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Background:
The purpose of this USAID-funded program is to increase licit and commercially viable agricultural-based alternatives for rural Afghans with the goal of significantly reducing and ultimately eradicating poppy production. Specifically, the program will increase incentives that create jobs and sales, by promoting licit and sustainable commercial agriculture and related agribusiness in provinces affected by poppy and thus help local economies transition away from dependency on illicit opium production and sales. This includes rewarding farmers who refrain from or stay out of poppy.
Programmatic objective 4 is a grant under contract program, which may also include subcontracts. The objective is to award $40 million in grants and subcontracts over 5 years to expand the number of and increase the capacity of small Afghan organizations that are able to work directly with the donor and international investor communities in order to ensure that Afghanistan is provided a strong internal and Afghan capacity to sustainably address its long-term development needs.
Description:
The Director of Grants and Subcontracts, along with a team of local specialists, will have primary responsibility for managing the overall $40 million grants and subcontracts program. This includes the overall design of the grant and subcontract program and the detailed elements throughout the grant and subcontract life cycle including but not limited to solicitation, pre-award responsibility determination, ongoing management and monitoring, financial responsibilities, and close out. The director will implement overall policies, practices, and procedures related to all aspects of the grant and subcontract program and is responsible for overall compliance with relevant USAID and Chemonics subcontract and grant regulations. The director will ensure effective liaison between technical and management staff including training and advising all team members on their roles and responsibilities and to ensure that recipients are provided with the required technical advice and assistance in the fields of management, including financial management and sustainability. The director will work closely with project senior management to ensure the grant and subcontract program is contributing to overall project goals in a strategic manner.
A key element in the grants and subcontracts program is improving the capacity of Afghan organizations to prepare a proposal, receive a grant or subcontract, and successfully implement the scope of work. Most grant and subcontract awards will include a capacity building element.
The Director of Grants and Subcontracts along with the financial management staff are responsible for the financial management aspects of grants and subcontracts including pre-award determination, financial management procedures and work flow, assessments and audits, advances, reimbursements, and documentation.
Qualifications:
• Field experience in managing a complex and large grant and subcontract program in a challenging work environment
• Comprehensive knowledge of USAID grant and subcontract regulations
• Ability to be flexible and creative to account for changing priorities and circumstances
• Experience in capacitating local organizations to be grant and subcontract recipients
• In-depth knowledge of proven approaches suitable for assessing grant and subcontract worthiness including financial, administrative, and program planning capacities.
• Ability to write and verbally communicate clearly and concisely
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure
• Proven ability to mentor, supervise, and support staff
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to travel within Afghanistan, especially southern Afghanistan, with overnight stays