Regional Grants and Contracts Manager, Southern Africa Region

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Job Summary:

The Grants and Contracts team partners with our program teams by supporting and managing donor awards, procurements, and subawards. In addition, the team provides advice, best practices, and training on other donor compliance issues, from initial grant award through award close-out. The Regional Grants and Contracts Manager plays a critical function in grant management, supporting and working closely with country programs in all aspects of grant and subgrant administration.

TechnoServe is currently seeking a qualified candidate for the Regional Grants and Contracts Manager to support TechnoServe’s Southern Africa Regional programs. The Regional Grants and Contracts Manager will report to the Awards and Compliance Manager and will work closely with TechnoServe’s Department teams in Southern Africa supporting projects in several Southern African countries across a variety of donors. The position presents a unique opportunity for the candidate to deepen her/his/their professional skills in donor portfolio administration in areas ranging from procurement, project management, agreement negotiation, and financial management.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Pre-Award

• Provide expertise in interpreting institutional policies and donor requirements during the pre-award phase.
• Review and analyze pre-award due diligence documentation to assess institutional capacity and internal controls of subrecipients/subgrantees; advise project team in establishing appropriate risk mitigation measures to include in subawards.
• Assist with completing due diligence requests from donors.

Post-Award

• Review and negotiate newly awarded contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements to ensure terms and conditions are accurate and executable.
• Develop and/or review subawards following prime agreements and their respective flow-down provisions.
• Facilitate new award kickoffs calls and award closeouts to ensure audit readiness
• Prepare or review requests for donor approvals and modifications such as no-cost extensions, changes in key personnel, changes in the scope of work and program add-ons, and budget realignments.
• Identify issues related to compliance that may arise during award implementation and propose solutions.
• Build field staff capacity through training to ensure staff understands and adheres to award and procurement requirements according to relevant policies and procedures.
• Monitor award closeout process and assist program/country staff in collecting necessary closeout documents following TechnoServe and donor regulations. Develop donor-specific close plans for use by country staff.
• Work closely with Finance and Operation colleagues to research issues and ensure task completion
• Develop and maintain donor fact sheets identifying major compliance issues; stay current in donor regulations and regularly share with project staff.
• Review procurements for goods and services contracts and purchase orders (POs) for adherence to donor compliance.
• Maintain proper records of official contract documents, including awards, budgets, subawards, donor approvals, and other related documents.
• Work with Awards & Compliance Manager in process and workflow improvement.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with at least 5 years of experience in contracts and grants management.
• Extensive knowledge of USG acquisition and assistance administrative regulations (CFR and FAR), including experience with USAID/USDA, is required.
• Working knowledge of Government of the Netherlands, GIZ, Sida, FCDO grants and contracts compliance requirements.
• Experience in international development, including working with foundations, corporations, and other multi- and bilateral donors

Required Languages: Fluency in in English is required; some proficiency in Portuguese is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills, ability to adapt to changing priorities, and thrive in a dynamic multi-country team environment
• Independent judgment and strong decision-making skills
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and organized
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of accounting practices and financial systems desired

Candidates must have work authorization in India at the time of application. This is a remote position.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.