Grants and Contracts Director (Awards Management)

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe's work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of businesses and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Grants and Contracts Director (Awards Management) is responsible for supervising the review and negotiation of donor awards, ensuring adherence to donor regulations, adherence to the terms and conditions of specific contracts / agreements, and monitoring the performance of TechnoServe's sub-recipients. The Director leads a global team of around five (5) Grants and Contracts staff, and develops tools and processes to provide ongoing support to TechnoServe's program implementation teams in their delivery of expected outcomes in accordance with donor/funder rules and regulations. Additionally, the Director promotes TechnoServe's organizational culture of compliance and accountability through global education, training, and community-building.

Primary Functions and Responsibilities:

Awards Management Strategy:

• Ensure that TechnoServe's awards management practices and approaches are consistent with TechnoServe's organizational goals and values, and support high-quality program implementation.
• Design and improve user-friendly systems and processes for awards management, including policies, procedures, templates, and tools to facilitate awards management, and contracting and monitoring of sub-recipients.
• Lead on the design and maintenance of software applications, integrated workflows and filing systems to ensure accurate tracking of award data, milestones, contacts, budgets, and related documentation.
• Analyze grants and contracts data to evaluate trends and proactively raise and address risks.

Team Management and Mentorship:

• Recruit, mentor, and manage an appropriate team to support TechnoServe's awards management efforts around the world.
• Serve as a partner to Regional Directors, Country Directors, and Program Managers in communicating with donors on matters such as contract modifications, extensions, and close-outs.
• Develop and regularly deliver training for TechnoServe staff on award/sub-recipient management and compliance.
• Initiate and facilitate a community for technical collaboration and ongoing support/training among of TechnoServe's global Program Managers.

Award and Subaward Management:

• Provide leadership in award management including review and negotiation of prime awards, resolution of contractual challenges related to donor requirements.
• Provide leadership in post-award management and monitoring of overall donor compliance requirements.
• In partnership with relevant Program Managers, lead the negotiation of sub-award terms and conditions with potential sub-recipients.
• Ensure that sub-recipient risk assessments are complete, accurate, and effectively used in the contracting process and throughout the sub-recipient life cycle.
• Develop and implement a standard system and cadence for monitoring sub-recipient performance.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree + 12 years relevant experience OR Master's Degree + 8 years relevant experience.
• Strong systems orientation, with a track record of improving and enhancing existing grants management technologies, developing new solutions, and maintaining an awareness of and willingness to use new and emerging platforms.
• Extensive knowledge of USAID, USDA, and other US government agency contracting and assistance regulations, in particular, FAR, 22 CFR 228, 2 CFR 200, and other OMB circulars. Knowledge of other donor regulations is desirable.
• Demonstrated track record in managing complex donor-funded programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• French, Spanish, or Portuguese language skills are desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to provide mentorship to staff in both direct reporting and matrix management relationships.
• Ability to negotiate consensus among peers and colleagues in solving complex problems.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel for up to two weeks at a time on short notice.

All applicants must have US work authorization at the time of application.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

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