Grants Associate at TechnoServe Kenya

Planning and Implementation

• With guidance from the Grants & Sub awards Manager, develops and implements the use of the LFS grants manual.
• Supports work planning and activity planning to align the grants program with overall project activities.
• Supports the Grants & Sub awards Manager in the development of timeline and details required for any activities needing grants, conduct market search and price analysis in coordination with technical staff.
• Coordinates with staff requesting grants to prepare Request for Applications (RFAs) to solicit applications and assess the capacity and readiness of potential grantees.
• Supports the Grants & Sub awards Manager in the evaluation and selection committee process for grantees.
• Facilitates capacity-building initiatives for grantees by collecting necessary paperwork for monitoring technical and financial alignment.
• Assists in the preparation and documentation of the grants award cycle for grants, ensuring that the technical prerequisites required for capturing relevant information in the solicitation process are readily available.
• Provides support in review application documents and packaging them for COP and USAID approval.
• Provides support to grantees in reviewing DA1 processing requirements and tracking foreign tax reporting.
• Supports the monitoring and regular verification of assets held by grantees.
• Aids in reviewing grantees' budgets for accuracy and reasonableness, ensuring that budgets are well supported with precise budget narratives for onboarding purposes.
• Documents identified gaps during routine monthly and weekly monitoring to facilitate capacity-building efforts.
• Supports the Grants & Sub awards Manager to draft grant agreements and amendments, explaining terms, conditions, roles, and responsibilities. Ensures that identified weaknesses in initial grantee assessments and related requirements are incorporated into the agreements explicitly with the required monitoring actions.
• Supports the Grants & Sub awards Manager to organize kickoff meetings and appraise grantees of the responsibilities, requirements and policies and procedures to be followed during the life of the grant.
• Supports the Grants & Sub Awards Manager to ensure on-time deliverables, payments, and cash flow requests by monitoring milestones and payment schedules.
• Any other duties as assigned by the Grants & Sub awards Manager

Compliance

• Provides training, guidance, and direction to program staff on planning, implementation, and compliance of grants policies, procedures, and instructions, specifically their role in the process.
• Reviews grants for completeness and appropriateness with the work plan.
• Ensures all required documentation is uploaded in the grants database.
• Supports the audit of grant files no less than annually
• Reviews grant milestones and requests for payments against grant agreements to ensure compliance.
• Trains on and enforces policies and procedures to prevent improprieties, intentional and unintentional. 

Academic and Professional Qualifications: Technical & Behavioral Competences:

• Bachelor’s degree required, degree in business or related field preferred
• 2+ years of experience in grants management within the development sector, with a proven record of accomplishment managing complex grant portfolios preferably with international donor-funded organization.
• Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations required.
• Demonstrate solid knowledge and understanding of the FAR, AIDAR, 2 CFR 200, 22 CFR 228
• Ability to perform tasks independently with little or no direction provided.
• Knowledge of grant compliance requirements and regulations.
• Proficiency in using grant management software and tools

Technical & Behavioral Competences:

• Excellent organizational, planning, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Adept communicator, skillfully engaging stakeholders across all organizational levels and other stakeholders in both written & oral English and Swahili.
• Time management
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Attention to ethics & integrity
• Proficiency in writing clear, persuasive, and structured proposals.
• Budgeting and Financial Acumen
• Strong organizational skills
• High attention to detail