RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Engility Corporation is seeking a Grants Director for the USAID Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment and Livelihoods (GEEL) Project. The project promotes inclusive economic growth in South Central Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland and aims to strengthen the business enabling environment through access to finance and policy and regulation support; promote enterprise development through business development services; improve production, employment, and incomes in select agricultural value chains; and increase participation by women and youth in the economy as entrepreneurs, employers, and employees.
Location: Mogadishu (with regional travel to Puntland, Hargeisa and within South Central Somalia)
Duration: Full time, 1 Year (Renewable)
Background:
Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods (GEEL) is 5-year USAID-funded project designed to promote and facilitate inclusive economic growth in South Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland. The project is currently focusing on the agricultural sector (livestock, fisheries & horticulture) but is anticipated to expand in the future into other sectors of the economy. It will also seek to strengthen the business enabling environment through improving access to finance, policy and regulation, and business development services. Particular focus will be given to increase the participation of women and youth in the economy as entrepreneurs, employers, and employees.
Objectives:
The Grants Director will be responsible for managing GEEL’s Grants under Contract, including the Value Chain Competitiveness Fund under Task Order 2 (Agricultural Value Chain Services) in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia. Tasks will relate to the pre-solicitation, solicitation, evaluation, award and post-award phases. He/she will collaborate closely with GEEL operational personnel (responsible for operations, finance, procurement) as well as technical staff under TO2.
Rationale:
Grant funding of between US$ 5 million and US$ 12 million will be used under GEEL to promote local ownership and capacity building of local partners across various regions. The majority of these grants will be in-kind; funds will not be transferred directly to the recipient institution. Therefore, the project must procure and deliver goods and services (including construction) directly to the recipient. The solicitation, negotiation, award and administration of grants therefore requires a dedicated Grant Director.
The contractor must coordinate with the TOCOR on grants management tasks that include the following for working with local organizations throughout each phase of the award process:
Responsibilities:
The Grants Director will be responsible for the following tasks:
General Responsibilities
- Conduct day-to-day management of the grant-making mechanism comprising grant solicitation, evaluation, award, and monitoring;
- Supervise work of Grants Manager and Grants/M&E Coordinators;
- Coordinate closely with GEEL technical and operational personnel to ensure timely delivery of appropriate grants supporting technical assistance, physical infrastructure and equipment;
- Coordinate closely with the Task Order Contracting Officer’s Representative on grants management tasks;
- Ensure compliance with Grants Manual policies, practices and procedures related to all aspects of recipient monitoring and awards management. Conduct periodic grants reviews including site visits to the grantees;
- Identify areas for building capacity among recipients and work with GEEL teams to help address these needs;
- Manage and monitor the budget of the grant mechanism and individual grants;
- Prepare quarterly financial and activity reports;Grants-Making Mechanism Management
- Prepare and advertise solicitations in accordance with the Grants Manual policies and procedures.
- Organize and facilitate solicitation conferences and information sessions;
- Ensure that grant proposals submitted meet established criteria;
- Supervise due diligence activities in accordance with the Grants Manual – environmental compliance, pre-award site survey, applicant vetting, legal registration, etc.;
- Manage grant evaluation and submission process – screening potential grantees, evaluation of potential grantees and applications according to the Grant Manual and USAID policies, assessment/feasibility of requested equipment, arranging grant evaluation committee meetings and recording comments/recommendations, submission of grant applications for USAID approval;
- Prepare grant agreements – including budget, deliverables/milestones, standard provisions;
- Work with project staff to ensure establishment of project accounts, systems, and tools to monitor compliance with agreement terms and conditions; manage spending against budget;
- Manage grant implementation – ongoing monitoring of progress, preparing grant modifications, ensuring accurate and regular reporting, preparing payments to vendors/recipients, managing agreement documentation, identifying and addressing technical and capacity-building assistance;
- Close out agreements in accordance with the Grant Manual – undertake evaluation of impact, prepare disposition and close out documentation;
- Additional tasks related to the overall objective, as requested by the Operations Manager, Deputy Chief of Party or Chief of Party.
Reporting:
The Grants Director will report to the Operations Manager and will supervise a Grants Manager and Grants/M&E personnel based in regional offices.
MINIMUM TANGIBLE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, economics, public administration, or a related field; (Master Degree desired but not required)
- Minimum three (3) years of grants administration, accounting or financial management experience;
- Minimum three (3) years of experience with international donor (USAID, World Bank, UN, DIFID, etc.) funded program(s)
- Demonstrated experience in leading grant solicitation, due-diligence, selection, awarding, monitoring & evaluation and closeout of a large grants program
- Extensive experience working with counterparts at various levels of government and/or the private sector;
- Previous experience in post-conflict countries would be a distinct asset, particularly Somalia;
- Familiarity with USAID and US Government regulations preferred;
Skills/Others
- Outstanding team management skills
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate, willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically;
- A proven ability to achieve concrete results under time constraints;
- Fully computer literate and demonstrated high standard of financial reporting;
- Ability to work within multi-national teams;
- Ability to travel to rural field locations in Somalia for work purposes;
- Excellent English and Somalia language skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- USAID grant making experience is a significant advantage.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please use the following link: https://careers-engility.icims.com/jobs/15837/grants-director---somalia/job
