Hybrid- Awards Manager-Capacity Strengthening, Grants, Contracts and Compliance

Position description

Counterpart International is currently seeking Award Manager-Capacity Strengthening for its Grants, Contracts and Compliance (GCC) team to provide cradle-to-grave award management of Counterpart’s portfolio of grants, cooperative agreements, contracts and subawards in order to mitigate risk and to ensure compliance with donors’ regulations and the organization’s policies. Additionally, the Award Manager-Capacity Strengthening will provide ad hoc short term technical assistance to targeted sub-grantees to assess and train them to strengthen their internal policies, procedures and systems to lower their risk of receiving US government assistance. This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC or remote. This position will report to the Director GCC.

The Award Manager-Capacity Strengthening will analyze, interpret and apply donor regulations, award terms and conditions, and Counterpart policies in the day-to-day management of programs, serving as the lead advisor on compliance to DC-Office and Project-based staff. He/she will: manage a portfolio of awards, primarily from U.S. Government agencies; review proposal and budget packages prior to submission; negotiate terms and conditions of awards and modifications; review consultant agreements; clear and provide guidance on subawards and grant manuals; clear procurements for assigned portfolio; provide ongoing guidance to DC-Office and Project staff on donor regulations, internal procedures and overall daily troubleshooting; manage assigned systems, conduct training as needed; and work collaboratively within and across teams.

The individual also will advance his/her subject matter expertise in such areas as procurement, subrecipient management, non-U.S. Government donor requirements and/or acquisition (USG contract) regulations and contribute to the development/refinement of related policies, procedures and training.

Responsibilities

Award Management

• Serve as GCC liaison with assigned program teams to provide guidance to DC-Office and Project staff on award management and compliance with donor regulations.
• Review proposal and cost applications for compliance with donor/client requirements and Counterpart policies.
• Review, compile institutional comments and serve as lead negotiator with donors on awards and modifications for assigned portfolio.
• Review/prepare correspondence to donors on agreement-related issues.
• Review subawards and manuals prior to issuance for compliance with donor regulations and Counterpart policies, and provide subaward management guidance as needed throughout life of program.
• Conduct compliance review of procurements, including consulting agreements, for assigned portfolio.
• Participate in award start-up and close-out planning, and audit processes, providing guidance on and interpretation of applicable contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and interact regularly with teams (program, finance, new business development, HR, IT and security).
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with agreement staff of donor agencies.

Systems and Subgrantee Capacity Strengthening

• Provide short term technical assistance (virtual or in person) to Counterpart’s subgrantees to strengthen their internal organizational policies, compliance requirements, procedures and processes to lower their risk in receiving US government-funding assistance.
• Contribute to the cross-functional initiatives to streamline workflows and operational business processes.
• Develop and conduct training and/or workshops on various compliance, grants and procurement topics for subgrantees.
• Monitors quality assurance of subaward packages, identify potential compliance vulnerabilities and recommend corrective actions.

Subject Matter Expertise

• Enhance subject matter expertise on procurement, subrecipient management and/or USG acquisition (contract) regulations and contribute to developing/revising manuals, guidance, templates and tools.
• Develop and conduct training to contribute to organizational learning and/or partner organizational strengthening.

General Responsibilities

• Review documents on behalf of executive leadership from a compliance and risk management perspective as well as brief leadership on compliance issues in a timely manner.
• Minimize risk to organization by proactively identifying potential problems and possible solutions.
• Contribute to the development and/or revision of resource materials, including manuals, guides, templates and other tools, to assist program staff with award management and compliance with donor regulations and Counterpart policies.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of award management and record repository systems to facilitate improved award administration.
• Represent Counterpart in meetings with donors, subrecipients, INGO industry partners, and other stakeholders, as needed.
• Develop and/or conduct training on donor regulations and requirements, as well as on Counterpart policies.
• Coordinate with GCC team members to ensure consistent organizational interpretation and guidance on donor regulations.
• Participate in weekly GCC team meetings and in meetings for assigned portfolio.
• Assist and/or backstop other GCC team members, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of GCC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in relevant field preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant and progressive experience, preferably at international development organization or donor agency in an award management capacity; Master’s degree or Peace Corp experience may be considered in lieu of work experience.
• Working knowledge of U.S. Government rules and regulations including OMB’s Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), and their respective processes and procedures (USAID ADS, in particular).
• Experience in writing or revising policies and procedures, compliance plans for non-profit organizations receiving US government funding.
• Experience in building the capacity of organizations, particularly in US government regulatory and financial compliance and reporting.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and communicate with colleagues and external parties in a professional and succinct manner.
• Meticulous attention to detail, process-oriented, as well as outstanding critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrates a strategic and growth mindset, and situational adaptivity with an ability to adapt and optimize work processes as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to generate solutions, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and remain calm under pressure.
• Knowledge of and ability to adopt industry best practices to enhance organizational checks and balances in order to mitigate risk.
• Ability to travel overseas (at least10%) to provide short-term technical assistance or training, preferred. Experience developing and delivering participatory training on regulations and policies preferred.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; Professional proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic or French preferred.

Preferred

• Experience with other U.S. Government agencies or bilateral or multilateral donors, such as DFID, SIDA, UN Agencies, preferred.
• Experience managing both contracts and cooperative agreements/grants from USAID and/or USDA preferred.
• Working knowledge of Federal and USAID acquisition regulations (i.e. FAR, AIDAR) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-lingual settings; overseas experience preferred.
• Advanced competency in French or Spanish a plus.

The salary range for this position is $73,673-$117,876 annually.

Application instructions

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