant facility to USAID as part of the monthly, quarterly and annual reporting requirements.
- Review of all grantee property disposition requests to USAID before submission
- Ensure a complete audit trail of the implementation and reporting for all awards under the grant facility
- Build and maintain relationships with relevant USAID representatives, relevant county government Ministries and other stakeholders to ensure consistent communication around the implementation of the grant facility
- Support relevant proposal development processes as needed
Compliance
- Assure donor and ACDI/VOCA compliance across all grant management functions
- Ensure potential issues and amendment requests are flagged promptly to the Leader COP and the donor notified of the same as appropriate
- Work with internal and external auditors as necessary
Capacity Building
- Support the grants team to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of staff to manage grants and comply with relevant USAID and ACDI/VOCA requirement as relevant to their role, by providing induction, training, and coaching.
- Develop and oversee implementation of a capacity building plan to increase grantees capacity and ability to deliver and manage grants.
- Support grantee cross-learning.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, or relevant field
- CPA Part II or above
- Over five years of demonstrated experience and success setting up and managing grants under grants/contracts, preferably related to value chain/market systems approaches
- Experience in grant management of large complex programs
- Experience building capacity of grant recipients and training grant management staff
- Expertise in developing regulatory framework for grant management
- Experience with different grants mechanisms
Required Competencies and Skills
Strategic Management
- Ability to monitor and apply donor regulations to programmatic work
- Knowledge of and experience in grant making and the nonprofit sector
Leadership and Problem-Solving Capacity
- Demonstrated experience in formulating and implementing policies and procedures
- Ability to think and act decisively about program and operational issues
- Capacity to group abstract ideas and form coherent picture
- Ability to objectively analyze a situation and evaluate pros and cons of any course of action
Grants Administration
- Knowledge and application of best practices in grant making
- Demonstrated knowledge of USAID financial and management systems, regulations and reporting requirements. Evidence of ability to be creative and flexible within those requirements.
- Analytical capabilities with accounting procedures and processes for structuring projects
- Knowledge of grants management software and information technology skills
Management and Communications
- Ability to communicate technical, budgetary and program details to staff, grantees and applicants
- Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to manage and motivate a team
- Ability to design and implement effective workflow processes and procedures
- Capability to foster an atmosphere which recognizes and respects cultural and individual differences
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume to HRKenya@acdivoca.org no later than August 21, 2022.
In the subject line, please include the position title.
Applications will be reviewed promptly upon receipt, only finalists will be contacted.
ACDI/VOCA is an equal opportunity employer.
Women, minorities and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply.
EOE