Grants and Subcontracts Manager USAID/Kenya and East Africa, Scaling Inclusive Food Systems Activity at Palladium International

This Opportunity:  

The purpose of this Activity is to promote inclusive agricultural-led growth, with a focus on climate-smart approaches that leverage private sector resources and catalyze investment in the agricultural sector; strengthen the resilience of people and systems; and improve nutrition, especially among women and children.  

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:   

The Grants Manager will be responsible for leading the design, implementation, and management of all the Activity grants and subcontracts operations for the USAID-funded Activity.

Role and Responsibilities 

•  Responsible for overseeing grants and subcontracts and ensuring compliance with USAID requirements 
• In accordance with Palladium’s USAID-approved GUC Manual, develop and execute all aspects of the GUC process 
• Manage grant and subcontracts tracking systems to ensure the timely and compliant execution of all grant agreements 
• Coordinate grants and subcontract management activities with home office project management unit  
• Guide and advise grantees/subawardees on the interpretation of grant terms and conditions and client rules and regulations; provide training, guidance, and mentorship to grantee/sub-awardee counterparts 
• Take initiative and provide creative solutions to complex contractual/compliance problems, working with Palladium team members on project-wide initiatives and issues 
• Manage the grants/subawards procurement of goods and services including, but not limited to: 
• Draft RFQs, RFPs, and RFAs solicitating concept papers, statements of qualifications, and grant sub-contract award proposals  
• Manage the selection process during proposal evaluations including evaluation memos and selection justifications 
• Facilitate negotiations with awardees 
• Draft, review, and finalize the resulting grant/subaward document 
•  Prepares, organizes, and maintains grant records and files documenting grant award, modification, performance and compliance 
• Provide contract briefs to document new grant awards, modifications, and administrative changes
• Participate in the implementation and monitoring of grants milestones, tracking grants deliverables and monitoring grants delivery against grants budget
• Review and process request for payment invoices for milestone(s) achieved and verified
• Maintain the grant portfolio database and project grant data on relevant grant database system and Project SharePoint site for all grants mechanisms, ensuring up to date records at all times
• Manage the development and presentation of internal and external reporting (for example: Internal grants reviews, grants risk assessments, grants annual reviews, and grants deliverables) 

Key Competencies Required:  

• 5 to 7 years experience in international grants management, preferably managing large complex USAID grants  
• Demonstrated background ensuring compliance on large complex donor funded programs and current knowledge of USAID rules and regulations 
• Proven track record of working collaboratively with various stakeholders 
• Strong interpersonal skills to maintain good relations with the relevant partners and counterparts 
• Well organized, able to work independently, skilled in handling multiple tasks, able to adhere to deadlines 
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, including ability to develop and communicate a common vision and foster collaboration across an interdisciplinary team 
• Strong management skills to guide all project human, technical, and financial resources 
• Strong interpersonal, writing, and oral presentation skills in English