Grants Manager | Pretoria, South Africa | 2023

Chemonics seeks a Grants Manager for the USAID Empower Southern Africa (ESA) project. ESA is a 5-year regional program that covers South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe. The primary purpose of ESA is to increase the availability of, access to, and use of affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy in Southern Africa in order to reach measurable development outcomes. Measurable development outcomes include economic growth, reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and increasing inclusive access to electricity-enabled services in such areas as health, education, sanitation and food security. This position will be based in Pretoria, South Africa. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people and communities around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Assists in in the creation and oversight of policies, practices, and procedures relating to all aspects of local grants
• In coordination with the technical team, drafts and releases Request for Applications (RFAs) in accordance with technical activity requirements
• Ensure that all contract-specified related regulatory requirements for grants (including FAR, AIDAR, ADS, CFR, and OMB) are met in a satisfactory and professional manner
• Coordinates the application evaluation process. This may include formulating Selection Committees, preparing grant evaluation summaries, and ensuring Selection Committee members are free from conflicts of interest.
• Ensures proper negotiation of terms and conditions for sub-grants and amendments
• Reviews sub-award budget estimates in conjunction with project finance team to ensure all costs conform with USAID and Chemonics regulations and policies
• Serves as final reviewer of sub-grant budgets to ensure all lines are eligible, allocable, reasonable, and consistent
• Works closely with the Deputy Chief of Party-Program Support and the Director of Grants and Subcontracts to strengthen grantees’ financial management and USAID compliance capacity
• Reviews and ensures the accuracy of the tracking system and of all Annual Program Statements (APS) and Requests for Applications (RFAs)
• Ensure effective communication between project staff and grant awardees such that suitable technical advice and assistance in the fields of management and sustainability are provided and prepare reports to senior-level technical staff as requested
• Ensure the highest levels of honesty, integrity, openness and transparency in administering subcontract award processes and procedures
• Manage grant program files in accordance with Chemonics’ filing system. Ensure that all files contain the critical elements required for grants, such as signed certifications, memoranda of negotiation, required applicable standard provisions, environmental impact assessments, and marking and branding plans, etc.
• Maintain tracking systems for submitted applications, application evaluations, grant awards, in-kind grant procurements, and grant payments
• Liaise with home office staff for compliance support as needed to ensure successful set-up, implementation, and close-out of grant activities
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Grants and Subcontracts

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, international relations, management, business, finance, or relevant field is required. Master’s degree preferred
• At least five years of experience with the design, administration, management, and monitoring of grants required
• Experience with ADS 303 and implementing USAID grants programs is required
• Minimum three years’ experience with a USAID-funded project is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to establish and develop working relationships and a high level of trust with public/private organizations
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with culturally diverse staff
• Prior experience with large-scale USAID grant management contracts and familiarity with USAID grant management, policies, and procedures
• Experience supervising staff and overseeing field accounting for USAID funded contracts
• Demonstrated versatility, leadership, and integrity
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English