Grants & Subcontract Specialist Job in Nairobi - East Africa Trade & Investment Hub

Call for Applications: Grants & Subcontract Specialist
 

Background: The East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (the Hub) is the U.S. government’s flagship project under the presidential Trade Africa initiative, launched in 2013 to boost trade and investment with and within Africa. 

The Hub partners with East African and U.S. businesses to attract investment needed to transform the East African private sector into vibrant global trading partners. 

Improving the region’s trade competitiveness, encouraging the diversification of exports beyond natural resources, and promoting broader, more-inclusive economic growth will lead to more food secure and resilient East African communities.

 

The goal of the Hub is to deepen regional integration, increase the competitiveness of select regional agricultural value chains, promote two-way trade with the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and facilitate investment and technology to drive trade growth intra-regionally and to global markets.
 

Purpose: The Grants & Subcontract Specialist (GS) will work with Partnership Fund Director (PFD), Component Advisors (CA) and Procurement/Logistics Officers during the development of grant proposals, providing information on the feasibility of practical aspects of implementation. 

After grant approval, the GS will work with the Technical team on the development of a grant agreement according to the grant format Upon signing of the grant agreement by the Chief of Party (COP) or his designee, and the GS will ensure effective grant implementation in conformity to the organization’s approved Activity Manual and will keep the designated PA informed of grant implementation progress.

During grant implementation, the GS will work under the guidance of the Partnership Fund Director to perform the assignments below.

Duties:
 

During the grant proposal stage:

• Guide technical teams in formulating grantee proposal according to the USAID regulations, grant manual guidelines and DAI policies and procedures;


• Responsible for all aspects of grant management and documentation per the organization and USAID’s regulations;


• Support the process of verifying grantee management capability;


• Propose grant implementation strategies;


• Analyze draft budgets submitted by grantees and propose Best Practices, if needed;

During the grant implementation stage:

• Track and ensure the implementation of the grant including logistics, procurement and payments;


• Manage expenditures within the approved budgets;


• Monitor cash flow requirements on a weekly basis, providing estimates for disbursements sufficiently in advance;


• Work closely with finance and procurement and keep records of purchases and deliveries for grantees;


• Participate in bid analysis and selection process;


• Assist with delivery of, and payment for services, supplies, or equipment to grantee recipients;


• Monitor grantee performance and achievement of deliverables;


• Negotiate and implement modifications and addenda to grant agreements as required and authorized by Program Managers;


• Train grantee management staff in their various responsibilities as needed;


• Ensure grant is compliant with USAID regulations and deliverables are being met by the organization as well as the grantee;


• Maintain all soft and hard copies of grant files (excluding finance documentation), including: MOUS; grants; Notes to File; official approvals, extensions, and other correspondence; and final reports;


• Ensure all files are in order and grant file checklist is completed satisfactorily before submission to other functional managers for final approval to close out.


• Ensure all electronic files required by USAID have been uploaded to the appropriate portal for viewing;


• Monitors the implementation progress of each grant. Ensures that the implementation is carried out in a nonpartisan manner and that all administrative outputs as stated in the grant agreement are achieved. Ensure coordination on each grant with the relevant teams as necessary;


• Support the drafting of grant-related correspondence (letters of receipt, issue letters, rejection letters, closeout letters etc.);


• Document lessons learned to be shared with the rest of the organization;


• Other duties as assigned by the PFD and other managers those are consistent with the overall focus of the assignment.

Qualifications:

• University degree in Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Project Management or appropriate field.


• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible professional experience are required.


• Three to five years of experience working with USAID or an international donor.


• Experience in program development, reporting, budgeting, grantee vetting and documenting processes highly sought.


• Fluency in written and spoken English.


• In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours.


• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.


• English fluency required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None. Significant communication with field-based teams
 

Base of Operations: Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel within the East Africa Region
 

Reporting: Directly to the Partnership Fund Director
 

Only candidates who send their information by applying through the link and by the deadline will be eligible. 

DAI is an equal opportunity employer.