I. Job Title. Senior Grants Manager

II. Project Name and Scope. IPA is funded by USAID to support investment in Pakistan to promote a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan by increasing private sector-led, inclusive economic growth to improve the business enabling environment. The Activity has four principal objectives. These include addressing the business enabling regulatory environment for investment promotion, reforming institutional policies including the ease of compliance and doing business in the country and increasing transparency. IPA’s objectives also include improving U.S.-Pakistan bilateral trade and investment relations and mobilizing foreign direct investment into the country. We will use a problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) implementation approach to achieve these objectives by focusing on problem identification with selected institutions and firms to identify root causes, adapt using local solutions, apply iterative learning, and build capacity to solve problems. Implementation will be data-driven and identify partner institutional, reform, and capacity needs; monitor behavior change using institution, FDI, and trade metrics; and gather feedback from investors and business groups for adapting efforts through USAID’s collaborating, learning, and adapting approach.

III. Position Classification. Long-Term Local Professional Staff.

IV. Estimated Duration of Assignment and Location. Long-term. Duration of IPA contract, this position will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

V. Reporting Responsibilities.  Ultimate day to day field supervision and authority for all project personnel and all aspects of project activities rests with the Chief of Party or his designee, and in the Chemonics headquarters, with the project management unit (PMU) Director. The individual holding this position shall take no managerial or technical direction from any individual who is not formally employed in the chain of command between the individual and the Chief of Party, the Chief of Party’s designee, or the PMU Director.

For all routine responsibilities and duties, either directly or indirectly related to this position description, the individual holding this position will have a dual reporting line divided in terms of technical and operational responsibilities. Reporting line for administrative and technical purposes is to COP, with dotted line for technical collaboration with DCOP for workstream collaboration with IP&T. COP will evaluate the performance of the Senior Grants Manager for the respective responsibilities.

This position directly oversees day-to-day responsibilities of the Grants team.

VI. Position Objective and Specific Tasks.

The Senior Grants Manager will take the lead on the design and execution of rounds of grant calls based on themes as approved by the project work plan. The Senior Grant Manager’s responsibilities will range from supervising the Senior Grants Specialist, Grants Specialist (2) and Grants Assistant to providing support in technical design, financial management and administration of the grants, to mentoring and provision of technical assistance to the beneficiaries of the grants program.

As directed by the COP or her designee, the Senior Grants Manager shall perform the following functions:  

• Lead the activity of designing a Grants Manual that specifies the funding process (eligibility and selection criteria, advisory committee constitution, application forms, guidance notes and systems for fund disbursement, governance, transparency and performance monitoring ,etc)
• Contribute to the technical and financial design of the grants program
• Work with the Chemonics home office grants team and field office Operations Director, to adapt Chemonics’ comprehensive grants manual for IPA, establish a USAID compliant grants database, and train the grants team on grants solicitation, award, monitoring, and closeout.
• Ensure that the grant program design targets beneficiary groups, in accordance with USAID guidelines
• Manage the competitive process for the different rounds of grants, including proposal screening and selection of grantees. Analyze and evaluate grant applications, proposals and grant agreement/award documents to ensure adherence to established grants management policies.
• Ensure that appropriate due diligence is carried out on Grantees’ to assess whether their policies adhere to USAID requirements, this includes assessment of financial management and accounting practices and systems, environmental protection, etc.
• Ensure proper negotiation of the terms and conditions for grants and review and analyze budget estimates for allocability, reasonableness, and consistency.
• Ensure the proper preparation and execution of grant documents and grant disbursements consistent and compliant with USAID and Chemonics requirements, procedures and best practices. Documentation required will include items such as negotiation memos, grant activity forms, branding and marking plans, or others.
• Manage the grants process including assessment and oversight, with a strong emphasis on due diligence, Value-for-Money and cost effectiveness.
• Assist grant recipients in areas such as financial management, and financial sustainability, procurement requirements and implementation planning where necessary
• Work with the Operations Director and Finance Manager to ensure adequate cash flow for grant activities throughout their implementation
• Work with the MEL team and Communication Specialist for promotion of IPA’s grant program among potential grant applicants through use of social and print media, events, etc.
• Screen and appraise grantee applications for funding from a concept note stage, followed by, if successful, by a full proposal; ensure that appropriate due diligence is carried out on Grantees’ to assess whether their policies adhere to USAID requirements. Due diligence checks will include assessment of financial management and accounting practices and systems, environmental protection, etc.
• Work with the MEL team to ensure that USAID specified objectives of the grant program are measurable and reported at all stages
• Draft periodic reports on the grant program rounds for the project management as well as the donors
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by the Chief of Party, or the PMU which are consistent with the qualifications, scope of work and general requirements of IPA.
• Conduct all business in a manner that respects local culture
•  Always maintain high ethical standards, avoiding any actual or perceived conflicts of interest
• Abide by all local laws, USAID regulations, and US Embassy/USAID project directive

VII. Policy and Procedures.  With respect to all policies and procedures related to this position, written guidance in the form of the Project’s Field Personnel and Operations Policy Manual will be issued and updated from time to time that will clarify, modify, and/or establish Project policies and procedures that govern either directly or indirectly the duties and responsibilities of this position.  It is incumbent upon all Project employees to stay apprised of all policies and procedures in the Project’s Field Personnel and Operations Policy Manual, as updated. In addition, should at any time the individual holding this position shall be unclear as to the meaning of any policy and/or procedure presented in these files, or any verbal instructions given by the employee’s supervisor, the employee has the right to request written clarification from the Chief of Party or his/her designee.  By signing below, the individual holding this position confirms that the individual has read and understands the Project’s Field Personnel and Operations Policy Manual, as updated.

VIII. Educational Requirements and Qualifications.  The individual holding this position shall possess the following:

A. Qualifications. 

• Master’s degree or higher related to finance, business administration, economics, or commerce
• At least 8-10 years of experience in managing donor-funded, large-scale grants program design and administration
• Preference given to candidates with USAID grants experience
• Applicants with experience in foreign direct investment or private sector engagement will be given preference
• Ability to perform successfully as a member of a multiple project
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Strong computer literacy skills required in word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, web browsers, and email
• Strong commitment to Chemonics values including integrity
• Ability to foster and demonstrate a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations
  • Advanced English and Fluent Urdu required; other Pakistani languages preferred

IX. Authorized Workday/week

The work week shall conform to the work week in Pakistan which starts on Monday and concludes at the end of the day, Friday.