Project Management & Finance Specialist

Contract Name: Feed the Future Market Systems & Partnerships (MSP)

Contract No.: 7200AA20C00054

Contract Period of Performance: April 2022 – April 2025

Place of Performance: Washington, DC / currently under remote work

Maximum Level of Effort (LOE): Full Time (LTTA)

Eligibility: Interested applicants must have authorization to work in the United States

Project Description: The Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) Activity aims to advance learning and good practice on market systems development (MSD) and private sector engagement (PSE) within USAID (Washington and Missions), USAID implementing partners, and market actors. A flexible, demand-driven mechanism, MSP supports USAID in bringing about a major cultural transformation by integrating PSE across all activities, while at the same time deepening MSD and facilitative approaches across the program cycle to lead to inclusive and resilient economic growth, improved food security and nutrition, and increased incomes for the poor. MSP will achieve this goal by facilitating transformational private sector partnerships; providing analytical and other on-demand services for design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of MSD and PSE activities; building capacity of USAID and implementers in these areas; and generating knowledge and learning on PSE and MSD. A multi-pronged Learning Agenda informs MSP’s work across objectives, with a focus on five core priority areas: Transformational PSE; Practical Application of MSD; Market Systems Resilience (MSR); Social Inclusion; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (M&E and CLA). These are critical priorities that form discrete but complementary streams across PSE and MSD.

Overview of the Employee’s Tasks and Responsibilities: The Project Management & Finance Specialist will report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and will be responsible for supporting this complex project with budget planning, financial monitoring, financial analysis, and financial quality control and assurance using established MSP processes and tools and contributing the development of new financial management systems, as needed. In addition, the Project Management & Finance Specialist will provide surge support for tasks that include but are not limited to researching compliance information, supporting grants or subcontractor tasks, developing ICAs and procurement of goods and services. The financial reporting and analysis will inform strategic financial management and MSP reporting and will be used for project decision making. MSP is a highly-complex, demand-driven project with multiple clients that requires diligent financial management of the contract and sub-activity budgets. The Project Management & Finance Specialist will need a high degree of attention to detail, strong quantitative and Excel skills to support exceptional financial performance of the MSP contract.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• At least monthly, updating the Activity pipeline budget with any revisions to projected expenditures for both sub-activities and the overall project.
• Update and ensure the accuracy of MSP financial tools including the ceiling tracker, the Core Funding pool, and the LOE tracker.
• Support the development and improvement of new and existing financial systems, management reports and tools.
• Conduct and maintain cost scenarios, cost verifications, and prepare cost reasonableness memos as needed for subcontracts, grants, consultants, and/or other procurements.
• Monitor USAID invoiced costs for accuracy and timely expense processing.
• Monitor and assist with invoice tracking and payments for grants, subcontracts, procurement, and independent consultants to ensure timely invoiced costs are meeting projected burn rate calculations.
• In collaboration with MSP leadership and the Bethesda office team, contribute to budget realignments, corporate financial forecasting, and non-billable reports and analysis.
• Execute assigned tasks to support overall project management, such as work flows necessary to execute ICAs, grants and subcontracts, procurement, and project administration.
• Other tasks, as delegated by DCOP.
• Be a proactive member and team player of the Operations team to streamline workflows, support project implementation, and provide excellent client satisfaction to USAID and support the MSP team to do so.

Place of Performance:

The MSP Team is currently working remotely. Once it is deemed appropriate and safe, the MSP Team will work at least part-time from an office location based in Washington, DC. At that time, the Project Management & Finance Specialist will be required to work from the Washington, DC office.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, economics, business administration or other relevant degree and 1 year of project management experience or bachelor’s degree in similar fields and 2 years of project management experience.
• Preferred experience on USAID projects and demonstrated knowledge of USAID Automated Directive Systems and Federal Acquisition Regulations pertaining to grants under contract, subcontracts, and procurement and/or experience managing USAID-funding programs.
• In-depth knowledge and working experience Microsoft Excel pivot tables, formula development, cost control checks, and synchronized or linked tabs that ensure accurate financial management and reporting.
• Working knowledge of US government cost principles, generally accepted accounting practices, and organizational financial reporting requirements and standards.
• Working knowledge of Fringe, Overhead, General and Administrative cost, and Fee.
• Experience with financial analysis, financial reporting, cash flow analysis, budget development, and forecasting, pricing schedules, and cost verification methods.
• Proven experience with budget management and financial tracking, including accruals reports, quarterly financial reports, contract budget management, activity budget management, pipeline management, forecasting, and spending analyses or cost verifications.
• Effective communications, writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills, particularly with financial management and performance.
• Demonstrated experience and strong desire for working in a multi-cultural team that is committed to social inclusion, participatory decision-making, and always prioritizes doing what is right over what is more cost efficient.

Job Competencies:

• Innovation and technical / operational acumen – delivers expert understanding and technical knowledge of assigned responsibilities to meet the goals and requirements of the job function.
• Collaborating, learning and adapting – fosters learning, builds networks and relationships, actively listens, is flexible and open to change, and demonstrates agility with performance.
• Leading, developing others, and being an effective team member – demonstrates leadership capacity, remains effective in times of stress, holds self and others accountable, admits mistakes and learns from them, and uses feedback to enhance performance and team cohesion.
• Personal and interpersonal effectiveness – Conducts interactions with colleagues, customers, partners, consultants and vendors in a manner that builds credibility and leads to positive project results. Effectively communicates – informing others, (including up) of needed information in a timely manner, listens to others and values opinions, can convey good news and bad.