Job Vacancy: Grants Manager

Company Overview:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits. 

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives. 

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. 

Project Overview and Role:

CATALYZE is a $250 million 5 to 8-year program, designed to catalyze $2 billion in private capital, especially to underfinanced social sectors (such as education) and higher risk countries (especially low-income and post-conflict countries) around the globe, complemented by a cross-cutting inclusion of gender-lens investing. CATALYZE will provide services to many missions and bureaus that “buy in” to tap the CATALYZE investment and pay-for-results project management expertise. Our aim is for investors to explore and find commercially viable opportunities and approaches to creating jobs, developing sustainable social services, tightening and rationalizing supply chains, and advancing inclusive growth. 

CATALYZE: Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) will drive private enterprise expansion to catalyze Ethiopia’s future economic growth and prosperity. MS4G intends to foster enterprise-driven growth, especially among private enterprises that have high growth potential and the capacity to catalyze job creation throughout market systems. MS4G will address systemic challenges, including building business development services capacity, creating a more conducive business environment, building the financial sector infrastructure and capability within private finance providers, and expanding the digital economy. MS4G will catalyze private sector growth by improving access to finance and facilitating transactions through targeted interventions across market systems (demand, supply, and enabling environment).  Expanded access to finance will also drive change across the market system by increasing business revenue and necessitating job creation.  The program has an estimated life of project funding of $55-$70 million, and is expected to operate for five years. 

While focus sectors will be finalized in collaboration with USAID during the inception phase, it is anticipated that they could include agribusiness, light manufacturing, and telecommunications & ICT (including fintech). Across all initiatives, there will be a cross-cutting focus on women and youth, as well as a focus on ensuring that disparate ethnic groups and regions equitably benefit from the interventions.  

 Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Grants Manager, CATALYZE: MS4G will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the grants program under the Market Systems for Growth activity. The Grants Manager will ensure the project’s compliance with Palladium and USAID policies, rules and regulations. S/he reports primarily to the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations & Compliance with secondary reporting to the Grants Manager, CATALYZE (US). 

• Provide team with guidance on and interpretation of USAID regulations as they relate to the procurement life cycle 
• In accordance with Palladium’s USAID-approved Grants Under Contract (GUC) manual, develop and execute all aspects of the GUC process 
• Provide staff with guidance on and interpretation of USAID regulations, terms, and conditions as they relate to the grants life cycle and administration of grants 
• Coordinate with the Grants Manager, CATALYZE (US) to ensure process standardization and compliance with Palladium policies and procedures 
• Ensure effective liaison between project staff and grant recipients and refer technical issues encountered during grants implementation to the Director of Finance & Administration, CATALYZE: MS4G.  
• Monitor completion of grants milestones and report issues hampering the smooth implementation of grants to the Director of Finance & Administration, CATALYZE: MS4G. 
•  Monitor activity expenditures and updating grants activity and expenditure trackers. 
• Facilitate the evaluation of grant proposals by organizing the evaluation committee, preparing the necessary scoring sheets and negotiation memo and ensure that required grant documentation is maintained and complete for each grant activity 
• Conduct reviews of grant application budgets and monitoring of same during grant implementation.  
• Review and approve draft grants agreement in compliance with applicable Palladium policies and procedures and USAID conditions.
• Maintain audit-ready grant files and facilitate external grants audits as required. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all disputes with CATALYZE: MS4G grantees. 
• Resolve in a timely manner internal and external issues/problems related to grants administration. 
• Conduct training and capacity building, as needed, for grantees and those unfamiliar with USAID funding. 
• Contribute to the project’s financial forecasts by closely tracking grantees’ expenditure projections. 
• Participate actively in periodic meetings to assess compliance with terms and conditions of awards and assume leadership in ensuring that deficiencies in compliance are corrected.

Required Qualifications

• Track record in developing large budgets; 
• Strong financial and operational management experience; 
• Expert level knowledge of various types of Grants (ADS 303).  
• Experience building relationships with local organizations and building their capacity to administer large donor grant funds; 
• Professional level of oral and written fluency in English language; 
• Relevant computer software skills and familiarity with standard applications in MS Office. 

Desired Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in relevant field; Business Administration or other related field is preferred relevant to the position requirements; 
• At least 8 years of work experience in grants administration on large-scale, donor-funded projects, including 4 on a USAID-funded project.