ThaiNGO

Grants Manager

Full-Time Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Background

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) requires implementation support to establish and manage the Community Resilience Program (CRP). This program is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand to support activities that will sustain and strengthen community resilience in the region.

About the Role

CRP is seeking a Grants Manager to be the focal point in managing CRP grants, working with both the program and operations teams to develop, monitor, and close out grants. The GM must have a deep understanding of activity development and supervision in a grants program, ideally under USAID programming, and a background in supporting CSOs and community activities.

The Grant Manager will report to the Operations Manager.

Responsibilities:

Activity Development

• Provides expert input in the design and development of grants, in coordination with the CRP senior management team and other program staff, to ensure activities are feasible, achievable within current capacity and comply with all relevant policies and procedures 
• Develops and analyze budgets for allowability, allocability, reasonableness and consistency for proposed activities in coordination with the proposed local partners. The Grants Manager will work closely with the Program Development Officer on budget line items, quantity, and frequency/period of performance to be in line with activity design, ensuring cost reasonableness and realism.
• Negotiates, justifies, and seeks Operations Manager approval for salary rates for local partner personnel and independent consultant agreements.
• Maintains complete and updated digital grant files and ensures required activity documents are uploaded to online systems during activity development and after clearance.
• Determines selection and award process for grants. Leads process to determine grant worthiness and pre-award responsibility determination of prospective partners, including vetting/screening, reference checks, etc. Drafts grant memoranda of negotiation, including justifications for restricted eligibility in accordance with ADS 303.
• Drafts all grant agreements for signature by the Chief of Party or designee and ensures that all associated documentation has been completed by the relevant parties.
• Prepares and maintains supporting grant documentation in compliance with applicable requirements, procedures, and best practices. Ensures that grant agreements and associated paperwork accurately reflect approved activities and are properly documented from the start of activity development to grant close-out.
• Participates and provides input into the development of the program strategic framework

Activity Implementation

• Ensures grant implementation is conducted in compliance with all relevant project requirements and donor regulations. Coordinates closely with home office project management unit, grants department and/or operations manager regarding grant policy guidance and interpretation.
• Coordinates with procurement staff to ensure the timely delivery and proper reception of items procured by the project on behalf of grantees 
• Establishes financial monitoring of grant activity budgets, including preparation of monthly financial projections and coordinating with the finance team to upload weekly activity disbursements to online systems.
• Leads grantee kick-off meeting and manages grant agreements to ensure grantee performance is aligned with activity implementation plan and schedule.

• Provides regular updates to grants management unit staff and senior management team on implementation of grants within assigned portfolio.
• Anticipates and troubleshoots grant implementation challenges in coordination with program staff and grantee partners.
• Monitors and evaluate the implementation of each activity through regular communication, and a thorough review of deliverables.
• Provides regular updates for staff on grant implementation. Draft grant-related correspondence (letters of receipt, rejection letters, close-out letters etc.).
• Coordinates with relevant staff to ensure that activity data is consistent and complete.
• May travel to remote areas and work independently to monitor activities.

Activity Closeout

• Ensures all finances are reconciled at the conclusion of the grant agreement and works with the senior management team to de-obligate undisbursed funds in a timely manner.
• Conducts thorough review of grant file against file closeout checklist to ensure all documentation is complete prior to closeout.
• Coordinates closely with other grants management unit and finance staff to ensure all remaining grant requirements – including final evaluation reports, final milestones, final disbursements – are complete prior to closing out activities.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required 
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience with grants management or project management - including budgeting, logistics, financial and performance management - required. Experience managing grants or contracts for international organizations is highly desired.
• Experience working with or supporting NGOs and/or community-based organizations preferred.
• Experience with USAID grant rules and regulations and experience reviewing and negotiating budgets, drafting memoranda of negotiation, and conducting pre-award responsibility assessments is strongly preferred.
• An up-to-date understanding and knowledge of political and social conditions in Myanmar is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to prioritize multiple work assignments in an extremely fast-paced environment, to meet deadlines, and to exercise good, professional judgment
• Demonstrated creativity and analytical capacity to manage grant compliance issues
• Flexibility, creativity, and the ability to maintain a rapid and demanding pace of work
• Commitment to teamwork
• Ability to assess capabilities of prospective grantees and to provide capacity building support as needed

• Working proficiency in office computer applications, including MS Word, and Excel  
• Fluency in Burmese required; fluency in one of the Ethnic Nationality languages desired.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV to CRPRecruit@chemonics.com

Please indicate “Application: “Grant Manager” in the subject of email and only shortlisted candidates will be notified. 

Closing date – 9^th September 2024 5.00PM Thailand Time