Grants Director, Stability Through Economic Progress, Unity and Peacebuilding (STEP UP) activity At Counterpart International

Counterpart International is currently seeking an experienced Grants Director with demonstrated skills in strategic mindset, process optimization and capacity strengthening for the Stability Through Economic Progress, Unity and Peacebuilding (STEP UP) activity in Pemba, Mozambique. The STEP UP activity that will support grants and capacity development to innovative local businesses and groups, with a focus on areas prone to conflict, including but not limited to Cabo Delgado. The purpose of the activity is to allow communities to participate more actively in their own development through directly providing opportunities and tools. Counterpart anticipates issuing 200-300 small to medium grants and preparing an organization for a transition award from USAID. The Grants Director will oversee the grants team, advise on the grants strategy and coach and mentor one or more subrecipients to further strengthen their capacity and readiness for a USAID transition award.

Responsibilities

The position will report to the Chief of Party of the project. The Grants Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the grant-making process and ensure adherence to USAID and OMB regulations and Counterpart International’s policies, procedures for grants and oversee grantee capacity building activities. The Grants Director will lead the Activity’s team through all aspects of the grant-making process — from issuance of Requests for Applications (RFAs), pre-award assessments, preparation of grant agreements, grant disbursements, subrecipient monitoring and evaluation and close out. The Grants Director will also be required to plan, coordinate, and execute pre-award training to potential sub-grantees on the requirements of the proposal preparation and submission process, train, coach or mentor partner organizations for readiness to receive grants from USAID and financial management requirements in compliance with USAID rules and regulations. Additionally, the Grants Director will oversee the day-to-day activities of the Grants team.

• Advise Chief of Party and Activity leadership on grants strategy and planning, and trouble-shoot operational challenges impacting the grants program as they arise.
• Plan and prioritize the Grants Team’s work to meet commitments with programmatic goals and anticipate and adjust effective contingency plans when faced with challenges.
• Administers local grants including the ability to provide capacity development and training to local grantees under the Activity for their readiness to directly receive and manage grants from the USAID.
• Provide clear and concise guidance to grants staff including the mentoring and training of grants personnel.
• The ability to successfully foster relationships and work with various stakeholders including civil society, grassroots, and small local organizations in supporting and administering grants.
• Actively engage with the country team and cross functional teams at US office on the resolution and mitigation of compliance risk as they arise under the project.
• Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and develops supervisees and organizations through coaching, feedback, training, exposure, and stretch assignments.
• The ability to work in and understand complex environments in the development and humanitarian space.

Qualifications

• Current residency in Mozambique preferred.
• A university degree in international development, social science, finance, business administration or a related field of study.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in implementing international development programs.
• Minimum of five years working as a grants manager or director and demonstrated grants management experience (as well as delivered trainings), including experience working with civil society.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with grants management and administration and assistance regulations for USAID-funded programs, including 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700.
• Experience in building the capacity of organizations, particularly in US government regulatory and financial compliance and reporting.
• Demonstrates a strategic and growth mindset, and situational adaptivity with an ability to adapt and optimize work processes as needed.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills, ability to work well in a team environment; places a high priority to develop their supervisees for effective teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft office Suite.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Portuguese required;
• Professional proficiency in English.