SIF (Grants) Manager at USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities Activity in Ukraine (AGRO)

Background:

USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO) Activity is a seven-year cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chemonics International, Inc. It began on November 15, 2019.

The AGRO Activity is to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and profitable micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises (MSMEs) that are successfully integrated into competitive markets both in Ukraine and internationally.

The Activity objectives are aligned with the three elements of the market systems conceptual framework: the core value chain, supporting functions, and rules and regulations.

To effectively address the food crisis that emerges in Ukraine and internationally, AGRO works for the restoration of the agricultural sector, in particular its modernization, efficiency improvement, and diversification, which contributes to the long-term economic recovery of Ukraine and the improvement of global food security.

Within the USAID Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI-Ukraine), AGRO will provide assistance enabling Ukraine to store roughly 1.5 million tons of grain as part of the USAID’s broader efforts to maintain the rate of production and export of grain from Ukraine to other countries of the world.

AGRO operates on the basis of the market system conceptual approach.

In September 2022, the estimated cost of the Activity was extended to US$120,000,000, and its implementation period was extended through November 13, 2026. AGRO employs 77 long-term CCN employees.

Position Description:

The SIF (Grants) Manager is expected to ensure rapid and effective implementation of subawards and contracts through Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) in full compliance with Chemonics policies and procedures and adherence to USAID rules, regulations, and standards.

Principal Duties and Obligations (Essential Functions):

• S/he will ensure that subrecipients/contractors comply with all regulatory requirements (e.g., ADS, CFR, and OMB) and requirements outlined in the AGRO Subawards and Contracts Manual in a satisfactory and professional manner.
• In cooperation with AGRO staff, s/he will coordinate the Strategic Investment Fund-related financial, accounting, procurement, and administrative procedures for control of funds and expenditures, including appropriate financial reporting and authorizations for subrecipients and contractors.
• Prepare subaward and contract solicitations (RFA, APS, RFPs, etc.), analyze and review subaward/contract applications, proposals, and subaward/contract agreement documents.
• Work closely with subrecipients/contractors during the budgeting and negotiating process to make sure the budget is reasonable and sufficient for the activity to be funded.
• Chair and serve as a non-voting member of the selection committee meetings. S/he also reviews applications, evaluates the cost application for cost realism and cost effectiveness, finalizes subaward/contract documents, manages and monitors the subawards/contracts approvals. Draft selection memos and sole-source justification and negotiation memos;
• Ensure that suppliers and contractors are fully compliant with contract terms and conditions in terms of reports and/or invoices, as well as with USAID regulations and Chemonics’ policies and procedures.
• Check deliveries and invoices against purchase order for type, quantity, and condition.
• Prepare purchase requests and orders, supplier agreements, and contracts for procurements.
• Drafting memos regarding service providers’ and vendors’ performance;
• Ensure proper negotiation of the terms and conditions of subawards/contracts and review and analyze budget estimates for allocability, allowability, reasonableness, and consistency.
• Perform pre-award determinations of applicant/bidder management and technical capacities to responsibly administer subawards and contracts and advise on how to enhance recipient capabilities as necessary and appropriate.
• In collaboration with the AGRO SIF Director, SIF Team Lead and Finance and Administration Director, review how the subrecipients/contractors manage procurement, source, origin, inventory, care, maintenance, and disposition of subaward/contract purchased equipment, and assist in improving their processes as necessary.
• Liaise with other AGRO staff and supervise subrecipients so they are provided with suitable advice and assistance on management, including finance and administration, as well as on all relevant technical components.
• Ensure that all files are maintained in conformance with the Chemonics filing system and are up to date and audit-ready at all times.
• Assist with conferences, workshops, trainings, and other capacity building exercises relating to subaward and contract awards and conducting procurement independently.
• Work closely with the CLA and MEL teams to devise appropriate methods for evaluating the results AGRO delivers in relation to SIF subawards and contracts.
• Ensure protocols are in place to promote environmental compliance monitoring throughout implementation of SIF activities;
• Use Microsoft Teams as needed to carry out tasks and collaborate with other activity staff.
• Participate as directed in collection and analysis of Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) data.
• Prepare sections of reports, plans, success stories and similar documents as requested.
• Participate in regular activity Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) discussions.
• Comply with Chemonics’ standards of business conduct.
• Perform other appropriate tasks as requested.

Terms of work, SOW Timing and Reporting Relations:

One-year fixed term employment agreement with possible extension each work year up to the end of the AGRO implementation (with potential extension through November 14, 2026), subject to availability of respective tasks in the successive AGRO Annual Work Plans.

The SIF (Grants) Manager will work under direct supervision of, and report to, Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Director .

Office location: Kyiv or remote.

• Higher education in a relevant field at least to the bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Masters preferred.
• Minimum 5 (five) years of experience in design, administration, and management of USAID grants and/or subcontracts required; experience managing subawards and contracts under cooperative agreements is a plus;
• Knowledge of the USAID grant and/or subcontract lifecycles, applicable rules and regulations required; knowledge of Chemonics policies and procedures related to grants and subcontract management; graduation from Chemonics Grants Practicum is a plus;
• Ability to work quickly and creatively without sacrificing compliance or quality to operationalize SIF activities;
• Demonstrated excellent ability to effectively interact with local professionals, international donor organizations, civil society and private sector, host country government counterparts, and other implementing partners.
• Native speaker of Ukrainian; demonstrated strong writing and oral presentation skills in English.
• Experienced user of MS Office 365 applications.
• Demonstrated success working in a multinational, multilingual team under pressure and tight deadlines.

Application Instructions

Send electronic submissions by October 31, 2024. Early applications are encouraged. Please submit your CV in English and cover letter. No telephone inquiries, please. Only finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

2024-09-24T09:08:53.000 2024-10-23T23:59:59.000 Full time / Повна зайнятість TELECOMMUTE Україна Кімонікс Інтернешнл Інк. Програма USAID з аграрного і сільського розвитку (АГРО)