Grants and Compliance Manager, Stability Through Economic Progress, Unity and Peacebuilding (STEP UP) activity

Counterpart International is currently seeking an experienced Grants and Compliance Manager with demonstrated skills in grants management and compliance from the pre-award phase to close out of the grants making process for the anticipated Stability Through Economic Progress, Unity and Peacebuilding (STEP-UP) activity in Pemba, Mozambique and is slated for award on or about October 1, 2024. The STEP-UP activity will support subawards, mainly grants and capacity development to innovative local businesses and groups, with a focus on areas prone to conflict, including but not limited to Cabo Delgado. The purpose of the activity is to allow communities to participate more actively in their own development through directly providing opportunities and tools. Counterpart anticipates issuing 200-300 small to medium grants and preparing an organization for a transition award from USAID. The Grants and Compliance Manager will oversee the grants process, ensure compliance to applicable rules and regulations for the project, provide support to the Grants Director on the grants strategy and coach and mentor one or more subrecipients to further strengthen their capacity and readiness for a USAID transition award.

Responsibilities

The position will report to the Director of Finance and Administration for the project. The position is responsible for administering all aspects of the grant-making process and ensure compliance to USAID and OMB regulations, and Counterpart International’s policies and procedures for grants, and works closely with the Grants Director and Director of Finance and Administration in the oversight of grantee capacity building activities. In addition, this position ensures appropriate compliance requirements and procurement protocols, and works closely with Counterpart US office teams in filing the required periodic reports under the portfolio. The Grants and Compliance Manager will work closely with the Grants Director on all aspects of the grant-making process from issuance of Requests for Applications (RFAs), pre-award assessments, preparation of grant agreements, grant disbursements, subrecipient monitoring and evaluation and close out. Grants administration, planning, coordination, and the execution of pre-award training to potential sub-grantees on the requirements of the proposal preparation and submission process, train, coach or mentor partner organizations for readiness to receive grants from USAID and financial management requirements in compliance with USAID rules and regulations is critical for this portfolio.

• Participate in and administer the grants making start-up and close-out process including actively participating in road shows and next step clinics following the issuance of request for applications (RFAs) and annual program statements (APS). This also involves orienting applicants to the grants making process with an aim to receiving higher quality and complete packages.
• Actively communicate with the Chief of Party and Grants Director on the status of the grant’s strategy including trouble-shoot operational challenges impacting the grants pool life cycle, challenges faced by grantees applying for grants, proposed solutions and the ability or inability to comply with different types of grants and the rules and regulations as they arise.
• Administer local grants including the ability to provide capacity development and training to local grantees under the activity for their readiness to directly receive and manage grants from the USAID.
• Provide clear and concise guidance to grants staff including the mentoring and training of grants officers.
• Track and maintain files for all grant activities including proposals, awards, amendments, compliance documents and other communications available.
• Work with the grants team to identify and enforce specific requirements per Counterpart and USAID rules and regulations (e.g.: UEI registration, third party screening checks, and competitive bidding).
• Support monitoring of grant budget versus actuals, ensuring allowability of costs charged to grants.
• Review grants packages and work with the project and US office teams to ensure completion ahead of submission for donor approval.
• Perform quality assurance reviews of grants records and produce reports as required by leadership.
• Identify potential compliance vulnerabilities through periodic risk assessment activities including developing and monitoring corrective actions.
• Maintain subawards related templates including those for solicitation, the grants pool and other procurement actions under the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with and provide guidance on local procurements including payments to grantees, examining them for clerical correctness, preventing the possibility of fraud/waste/abuse, and compliance with Counterpart and donor regulations.
• Participate in the audit and financial review processes for the STEP UP project and providing guidance on and interpretation of applicable regulatory requirements for the project.
• Coordinate and interact regularly with teams including the US office Grants, Contracts and Compliance (GCC) team, program, finance, HR, IT and security.
• Keep abreast of, interpret, and provide guidance to staff on donor regulations and policies; educate staff on awards compliance and operational topics.
• Successfully foster relationships and work with various stakeholders including civil society, grassroots, and small local organizations in supporting and administering grants.
• Actively engage with the country team and cross functional teams at our US office on the resolution and mitigation of compliance risk as they arise under the project.
• As part of your management role, possess awareness of and foster a culture of ethics and integrity within the team and projects managed. Actively monitor for potential ethics violations (fraud, corruption, safeguarding), escalating concerns to Ethics and Compliance and supporting investigations as needed.
• Recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and develop direct reports and organizations through things such as coaching, feedback, training exposure to the Counterpart way.
• The ability to work in and understand complex environments in the development and humanitarian space.

Qualifications

• Current residency in Mozambique, preferred.
• A university degree in international development, social science, finance, business administration or a related field of study.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in implementing international development programs preferably with U.S government funded grants and co-operative agreements with an understanding of in country project office management and operational issues including adherence to local laws.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with grants management and administration and assistance regulations for USAID-funded programs, including 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700.
• Experience in building the capacity of organizations, particularly in US government regulatory and financial compliance and reporting.
• Proven ability to prioritize, escalate issues appropriately, and to initiate follow-through.
• Proven organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical, oral and written communications skills.
• Supervisory and leadership skills, ability to work well in a team environment also under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in and understand complex environments in the development and humanitarian space.
• Proficiency in Microsoft office Suite.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Portuguese required.
• Professional proficiency in English.