Job Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in Six regional states: Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples(SNNP), Amhara, Gambela and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and participating public. Mercy Corps has a growing portfolio of programs in Ethiopia that focus on food security; agriculture and livestock market systems development; maternal and child health and nutrition; youth economic productivity; resilience and humanitarian response. In Ethiopia, some of our donors include USAID, SIDA, EU, DFID, and WFP.

Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title: Senior Sub award & Compliance Officer

 Location: Jijiga

 Number of Positions: One

 Program Summary

STEDE- the programme aims to strengthen socio-economic development and better economic and employment opportunities for refugees and host communities in the Jijiga area (Somali Regional State) by supporting and piloting the implementation of Ethiopia's refugee pledges, in particular those related to local integration of refugees, expansion of Out-of-camp policy and Documentation pledges.

RIPA-The Resilience in Pastoral Areas Project will improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions, collectively contributing to enhanced food security and inclusive economic growth for over 178,000 households.

 General Position Summary

The Sr. Sub award & Compliance Officer a member of the Finance team for Mercy Corps’ STEDE/RIPA, and as such is responsible for managing the financial and operational aspects of sub awards issued by STEDE/RIPA, compliance with the donor regulations and working collaboratively with other program team members to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures. S/he will also lead efforts to build the capacity of local sub recipients to meet finance and compliance requirements of USAID and EU and other donors, so that these local organizations develop professional personnel and systems. S/he works under the direction Grants and Compliance Manager and work closely with staff dedicated to the program, Finance Manager and Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, and the Operations department, and consult regularly with Mercy Corps HO.

 Essential Job Responsibilities

Sub Awards Management:

• Participate in the development of the overall programmatic strategy and the strategy for the sub awards program.
• Work closely with consortium-level sub recipient organizations to ensure they are issuing, managing and monitoring sub awards in accordance with the STEDE/RIPA sub award manual.
• Ensure that STEDE/RIPA is complying with the procedures in approved STEDE/RIPA sub awards manual, and that the annexes are being used as applicable.
• Update the STEDE/RIPA sub awards manual as needed with input from MC HO, assist COP/CM with requesting USAID and EU approval of any updates
• Participate in the design of Request for Applications (RFA) or Application for Solicitation (APS), publication of RFAs/APS, issuing of RFA/APS packages to prospective applicants, manage the administrative process of receiving RFA/APS applicant and providing the applicants to the RFA/APS Review Committee.
• Administer competitive RFA/APS processes in accordance with the STEDE/RIPA sub awards manual, with, for each RFA/APS, clearly defined and communicated steps for selecting, negotiating and awarding sub awards.
• Responsible for the review of RFA/APS applicants’ budgets and budget narratives for completeness, cost realism and compliance with RFA/APS budget requirements.
•  Responsible for pre-award financial review and other due diligence of apparently successful applicants.
• Coordinate selection of sub award agreement type, draft sub award and negotiate sub award agreements with selected sub recipients.
• Draft modifications to sub awards, as needed.
• Develop and conduct sub recipient financial and compliance training workshops;
• Review sub recipient financial reports for correctness and completeness and ensure that reports are submitted on time.
• Develop sub recipient monitoring plans, conduct financial monitoring of sub recipients and prepare financial monitoring visit reports.
• Follow up on all sub award compliance issues and audits and document resolutions.
• Create and update/maintain sub award cards and enter sub award expenditure reports in Navigator.
• Maintain sub award files in accordance with the Field Finance Manual.
• Process sub recipient payments and reconcile sub award financial tracking to general ledger reports.
• Responsible for sub award financial close-outs, including ensuring that all requirements of the sub award agreement have been met and that sub award funds have been properly settled.
• Provide compliance guidance and consultations to sub recipients on a demand-driven basis.
• Assist the program team with assessing sub recipient organizational needs, so that the sub award process strengthens the ability of local NGOs/CSOs to meet world class standards. 

 Compliance:

• Ensure that STEDE/RIPA is executed in alignment with the prime award agreement and the applicable USAID and EU regulations, staying abreast of changes in regulatory environment related to donor/grant compliance; update STEDE/RIPA procedures as necessary.
•  Identify and communicate compliance risks associated with program implementation. Work with program teams ensure that program activities are designed to be compliant, while facilitating the achievement of the program objectives.
• Review STEDE/RIPA procurement and program transactions, contracts and other documents for compliance requirements and ensure these requirements are met.
• Prepare prior approval, waiver and other compliance requests to the donor. Assist sub recipients, as needed with sub recipient compliance requests to Mercy Corps.
• Prepare and maintain internal and donor compliance-related reports.
• Perform any other similar tasks that may be reasonable assigned by the line manager

 Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

 Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance, management, economics required; advanced degree preferred.
•  At least 3 years of relevant field or management experience of complex, multi-dimensional programming including administering small sub awards in an international environment..
• At least 3 years’ experience in grants management as well as an understanding of USAID ,EU regulations required.
• Demonstrated experience and skill with administrating solicitations for sub awards, assessing potential sub recipients and the proven ability to oversee a team that is responsible for monitoring sub recipients. 
•  Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office, (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
•  Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Amharic Somali and Oromo language are preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

 Success Factors

The successful candidate will have an ability to interact effectively across all program and finance teams successfully. S/he will be able to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The Finance Manager must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. 

How to Apply

ll interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. In order to ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

 Only candidates that are short listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

 “Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and   diversity. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women.”

               DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 15 March, 2021/ 4:00 PM

 Note: Please fill in to one paper word file and send the below “Information” when you send your CV through email.

Position to apply:-

Full name:-

Sex:-

Education background:-

Position hold/holding before:-

Organization work for:-

Contact Address (tell no & email):-

Total years’ experience:-

Related years’ experience:-

Short personal profile:-

Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following address:

et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

            Mercy Corps Recruiter

              Addis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319

                   Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225   

               Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116

                 Dire Dewa: P.O. Box 974