Catalytic Grants Manager – Nairobi, Kenya

Catalytic Grants Manager – Nairobi, Kenya

Looking for a Grants Manager Kenya role? Counterpart International is hiring a Catalytic Grants Manager to oversee grantmaking, compliance, and financial management for an agriculture development project.

Summary: Counterpart International (Counterpart) is currently seeking a Catalytic Grants Manager to support the USDA Food for Progress Kenya Livestock Innovation and Feed Transformation (LIFT) project. The overall objective of the project is to expand trade and increase agricultural productivity through improving the availability and affordability of high quality livestock feed.

 Reporting to the Director of Finance and Risk Management, the Catalytic Grants Manager will play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the LIFT program. This position is responsible for overseeing the entire grantmaking process, ensuring transparency and integrity in selection processes, and compliance with USDA regulations, Counterpart processes, and project objectives. The position requires a deep understanding of grant management, financial oversight, and familiarity with the local context. The Catalytic Grants Manager will manage the administration of grants and processes and lead communications with Counterpart’s US office teams regarding grants, and will coordinate the local partners grants application processes, from selection and preparation of the grant mechanism to subsequent monitoring.

The Grants Manager Kenya will oversee the full grant lifecycle, ensuring compliance and effective fund management.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Work closely with project leadership to develop the project’s grantmaking vision, strategy, and approach.
• Provide input to project leadership and the US office team as needed for preparation of the project grants manual and all related forms, templates, and documents.
• Advise project team regarding grant contracting mechanisms, recommending which to use depending on the activities that will be conducted under the grant.
• Collaborate with the technical team to design and deliver presentations and informational material promoting grant solicitations.
• In collaboration with the technical team, conduct site visits to do pre-award audits, spot checking grant implementation, and ensuring compliance with Counterpart and USDA rules and regulations.
• Manage the grantee application process: preparing the request for applications (RFA) or annual program statements (APS); drafting responses to written questions from applicants; providing guidance to the technical evaluation committee; conducting necessary pre-award assessments, preparing the draft agreement and compiling supporting documentation; providing guidance and leading negotiations with the grantee; drafting the grant agreement and subsequent modifications; and coordinating US office review and clearance of related documents.
• Implement a risk based subrecipient monitoring plan, including financial reviews, programmatic monitoring, and compliance spot checks, documenting all findings and follow-up actions
• Ensure project grant files are complete (in accordance with Counterpart’s checklists) and clearly labeled so information is easy to find.
• Maintain and continuously update a grants tracking system to monitor award status, obligations, deliverables, co-investment, and compliance requirements.
• Track key agreement information (such as end dates and obligations) to ensure modifications are processed timely.
• Ensure grant agreements are closed out within their period of performance and all grant documentation is received and properly stored.
• Generate reports on grants awarded, Counterpart’s financial obligations, co-investment commitments and expenditures, cost-share and grantee performance.
• Share up-to-date information regarding projected dates for payment to grantees with project leadership and US Programs to ensure accurate budget planning.
• Consult the US Programs team and Grants, Contracts, and Compliance (GCC) as needed regarding compliance questions and best practices as related to grants; share information with the project team.
• Participate in staff meetings, learning activities, and work/strategic planning sessions.
• Write performance reports, case studies, and other communications, as requested, related to the project’s portfolio of grants.
• Attend sector-relevant meetings and contribute to the enhancement of the grant-making and management process.
• Solicit and act upon feedback from staff, partners, and USDA representatives of the grantmaking process.
• Produce high quality grants reports for internal leadership, USDA, and external stakeholders as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 7 years of experience overseeing and managing substantial and complex grants on US government or USDA projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Project Management and/or related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of 2 CFR 200, USDA Food for Progress regulations, and USG grants and cooperative agreement management requirements
• Demonstrated experience leading grantmaking processes, and preparing or contributing to solicitations, manuals, systems, and guidelines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive information with absolute integrity and discretion is paramount.  
• Demonstrated management-level qualities and expertise, including supervisory experience.
• Ability to network and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, and to work effectively within a multicultural and diverse team.  
• Demonstrated ability to communicate fully and effectively, both oral and written, in English and Kiswahili.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advance degree in International Development, Business Administration, Finance and/or related field.
• Professional certification in accounting. , CPA (Certified Public Accountant),ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants),and/or PMP (Project Management Professional)
• Experience overseeing in-kind grants and fixed amount awards.
• Prior experience managing grants with private sector partners in the agriculture sector.

 Counterpart is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.

 Accessibility Notice: If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to recruiting@counterpart.org 

 Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls.