Grant & Compliance Officer at Helen Keller International / USAID Advancing Nutrition Project

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition and diseases of poverty. Cofounded by Helen Keller and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited.In the US, Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Grant & Compliance Officer

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

Background

The USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition.
Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development.
The overall purpose of the project in Nigeria is to provide technical support to the Government of Nigeria, and other nutrition stakeholders and generate evidence to enhance nutrition programming toward achieving the overall goal of improving nutrition for a healthy, productive, and resilient Nigeria.

Scope of the Position

The Grant & Compliance Officer will supervise Grants Under Contract (GUCs) for the project. S/he will participate in the review of proposals/applications, undertakes pre-award assessments, participates in compliance visits, and provides guidance on program contractual requirements.
The position reports directly to the Senior Finance & Operations Officer, with dotted line reporting to Helen Keller Grants & Contracts Senior Manager in the U.S. The position will support programmatic/technical oversight of GUCs that are funded and managed by the project prime contractor – JSI – and, therefore, the Officer will also work directly with JSI counterparts, as appropriate, for oversight of GUC recipients.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

The Grant and Compliance Officer will support in issuing GUCs to selected grantees. Serve as liaison between USAID advancing Nutrition and grantees, as needed, on technical, financial and compliance issues.
The officer provides guidance to grantees on USAID GUC regulations and GUC agreements.
Support in soliciting for grant applications, reviewing and evaluating applications, and awarding GUCs to selected grantee organizations.
Oversee the preaward assessment process, including reviewing preaward survey, site visit, conducting risk assessment, and coordinating with her/his supervisor on risk determination and potential special conditions.
Support in the selection and negotiation process, including obtaining necessary documentation from grantees.
Establish system for grants monitoring including designing templates for Grants Status Reports for use by the senior project management team for monitoring.
Overse grantees programmatic and technical implementation and verify program achievements.
The officer will also assist with training on compliance, conducts programmatic oversight and follow-up of recommendations, identifies training needs, and develops site-specific curriculum to address the needs of grantees.
Provides guidance to technical staff in the development of SOWs, EOIs and RFAs for grants, including the development of program technical description, milestones, deliverables and selection criteria to support USAID approval.
Maintain GUC documentation in organized filing system, including communications with all parties on the contract.
Review all the project financial documents to ensure appropriate back-up documentations are available; ensure that minimum documentation requirement is met, all invoices, time sheets, contracts are available and sequentially attached to each payment request.
Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor or designee.

Education & Experience

Master’s Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or any other relevant field and 4 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s Degree in similar fields with at least 6 years of relevant experience.
Professional experience supporting USAID-funded projects and managing Grants Under Contracts programs in Nigeria.

Knowledge and Skills:

Specific experience in Nutrition program strongly desired.
Experience implementing Grants Under Contracts program under a USAID contract is required
In depth knowledge of USAID Acquisition and Assistance regulations, including Code of Federal Regulations, Automated Directives System, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and USAID Acquisition regulations is required.
Past experience working with partners such as Ministries of Health, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and CBOs.
Experience working with and providing technical assistance to NGOs and/or CBOs in internal controls and compliance systems design, implementation and review, and capacity building in other functional areas such as human resources, policies & standard operating procedures (SOPs) development.
Experience conducting trainings and other capacity building work both one-on-one and with larger audiences.
Good knowledge of using Microsoft office especially word, excel and power point
Outstanding organizational and coordination abilities
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Fluency in English is required

Competencies:

Adaptable, creative, collaborative and able to think strategically.
Ability to work under pressure and deliver timely good results
Purpose driven and outcome focused – moving roadblocks, tackling difficult problems and is action oriented.
Operate as a nimble learner – knowing personal strengths, weaknesses and limits, has a growth mindset.
Impeccable negotiation and problem-solving skills
Exceptional interpersonal skills and rapport building.

Physical Demands: