Assistant Director Grants and Contracts (ADGC at Phillips Consulting

The Assistant Director Grants and Contracts (ADGC), will creatively lead the operations and problem-solving activities of the team and the development of team goals, including the strategy for successful implementation. He/she will ensure the execution of the strategic vision for funding and contractual agreements via well-balanced and written mechanisms. Oversees the administrative management and compliance of prime awards, associated sub-awards, and various contractual tools for procuring professional services. Works closely with key Program staff, Compliance, Human Resources, and Finance staff to ensure legal and policy compliance for service delivery and quality assurance in all processes.

Responsibilities:

• Independently oversee, triage, and assign day-to-day workflow of assigned team.
• Review sub-awards before issuance for compliance with donor regulations and the company policies and provide sub-award management guidance as needed throughout the program's life.
• Liaise directly with Departmental Heads and assigned staff, Principal Investigators, and the Finance department to facilitate all proposals.
• Provide advanced technical guidance on all proposals, which could include complex sponsor guidelines and requests for applications, data, and attachments for proposals, along with an understanding of any associated applicable law(s) included in sponsor solicitation.
• Submit all requests for changes or responses to sponsor questions with the Principal Investigators/Heads of Department/Project Directors. Use expert analytical problem-solving skills to find answers and solutions to complex issues on grants/contracts and submissions, including submission of changes and responses to sponsor questions.
• Mentor and train grants and contracts staff, with primary responsibility for compiling, submitting proposals, and using signature authority for awards.
• Provide expert understanding and technical guidance on non-financial post-award action items; interpret and facilitate submission of non-financial post-award requests. Apply expert knowledge of sponsor policies on cost principles.
• Primarily responsible for submitting proposals and using signature authority for the grants and contracts team.
• Interpret and apply expert knowledge of sponsors’ laws and regulations, and ensure that all the company policies, procedures, procurement, and contracting requirements are met for sub-agreement and subcontracting activities and ensure consistency of use across the company.
• Participate in award start-up and close-out planning and audit processes, guiding on and interpretation of applicable contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Supervise post-award responsibilities, which include the review of all grants and contract sub-awards/ subcontracts, including scope of work, budget, and modifications, before award expenditures and extensions.
• Contribute to the development and/or revision of policies and resource materials/tools, including manuals, guides, and templates, to assist program staff with award management and compliance with donor regulations and company policies.
• Identify, suggest, and oversee the implementation of improvements and solutions to the team’s workflow and processes.
• Collaborate with Internal Audit and Compliance in providing departments and PIs non-financial post-award management, compliance, and reporting.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director-Grants and Contracts or assigned.

Required competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of job role requirements.
• Experience with performance auditing.
• Advanced understanding of financial regulations, terms and conditions of funding agencies, and provision of guidance in operationalizing terms and conditions of contracts.
• Strong analytical skills to successfully perform contractual negotiations, reviews, and analyses.
• Strong training and presentation skills to effectively transfer working knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures through formal or informal training activities.
• Ability to meet deadlines while providing adequate time for consensus building, especially approvals, reviews, and feedback.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, people & customer management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, accurately assessing priorities and strong organizational skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word).

Education & Experience

• Must possess a master’s degree in any social sciences.
• Must have an accounting/financial degree and certification.
• Professional certification in accounting/audit will be an added advantage.
• Should have 10 years to 12 years of work experience managing grants and contract administration.
• Minimum of 2 years experience supervising and leading a grants team