Openings at DAI Kenya - Development Alternatives, Inc.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Grants Specialist reports to the Grants Manager and will support and contribute to the day-to-day administration of the ATI grants pool, ensuring compliance with USAID regulations and best practices.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance

• Work with the Grants, Activity and Finance teams with regards to regular monitoring and tracking of grant budgets and compiling financial reports.
• Ensure grantees budgets and other applicable details are loaded in grants management systems
• Where applicable assist in processing grantee payments by assuring necessary documentation is availed
• Maintain financial capability records for each grantee to meet USAID requirements as stated in project Grants Manual.

General Grant Management

• Work closely with project leadership, technical staff, and operations staff in the activity design process including, but not limited to, supporting the development of Notification of Funding Opportunities (NOFO), facilitating the process of evaluation of grant applications to ensure adherence to grants management policies, and advising on appropriate grant mechanisms and creative, and compliant, uses of grants. Work with partners to develop grant budget estimates and review for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency, as well as compliance with applicable USAID regulations and DAI policies, as outlined in the Grants Manual
• Support the Grants Manager in assessing administrative and financial capacity of grant applicants.
• Ensure proper negotiation of the terms and conditions for grant agreements, ensure the proper type of grant selected, review and select the correct standard and as applicable provisions, work with grantee and technical team to finalize grant agreement for approval, and draft approval documents necessary to requests approvals from USAID.
• With support from other members of the Grants Team, generate and review all aspects of grant agreements at kick off meetings, and during implementation, with grantees, including schedule and facilitate meetings to define roles, responsibilities, and timelines for grantees.
• Work as a problem solver with the technical team to learn, adapt and improve throughout the grant design and solicitation process.
• Identify with the Grants Team, CFO, and technical teams appropriate special award conditions and/or necessary capacity building for the grantee to strengthen the results, minimize risk, and ensure compliance.

Grant Activity Management

• Work with grantees, ATI Grants Manager(s) and broader ATI team to ensure that activities are implemented in accordance with activity design and terms and conditions of the grant. Provide guidance in the implementation of the grants activities, including closure and disposition plans.
• Attend meetings and events hosted by partners. Provide updates to and collaborate with ATI staff on grant monitoring.
• Monitor submission of grant deliverables and reports. Coordinate with other members of the team for review and approval. Monitor and track procurement activities for in-kind grants and delivery status of goods/services.
• Support the development and capacity-building of local organizations and grantees to ensure successful implementation and compliance with the grant agreement, as well as to support their sustainable development as an organization.
• Ensure complete backup documentation for payments to grantees is submitted to project’s finance team.
• Support the troubleshooting of grants management challenges with grantees, technical staff, Grants Team, CFO, COP, and USAID as requested/as needed.
• Track any leverage, contribution, or program income as required in the grant agreement and ensure compliance with audit requirements for grantees, as appropriate.
• Ensure timely and well documented close-out of grants, ensuring completeness and quality of grant files.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with approved Grants Manual, referenced USAID regulations, DAI policies and procedures, systems, and internal controls, and applicable local laws and tax policy.
• Ensure that all grant activities are properly documented from the start of implementation to grant close-down using DAI operations and grant management systems etc.
• Document and share learnings with the Grants Team to ensure best practices and improvements are incorporated into future grant programming.
• Perform regular spot audits of grant files to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Support and use grant budget/funds monitoring tools
• Submit progress and status reports as required
• Track overall Grant Fund amounts in total, by buy-in, and by grant, including both awarded and obligated amounts.
• Work with the Grants Director and the ATI MEL team to ensure their portfolio of grants and their impact is aggregated, validated and disseminated.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of experience working in international business and grants management, with experience in USAID grants management preferred
• Proven project management, communications, writing and interpersonal skills including strong experience with client management
• Demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and audit processes (e.g. procurement, local subcontract agreements, etc.)
• A well-organized organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus;
• Ability to work in a fast-moving, fluid team setting with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills including writing, speaking, and reading skills in English.

go to method of application »

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Grants Associate reports to the Grants Manager and supports the implementation of the project’s grants portfolio in compliance with USAID regulations and DAI policies.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that grants are carried out strictly in accordance with ATI and USAID policies and procedures per the approved Grants Manual
• Support the Grants Manager in maintaining the complete documentation and filing system for all grants including the applications, evaluation reports, negotiation memorandums, award documents, relevant correspondences, etc.
• Schedule and take notes at Selection Evaluation Committees in liaison with Grants Manager.
• Support administrative aspects of the pre-award risk assessment and due diligence process, including vetting and reference checking for proposed grantees.
• Assist the Grants Manager to coordinate grant actions with other ATI teams, including the Activity team, Partnership team, MEL and Communications team, and Environmental Compliance team.
• Assist Grants Manager to track submission of milestones deliverables, financial, narrative, and other reports from the grantees in accordance with the reporting schedule of the signed grant agreements.
• Collect and compile data from the grantees and regularly update the grant management database.
• Prepare complete grant payments requests for finance.
• Enter data and keep the relevant database updated at all times.
• Support the grant closeout process.
• Other related tasks assigned by supervisor.
• Travel to regional offices and grantee locations as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
• 4+ years’ experience in related position
• Experience working with international NGOs, USG programs or other donors required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in dynamic environments and achieve development outcomes
• Excellent organizational skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive
• Ability to perform high-level duties with a minimum of supervision
• Strong English writing and speaking skills required