Grants Manager at Creative Associates International

Creative Associates International provides outstanding, on-the-ground development services and forges partnerships to deliver sustainable solutions to global challenges. Its experts focus on building inclusive educational systems, transitioning communities from conflict to peace, developing sustainable economic growth, engaging youth, promoting transparent elections and more. Creative is recognized for its ability to quickly adapt and excel in conflict and post-conflict environments.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Grants Manager

Location: Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time

Background

• Creative Associates International (Creative) is a dynamic and fast-growing professional services firm that specializes in international development in the areas of education, democratic transitions and stabilization in post-conflict environments.
• Based in Washington, D.C., the firm has field presence in more than 20 countries worldwide with a strong and diverse portfolio that includes global contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other clients including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense.
• The firm has earned a solid reputation among its clients and missions worldwide and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Program Description

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast Connection activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict.
• By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria.
• In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats.
• In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• Under the leadership of the Deputy Chief of Party, the Grants Manager advises and assists in the design, development, and oversight of the Contractor’s grants under contract (GUC) management policies, procedures and practices.
• S/he oversees the grant management process for the full grant cycle, collaborating across teams in all aspects of grant budget planning, management, administration, compliance, and reporting.
• S/he ensures adherence to NE Connection’s Grants Manual and USAID’s policies and procedures, providing policy guidance and interpretation for staff as well as grantees. 
• S/he will provide leadership and oversight to the grant pre-award and application process, helping staff analyze and evaluate grant applications, proposals, and awards, ensure proper negotiation of the terms and conditions for grants, and analyze budget estimates for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency.
• S/he will train and provide ongoing mentorship to staff and grantees on grant administration, reporting, financial compliance and Creative’s online grants management system.
• The Grants Manager is also responsible for ensuring that grants development and management processes and approaches are flexible and responsive to the context and challenges of the target states in NE Nigeria.
• Under the leadership of the DCOP and in coordination with the program staff, will help identify appropriate GUC or rapid response mechanisms through which the project will provide grants to local organizations to conduct project activities and participate in capacity building efforts.
• S/he will provide regular progress reports on grant implementation to the COP and DCOP to ensure activities are implemented according to the project workplan.

Reporting & Supervision:

• The Grants Manager reports to the Deputy Chief of Party.  The Grants Manager supervises (Sr.) grant officers.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage full award cycle for grants and contracts, including solicitation, review, execution, implementation management, monitoring, communication with awardees, and closeout of grants;
• With the DCOP, develop and manage grants process workflow and create job aids and tools to support staff understanding and adherence;
• Lead the implementation of bidder’s conferences and grantee kickoff meetings, ensuring appropriate coordination among grants, finance, procurement, and program staff and timeliness of events;
• Ensure adherence to the established grant monitoring procedures, conducting regular reviews of grant documentation as well as scheduled and random site visits to ensure that grants are being implemented in accordance with USAID and Creative policies, rules and regulations;
• Work closely with program and procurement teams to monitor GUC mechanisms overall budget and assist the DCOP and HO Project Manager with budget forecasting for grant activities;
• Monitor grantee adherence to agreed-upon implementation plans, budgets, and timelines in order to proactively alert the DCOP and COP to the need of grant amendments. These may include scope, cost, and/or time amendments necessitating approvals from USAID.  The GM is responsible for drafting and justifying the request in coordination with the program managers;
• Develop complete grant packages with the required back-up documentation for each grant (i.e., In-kind Grants, Fixed-Award Amount, etc) for the DCOP and HO Project Manager to obtain USAID Approval;
• Review and analyze grant budget estimates for allowability, allocability and reasonableness of cost;
• Prepares and sends official responses to applicants after selection or rejection;
• Collaborate with the program team to assist in developing and revising mechanisms for making payments, monitoring & reporting financial performance;
• Establish and maintain proper grant tracker, processes, documentation, and monitor and record budget and payment information and contract deliverables;
• Monitor grant expenses and work with grants and program officers to provide regular updates on grant status including developing and maintaining grantee activity calendar;
• Where appropriate, assist the grantees in developing the work plans, budgets, monitoring progress, tracking expenses, preparing reports and following up on grantees complains with the terms of their agreements;
• Regularly follow up with grants staff and grantees on deliverables and to track implementation of activities;
• Coordinate with program teams to ensure thorough review of grantee deliverables and reports and ensure timely financial disbursements and compliance with grants financial management policies;
• Work closely program staff to review state-level strategies and initiate appropriate planning and sequencing of grants and direct implementation activities in the pipeline with grants, procurement and finance staff;
• Manage grantee database, ensuring accuracy of information and updating regularly;
• Ensure all grant documentation is properly filed and up to date on SharePoint, in accordance with grants checklist;
• Ensures grant concept notes and proposals received are summarized and documented in Grants Review Table; and
• Any other task assigned by the supervisor.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Management, Business Administration, Financial Analysis or Accounting or Professional Accounting / Financial qualification is required, Master’s degree preferred;
• Minimum of five (5) years professional experience (including at least two years of supervisory experience) working in complex and challenging field operational contexts; at least two (2) years working in international development strongly preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years grants administration experience with international donors is required, previous USAID grant experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing a team and ability to work under own initiative.
• Ability to analyze cost applications and prepare reports and recommendations on whether applicants should be funded;
• Solid understanding of donor regulations and procedures pertaining to grants management.
• Competent in computers and using Microsoft office (word, excel etc) software for budgeting and tracking purposes essential.
• Understanding of budget and cost control management and ability to analyze budget line items for compliance required;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and develop strong working relationships with grantees.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, performing complex tasks and prioritizing multiple projects;
• Proven records maintenance and database management skills; and
• Excellent written and spoken English essential.

Application Closing Date
31st May, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV to: Recruitment@connection-nigeria.com using the Job Title as the subject of the email.