Senior Grants Manager

Background:

Creative Associates International is a fast-growing, social-impact company that specializes in the areas of education, economic growth, democratic transitions and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this global development organization has a field presence in more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners.

Program Description:

The USAID-funded Ethiopia Civic Engagement Activity is a four-year activity with the overall goal to strengthen Ethiopia’s civic fabric in support of more inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. The project aims to strengthen civic and community-based actors’ ability to engage in policy analysis, advocacy, dialogue, and collective action for peaceful, democratic change; and foster multi-stakeholder civic partnerships in support of inclusive dialogue, respect for human rights, and advancing more effective, citizen-responsive, and accountable governance.

Position Summary:

The Senior Grants Manager will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will be responsible for ensuring efficient and effective grants management in accordance with USAID regulations and Creative’s grants manual and procedures. The Senior Grants Manager is expected to provide administrative and technical guidance on the programs grant activities and support to the Chief of Party and program staff on the design of grant applications, guidelines, and regulations for the small grant’s mechanism. 

Reporting: This position reports to the Program Technical Director.

• Manage the grants process from beginning to end by directing individuals on the project to complete the required steps in the process – from development of an initial scope of work to the closeout of all grants.
• Conduct assessments of pre-notification documentation for completeness and accuracy, i.e. program description, budget estimate, evaluation criteria with relative importance indicators, application instructions, and any other applicable documents. 
• Provide full cooperation to internal audit teams so that audit objectives are met in an effective and timely manner. 
• Collaborate with the CoP and Technical team to identify the most appropriate venue for advertisement of RFI, RFA, and APS. 
• Manage the development of the RFA, RFI, and APS
• Facilitate the preparation of responses to questions on an RFI, RFA, or APS
• Conduct cost analysis of cost applications.
• Develop accurate grant negotiation Memoranda and lead negotiations with potential grantees prior to award.
• Convene the Selection Committee (SC) for the evaluation of applications.
• Ensure staff involved in any part of the review or approval of applications do not have any conflicts of interest or the appearance of such. 
• Analyzing and evaluating grant submissions for budget soundness, cost analysis, compliance with donor regulations, and recommending award actions to the COP.
• Conduct responsibility determination and due diligence.
• Vet potential applicants in the Creative Inquiry Database System (CIDS)
• Ensuring grantee is maintaining compliance with their award.
• Monitoring and overseeing grant implementation in coordination with Grants Officers through verification of milestone deliverables, site visits, and other mechanisms; to ensure grantees implement and administer grants according to grant agreement and USAID regulations.
• Support capacity building for grantees on grants management skills, as needed;
• Support the development of Grants Management Manual
• Ensure grant documentation is audit ready.
• Manage co-creation/collaboration.
• Review and verify deliverables.
• Review and approve final reports.
• Support the technical review of milestones and deliverables.