Grants Under Contract (GUC) Manager

Employer: Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

Posted date: 1 hour ago

Deadline: December, 18/2024 (12 days left)

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is seeking a Grants Under Contract Manager for a recently awarded 5-year USAID supply chain and pharmaceutical management project in Ethiopia. The purpose is to provide comprehensive technical assistance to strengthen the health supply chain and pharmaceutical services in select geographic areas in Ethiopia, both of which are cornerstones to achieving critical life-saving priorities.

MSH is a mission-driven, global nonprofit advisory organization that provides governments, health organizations, and the private sector with the strategies, tools, and management support to deliver high-functioning health systems effectively and efficiently. For more than 50 years, we have focused on the people at the heart of the health system - from health ministries to communities, private sector to civil society - in each environment in which we work, serving as trusted advisors to make foundational changes that support the whole health system. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with countries and communities, MSH helps to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by building strong, resilient, sustainable health systems.

About the Role

The purpose of the position is to oversee the management, coordination, and key risk control elements of the USAID-funded SCS Activity’s Grants under Contract (GUC) portfolio to ensure a high level of financial management, compliance, and partnership support. The main role of the GUC Manager is to lead the grants program and work with SCS teams to ensure the grantees comply with the Grant Manual and adhere to the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements. In coordination with the MSH Corporate Contracts Office, the GUC Manager is a key contributor to all steps in the process: solicitation, award, assessing grantee capabilities, monitoring of program and financial performance/progress, grant compliance, grantee capacity building, grant process documentation & retention, audits, application of grantee compliance plans or corrective action plans, evaluations and closeout activities.

The primary goal of the GUC Manager is to ensure the USAID SCS Activity maintains the capability to manage and monitor its GUC portfolio by ensuring our internal capacity to assess, monitor, and document grantee performance and to strengthen the grantee's capacity in all aspects of their work.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of Finance & Administration and in close consultation with the Corporate Contracts Office and Technical team, the GUC Manager will carry out the following responsibilities:

• Ensure all duties assigned to the GUC Manager in the Grants Manual are carried out

• Ensure that the use of the Grant Program is well explained, justified, and approved by USAID & MSH Corporate Contract Office

• Engage with the Technical Lead and others within the MSH SCS Activity early in the process to develop a strategy for implementing the GUC Program, identify appropriate Grant Award Procedure(s), and gain approval of the Grants

• Directly administer the day-to-day operations of the USAID GUC program, including potential supervision of other members supporting the management of GUC

• Ensure that policies, processes, and procedures outlined in USAID SCS Grants manual are maintained and followed in a standardized manner and under USAID SCS Activity, MSH, and USAID policy

• In conjunction with MSH Corporate Contracts staff, update SCS Activity’s grants manual as needed

• Work in conjunction with technical and MSH Corporate Contracts staff to establish the overall goals of the grants program, as well as subgoals of each grant

• Lead the RFA process, including prequalification, potential grantee questions, and consideration of applications. With support from relevant staff, ensure that proposal budgets are free of ineligible costs under the terms and conditions of the SCS Activity Contract

• Oversee the applicant evaluation and grantee selection

• In coordination with the MSH Corporate Contracts Office, conduct negotiations with grantees over grant terms and conditions

• Conduct Pre-Award surveys of grantees to determine their capability to manage grants and any risks posed to MSH. In conjunction with the Corporate Contracts Office, assemble a risk mitigation plan

• In conjunction with the technical team, ensure the activities implemented by the grantees are reviewed and are in-line with the grant’s objective and goals

• Oversee grantee risk mitigation plan implementation to build grantee’s compliance and implementation capacity

• In conjunction with the compliance officer, ensure periodic compliance/financial reviews are conducted

• Implement efficient and substantive technical and financial close-out of each grant; ensure technical objectives have been both completed and documented

• Oversee the maintenance of all grant files related to each grant (from application to close-out)

• Prepare all USAID concurrence request packages for submission through the MSH Corporate Contracts Office

• Contribute to maintaining teamwork, discipline, sound work relationships, and productivity

Job Requirement

• Education: Master’s degree in Accounting, Business studies, Public health, or other related discipline.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant and progressive experience in implementing grants, grants - management, procurement and financial/operational systems, and/or supply management preferred with international development organizations with global reach, not-for-profit organizations, or other large non-governmental development partners

• At least 3-5 years’ experience working on a U.S. Government, donor-funded project, or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong leadership, mentoring, management, planning, analytical and organizational skills. These will be demonstrated in the ability to work both independently and within a team, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities with attention to detail

• Proven leadership and capacity in negotiation and conflict management

• Knowledge of USAID regulations preferred

• Substantial experience implementing USAID-supported projects, including experience managing grants according to USAID regulations and procedures

• Demonstrated - experience providing technical assistance to NGOs and/or local organizations and conducting training and other capacity-building work both one-on-one and with larger audiences

• Previous supervisory experience preferred

• Excellent written and oral communication skills both in local languages and English. Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff, clients, and consultants

• Strong communication skills and ability to pro-actively communicate with U.S.-based office and Corporate Contracts Team

• Working independently within expressed parameters, regularly scheduled tasks, and adherence to strict deadlines are essential

• Personal and professional integrity, particularly concerning good financial stewardship and accountability

• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member in a complex and fast-paced environment

• Strong computer skills, experience with Microsoft Office, presentation software, and e-mail and Internet packages

Competencies:

• Functional expert – knows processes and products

• Influencer – relates to people, builds relationships, and effectively presents arguments

• Results seeker – Proactive, meets deadlines, identifies actions, and achieves goals

• Innovator – thinks creatively, anticipates changes, and produces solutions

• Adaptor – stays calm under pressure and handles constructive criticism well

• Complier – follows procedures and encourages others to do so as well

How to Apply

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