Senior Grant Compliance Manager – Grants Support Compliance Unit – US, Any MC location

Description

Location: Any Mercy Corps office location; Washington, DC or Portland, OR

Valid unrestricted work authorization in the country in which you will be based is required at the time of application for this position.

Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular

Salary: US: Starting salary for this role will be $76,800-$91,200 USD for candidates in the US, commensurate on experience. Salary for candidates outside of the United States will be based on local benchmark

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About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

The Grants Compliance Support Unit (GCSU) provides support to Mercy Corps’ Country Office and Global Support Team operations through its subject matter expertise in the interpretation and application of donor regulations and related internal policies. Areas of support include: (1) donor regulations training for our teams and key partners, (2) technical guidance through help desk consultation and complex program collaboration, (3) creation and maintenance of award compliance materials and templates, (4) support for subaward administration, with an emphasis on drafting compliant subaward agreements and modifications, and (5) USG contract compliance (system and policy). Our mission is to increase the level of knowledge and availability of tools and resources to promote the highest possible standards of accountability, transparency, efficiency, and donor compliance.

General Position Summary

The Senior Grant Compliance Manager (SGCM) provides expert technical guidance, training, and support to Mercy Corps’ Country Office and Global Support Team operations, including financial, program, and administrative staff, on donor regulations compliance along with related internal policy compliance. Each SGCM provides this support to their assigned countries/regions and in addition has responsibility for special projects. Responsibilities include direct compliance support to country, regional, and HQ teams, including direct support for complex programs, enhanced compliance support for proposals and awards and staying current on donor regulations. The SGCM will also participate in matrixed teams, share and build the capacity of others, and help integrate their technical areas with others.

Essential Job Responsibilities

GRANT COMPLIANCE (for Assigned Countries/Regions):

• Act as the primary GCU compliance help desk advisor. This function entails serving as a resource for and providing counsel to the International Finance, Program, and New Initiatives teams in reviewing proposals, grant agreements and other compliance-related documents. Be available to answer and/or research compliance-related questions from applicable International Finance, Program, and Country Office teams. Escalate issues as needed to the Director, Grant Compliance.
• Provide risk-based enhanced compliance support for awards from proposal to close out including leading the negotiation of award terms, informing the resolution of compliance issues with donors, and providing guidance on tracking compliance requirements.
• Perform periodic compliance monitoring of specific procedures or areas related to country operations.
• Travel to Country Offices to lead or assist with country-specific compliance projects, including compliance training.
• Lead or assist with audit responses related to compliance in coordination with the GCU, Legal and International Finance teams. Attend internal audit action plan review meetings when there are applicable grant compliance issues.
• Lead workshop sessions for the worldwide/regional, global support, and complex program U.S. government regulations trainings.
• As needed, provide virtual and in-person compliance surge support for country programs during times of increased programmatic demand.

GLOBAL COMPLEX PROGRAMMS (for Assigned Countries/Regions):

• Serve as the primary GCU representative on the complex program board for specific programs/awards and assist global support and country teams in supporting complex programs by providing regulation interpretation, advice, and guidance throughout the cycle of the complex program.
• Review and participate in negotiation of donor agreements, including reviewing internal comments, summarizing issues, and reviewing/drafting final response letter(s) to the donor.
• Lead the delivery of in-country regulations training or other startup activities for new US government funded programs.
• Develop and assist the Country Offices in managing the program-specific compliance tracker.
• Advise on or assist in drafting compliance-related requests for approval to donors/funders of complex programs.
• Provide in-depth compliance assistance to program management and country teams with the design of innovative or new areas of program implementation to be compliant with donor regulations while achieving the desired outcomes.
• Attend complex board meetings. As a part of this responsibility, maintain an in-depth knowledge of the program description, award terms, and current status of the program through review of relevant documents.
• Advise on or assist with closeout activities to ensure compliance with the award terms.

GENERAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING

• In coordination with the GCSU Director, create and/or deliver other grant compliance training and/or programs such as periodic webinars.
• In coordination with the Subaward Compliance Managers and the GCU Director, provide backstopping support for departmental subaward responsibilities including drafting and negotiating subaward agreements and modifications based on agreed procedures, reviewing preaward assessments and audit reports, and other support.
• Coordination with counterparts in MC Europe.
• Other duties as requested.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director, Grant Compliance

Works Directly With: Country office personnel, including Country Finance Managers, Country Directors, and Program Managers; International Finance; Regional Program Team; New Initiatives, Internal Audit; Global Supply Chain Operations; and Accounting.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent experience in related field.
• Five to eight years of progressive grant management experience in a medium to large international organization, including responsibility for grant management, compliance systems, and subaward administration is required.
• Advanced knowledge of the rules and regulations governing the management of US Government grants (particularly USAID, Dept. of State and USDA) and other donor-funded awards is required.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of financial reporting, budget development and administration is required.
• Effective verbal and written communication, analytical, organizational and prioritization skills as well as presentation skills are necessary.
• Employment overseas and experience working for an NGO with high levels of USAID funding is strongly preferred.
• Fluency in English is required; fluency in a second language (such as Arabic, French (in particular), or Spanish) preferred.

Success Factors

The SGCM will demonstrate significant experience with the regulations of MCG’s major donors. Proven ability to successfully communicate concepts, procedures and objectives and initiate and maintain positive and productive relationships with Country Office staff, program staff and donor agencies is necessary. The ability to read, understand and interpret detailed award terms and conditions as well as maintain a detailed knowledge of the regulations will be a critical success factor. A high level of attention to detail in all aspects of his/her work is a necessity. The SGCM must be able to conduct themselves with a high degree of integrity and objectivity while also working towards an overall objective of positively promoting compliance. Through significant experience with MCG’s major donors, the SGCM will be able to advise and coach other Mercy Corps staff on how to respond to and/or negotiate with donors on regulations issues. The SGCM must demonstrate the drive and initiative to contribute to internal team efforts.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

Some travel (up to approximately 25-30%) may be required to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

Ability to maintain flexible workday start and end times to accommodate colleagues in different time zones. For example, Portland, OR based team members will often attend 6 am calls and team members in the Middle East and Africa may need to attend calls after 5 pm.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.