Grants and Subcontracts Manager

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.

Project Background:
The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia. The National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) implements SUN as part of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program.  SUN 2.0, the second phase of the program, has three major components: (1) Pooled Multi-Donor SUN Fund, (2) SUN Technical Assistance (SUN TA), and (3) SUN Learning and Evaluation. Working in parallel with the SUN Fund, the USAID/Zambia SUN TA program will provide support and direct technical assistance to sub-national local government officials in target districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to significantly reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two.

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Objective:

The Grants and Subcontracts Manager oversees all aspects of grant solicitation, review, and award, as well as portfolio administration of Direct Implementation (DI) activities and subcontract awards in compliance with USAID regulations and DAI policies. DI conditions are defined as situations when district resources or the Multi-Donor Pooled SUN Fund fall short, creating a priority gap, and/or when there’s insufficient capacity within a district to implement a selected priority intervention in a timely manner.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Work with WASH Expert, Smallholder Livelihoods Expert, Nutrition and Child Health Expert, and Monitoring and Learning Expert to prepare and submit requests for Direct Implementation to USAID as key needs and gaps are identified.
• Develop SUN TA Grants Manual per contract and project requirements.
• Develop the format and procedure manual for Direct Implementation Concept Notes.
• Provide policy guidance for program staff on grants and DI activities, as well as grantees, to ensure adherence to grant management policies and successful implementation of SUN TA objectives.
• Participate in workplanning and activity planning to prepare for grants and subontract activities.
• Ensure that Concept Notes, requests for DI support, subcontracts, as well as grant applications and related solicitations are accurate, complete, and compliant with DAI policies and USAID regulations, in cooperation with other project leads.
• Analyze and evaluate grant applications, proposals, and awards, as well as subcontracts, to ensure adherence to grants and subcontract management policies.
• Ensure proper negotiation of grant and subcontract terms and conditions.
• Review and analyze grant and subcontract budgets for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency.
• Ensure timely and efficient DI activity management.
• Ensure post-award grant and subcontract management in accordance with relevant regulations, including but not limited to reporting, audits, and performance monitoring in accordance with DAI policies and USAID regulations.
• Apprise grantees and sub-awardees of the responsibilities, requirements, and policies and procedures to be followed during the life of the grant or the subcontract.
• Support institutional strengthening among grantees to ensure effective grant implementation.
• Recommend innovative approaches to improve grant and DI activities.
• Ensure complete back up documentation for all grants and subcontracts is maintained in DAI systems, including TAMIS and hard copy files.
• Other duties as assigned by Director of Finance and Administration for successful achievement of grants and DI objectives.

Reporting and Supervision:

The Grants and Subcontracts Manager directly reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and coordinates closely with the field-based Grants and Procurement Officers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, Master’s Degree preferred
• 5+ years of progressive experience in a similar role managing grants and/or subcontract award implementation on donor-assistance programs
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID grants and subcontract management and administrative principles and regulations
• Strong communications skills and ability to negotiate effectively
• Proven problem-solving skills and exceptional customer relations when dealing with both internal and external parties
• Well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgement, high ethical standards, and operational focus
• Fluency in English is required

.