Regional Grants and Contracts Manager at International Potato Center

The primary objective of this position is to lead the management of SSA Regional Grants and Contracts portfolio; ensuring that projects comply with donor and CGIAR requirements, procedures and guidelines in the post award phases of the CIP project life cycle. The function will build the capacity of CIP field based staff on the subject of G&C compliance.

• Manage the SSA regional portfolio of awards (donor, prime, sub recipient), MOUs, and CGIAR Hosting Agreements as G&C’s contact point, acting as a representative of the G&C HQ unit, in coordination with the SSA Regional Director, Program leaders, Project Managers and regional staff.
• Review of all funding and partner award transactions, in collaboration with other functional areas such as program, finance, intellectual property, administration, and/or HR for their approval and signature.
• Responsible for the drafting, negotiating and approval-for-signature (as defined in the Delegation of authority) of partner sub-recipient agreements and technical collaboration MOUs.
• Ensures adherence to applicable delegation of authority policies, as they relate to signatory delegation of authority powers and thresholds.
• Convene with HQ stakeholders in regular meetings to ensure communication on contractual aspects of projects, identify issues requiring action and ensure follow-through on deliverables.
• Develop and maintain shared learning with HQ and SSA country constituencies regarding G&C.
• Maintains an up-to-date database and repository of all SSA regional signed awards, MOUs, and HA in OCS.
• Deliver training for regional or country office staff on a variety of G&C topics.
• Identify support needs of sub recipients in areas affecting G&C compliance and timely delivery; and contribute to providing training and check-ups;
• Participate in the development of institutional policies, guidance documents and procedures and in thinking creatively and critically on ways to streamline operating procedures.
• Support the HQ technical reporting function by ensuring timely follow up with SSA Principal Investigators on submission deadlines and response to donor queries.
• Participate in project life cycle reviews and meetings on behalf of the G&C SSA function (PNM meeting, startup meeting, closeout meeting).