Partner Manager

ROJECT BACKGROUND:

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) program is a five-year, flexible buy-in mechanism jointly managed by the USAID Africa Bureau, Middle East Bureau, and Africa Regional Missions. It was designed to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that increase trade and investment in Africa, including North and Sub-Saharan Africa. It strengthens Africa’s markets by developing new trade and investment relationships, particularly between the United States and African continent. It also works to achieves development outcomes across all sectors.

ROLE’S PURPOSE:

The Partner Manager will support day-to-day management of the project’s procurement and partnerships. The Partner Manager will work closely with USAID, Technical Teams, and the Procurement and Partnerships Team to understand technical buy-in priorities, translate them into procurements that meet the technical needs of ATI.

OBJECTIVES AND DUTIES

Contractual and Technical Integration: Procurement, Evaluation, and Subcontracts Negotiation

• Leads and manages competitive technical procurements (which will range in size), multiple active complex procurements simultaneously, including: support Request for Proposal (RFP) and Statement of Objectives (SOO) development and release; manage the Q&A process and/or a live Bidder’s Conference with private sector firms; receive all proposals, coordinate and convene a technical evaluation committee (TEC) panel and securely distribute required documentation/proposals; lead and facilitate 2+ hour TEC panel with representatives from USAID and ATI technical teams; lead competitive range question and interview period with private sector firms; notify selected offeror(s) of award.
• Work with awarded partners (who may be working with USAID for the first time) to ensure a seamless onboarding process by explaining the role of ATI and DAI, USAID Bureau for Africa, Prosper Africa, and USAID Buy-In Client, contractual and financial requirements of DAI’s subcontract, and develop and lead an orientation for the firm(s) in collaboration with the technical teams.
• Guide new and underutilized firms through the USAID subcontracting process including collection and evaluation of required compliance documentation from successful offerors; lead cost/price analysis and document/certification due diligence required to maintain Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) compliance during subcontracting efforts; draft, issue, and finalize subcontracts. Write and finalize all required Source Selection Memos and Consent to Subcontract documents and all post award evaluation summaries for unsuccessful offerors.

Contractual Guidance

• Lead buy-in technical procurement processes by providing contractual expertise and guidance from solicitation development to subcontract execution. Includes advising technical teams and USAID on the appropriate procurement type and subcontract type, developing and/or revising solicitation documents including requests for proposal, statements of objectives, tailored budget templates, and other supporting materials.
• Serves as a liaison among USAID client, technical project staff, and partner firms/subcontractors for all matters relating to subcontracting. Serve as a main point of contact for ATI technical team, providing routine counsel on procurement types and contracting options.
• Support the onboarding, training, and guidance of buy-in/technical team members in all aspects of procurement and partner engagement.

Compliance

• Ensure procurements are managed in accordance with USAID regulations and DAI procurement policies. Maintain procurement records in IATI and DAI Home Office systems, ensuring quality of procurement and contracts records in compliance with USAID and DAI regulations.
• Support internal audits including but not limited to finding requested documents and correcting files as necessary.
• Support COR check-ins and meetings, as well as required and/or requested reports, as needed.
• Support the maintenance of the ATI CRM system that assigns points of contact, technical expertise, geographic presence, contact information, and other information necessary to streamline network expansion efforts.
• Support the development and usage of ATI’s data gathering and analytics, specifically as it relates to procurement and partner network related data.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience, or a Master’s and 3 years of relevant professional work experience;
• Significant experience in procurement, operational, and process management and command of DAI systems and policies, or more general project and business process management experience relevant to USG program implementation;
• Proven project management, communications, writing and interpersonal skills including strong experience with client management;
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus;
• Ability to work in a fast-moving, fluid team setting with multiple stakeholders; and
• Eligible to work in the United States
• Willingness to travel overseas for short term assignments