Palladium Recruits New Staffs 2017 July

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved – and is committed to continuing to improve – economies, societies and most importantly, people’s lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.

Project Overview and Role

The USAID Financing Ghanaian Agriculture Project (USAID FinGAP) is a 5 year program (2013-2018) which addresses a key constraint restricting the development of commercial agriculture and obtaining full food security in Ghana ? access to finance necessary to enable investment in agricultural value chains. USAID FinGAP uses a comprehensive approach to facilitate agriculture related investment, engaging a broad range of Ghanaian Financial Institutions (FIs) (e.g. banks, private equity firms, leasing companies, investment funds) in providing agricultural oriented financing, in partnership with strategic investors and buyers of rice, maize and soya in Northern Ghana, and a network of Business Advisory Services (BAS) providers who facilitate financing transactions. The Project objectives are achieved through i) expansion of the number of viable ag-related investment opportunities as needed to build out the targeted value chains through the Ag Opportunities Development Unit (AODU); ii) an increase in financial institutions? appetite for ag-related loans that will finance the targeted investment opportunities through the Financial Sector Support Unit (FSSU). To support the implementation of USAID FinGAP activities, the Project has a $5,000,000 grants fund which is deployed through a variety of instruments, including pay-for-performance (P4P) incentive grants to FIs to stimulate increased lending to targeted investment opportunities, performance-based contracts to BAS providers to encourage provision of transaction facilitation support to agribusinesses, grants to institutions offering risk mitigation, as well as Matching Grants or Output Based Aid (OBA) Grants. The project seeks a Grants and Procurements Manager for USAID FinGAP?s final year, scheduled to close at the end of July 2018.

Job Description

Job Title: Grants And Procurement Manager

Responsibilities

Primary Duties

The Grants and Procurements Manager is responsible for the administration and oversight of the USAID FINGAP grants fund and implementation of all grants related activities, and will ensure that all project grants comply with USAID and Palladium?s policies and procedures related to grants management. In addition, s/he will oversee project procurements, including subcontracts, equipment and services procurements, ensuring that all procurements meet competition, approval and documentation requirements. The Grants and Procurements Manager will work closely with technical staff/component managers in administering the grants program to achieve technical project objectives, will supervise the USAID FinGAP Grants Unit Coordinator, and work closely with the project Operations Manager. S/he will operate largely independent of technical supervision, and manage grants awards/disbursement/close-out in line with Palladium?s procedures and USAID FinGAP?s grants manual. This includes leading and preparing all grant solicitations, drafting and negotiating grant documents, managing and monitoring the award process, reviewing and maintaining all grant reporting and documentation, reviewing and approving invoices, and ensuring accurate budget projections for all grants and performance-based contracts. S/he will be responsible for conducting grant close-out procedures, in addition to supporting general project close out operations.
Specific Functions and Responsibilities

• Oversee grants administration, compliance and implementation procedures, and ensure compliance with USAID grants and procurement regulations, as well as compliance with Palladium policies and procedures;
• Oversee and lead project procurements, including subcontracts, equipment and services, ensuring efficient and transparent procurement processes that comply with USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures.
• Design and conduct grants solicitation and advertisements;
• Design and prepare Grant Review Guidelines for evaluators, including scoring formats;
• Convene the Grant Committee Meetings, lead negotiations with applicants, and prepare the Memorandum of Negotiations and Responsibility Determination Statement, awards and execution.
• Negotiate, in collaboration with Palladium HQ, grant terms and agreements, with potential grantees;
• Prepare grant agreements to submit to USAID for approval, in coordination with Palladium HQ;
• Maintain impeccable grant-related documentation, including but not limited to:
  1. Grants packages for prospective applicants
  2. Correspondence related to the grants program
  3. Documentation of grant committee scoring and selections
  4. A grants management and filing system for the project, to include grant award documentation, certifications, and required approvals
  5. Documentation of evidence of milestones reached for P4P grants
• Review grant and performance-based contract invoices and supporting documentation for disbursements to recipients. Direct funds transfers after reviewing financial reports and ensuring compliance with grant agreements (in coordination with technical/HQ staff);
• Ensure that proposed grants are in compliance with USAID FinGAP Environmental Guidelines;
• Conduct grants tracking and reporting, ensuring timely usage of grants funds as per annual work plans;
• Obtain regular and accurate budget projections for all grants and performance-based contracts, through frequent dialogue with grantees and BAS subcontractors;
• Provide guidance to grant recipients, including financial and milestone reporting requirements;
• Monitor portfolio quality and liaise with technical and M&E staff to make incremental adjustments and modifications to grant and performance-based contract mechanisms (e.g. leverage requirements) to achieve technical objectives, in line with the Project?s CLA approach;
• Maintain strong risk management systems within the project team to ensure fraud protections and team understanding of conflict of interest;
• Supervise Grants Unit Coordinator in a constructive manner;
• Direct and oversee grants close out and final reporting;
• Support project close out operations;
• Other tasks as deemed necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor?s degree required; master?s degree in administration, finance, agriculture, or related field of study a plus; MBA preferred;
• Minimum of ten (10) years? progressively responsible experience in grants management, contract administration and project procurement, preferably on USAID contracts;
• Familiarity with USAID grants and procurement regulations required;
• Must be detail oriented with strong organizational skills;
• Strong skills in project/grants close out.
• Only submissions with a cover letter considered.