Overview
Background:
Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
Project Summary:
The purpose of USAID’s Bangladeshi Youth Activity (BYA) is to bolster youth’s income; increase resilience to violent extremism/ and anti-democratic values; and to provide youth the skills and abilities to advocate for good governance and to improve Bangladesh’s self-reliance. BYA will build skills and empower in- and out-of-school youth to increase their employability, civic engagement and contribution to the economic growth of Bangladesh.
Position Summary:
The Grants Manager (GM) will be accountable for oversight of all grant administration from pre-award to post-award and closeout phases. The Grants Manager’s responsibility includes ensuring efficient and proper control/measures are in place to be compliant with USAID and Creative grants procedure as set out in the grant manual. The GM will also coordinate on training and grants administration with grantees to build grantees’ capacity to meet USAID rules and regulations. The GM will be also review grantees submissions such as financial and narrative reports and will pass on to responsible departments for final review and to process grantees’ payments.
Reporting and Supervision:
The Grants Manager will report to the Deputy Chief of Party – Operations and Compliance.
Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities:
- Oversee the entire grant administrative process and ensure the process is compliant with approved Grant Manual (GM) and client’s requirements;
- Lead the grants planning process that includes, but not limited to initiate the solicitation, reviewing it with relevant technical team members who will add the program description in the solicitation, finalize and issuance of the solicitation;
- Carry out initial screening of submitted applications in response to the solicitation to ensure applications meet the basic criteria set in the solicitation prior applications go to the detailed review by Selection Committee (SC) members;
- Ensure the submitted applications and budgets are in compliance with RFA and Grant Manual (GM) and client’s requirements;
- Kick off the SC meeting and facilitate the process and ensure all SC scoring sheets/results are uploaded in SMART;
- Facilitate the negotiation process with grantees at the pre-award processes;
- Complete the grant packages to the selected applications for funding opportunity;
- Share grant packages with HQ for final review prior submitted to client for approval;
- Amend grant packages based on the feedback provided by HQ Point of Contact (as applicable);
- Oversee the grant implementation process that includes desk review of grantees submitted documents (grantees financial/milestone reports, site visits reports, conducting physical field visit to project/grant implementation site with or without monitoring team as applicable) and coordinate communication between technical/finance team and grantees (as applicable);
- Maintain all required documents in SMART for auditing purpose;
- Obtain SMART training and deliver it to relevant field staff and grantees;
- Perform as SMART administrator at the field office and provide assistance to field office staff on SMART when and as required;
- Coordinate with HQ on the technical issues of SMART that needs to be taken care at HQ and those technical issues are beyond Grant Manager authority (user role in system); and
- Perform other tasks as assigned by supervisor.Qualifications
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree or professional accounting/financial qualification is required;
- At least four (4) years’ experience in grant management, including reporting and at least six (6) years of general work experience is required, including at least three (3) or more years in supervisory roles;
- Demonstrated experience with financial administration, budget and cost control management is essential;
- Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations and previous experience working on USAID-funded projects is required;
- Excellent record keeping and documentation skills;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; and
- Fluency in spoken and written English required.
Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Position contingent upon donor funding.
PI132519145
