Grants Manager at Creative Associates International

Program Description

• Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and in close partnership with federal partners and select Nigeria States (designated as legacy [Bauchi and Sokoto], launching and technical assistance), the five-year Leveraging Education Assistance Resources in Nigeria (LEARN) project will support sustainable improvements in reading outcomes for first and second grade pupils.
• The goal of LEARN is to strengthen and scale early grade reading (EGR) best practice by ensuring that standards-based, context-appropriate assessment, materials, training, and administrative supports needed to improve literacy skills for P1-2 pupils are embedded within the federal policy, funding, and monitoring frameworks, and state and local authorities have the implementation protocols, capacity, and resources to carry out and sustain standards-based, data-driven EGR reform.
• The project objective is to instill ownership in and build capacity of school-community, local, state, and federal systems to establish a base for adequate, consistent data-driven funding, monitoring and performance that increase the equity, inclusion, and wellbeing necessary to achieve sustained EGR gains.
• LEARN will therefore be building on lessons learned from prior Nigeria reading programs to introduce a flexible, cost- efficient EGR intervention model that can be tailored to state contexts.

Position Summary

• Creative Associates International seeks a Grants Manager for a USAID-funded project in Abuja, Nigeria.
• The Grants Manager will provide sound business advice to the project on (as well as oversee the administration of) its grants program.
• The Grants Manager will serve as the principal point of contact and Manager for Grant Administration.
• S/he will be responsible to ensure effective and efficient management of grants administration and to ensure flexible, and innovative activities are designed to target key states.

Expected Outcomes:

• Successful facilitation of project grants programs as outlined in its Grant Manual.
• Provide sound business advice to the project on the management of its grant program.
• Award impactful grants that are compliant with client rules and regulations, and Creative policies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee/facilitate all aspects of the grant lifecycle and supervising grants staff; contribute to market research, preparation of Notice of Funding Opportunities, grant design, facilitating evaluation process, pre-award risk assessment, budget development, kick-off meetings, award monitoring, and closeout processes.
• Conduct iterative trainings to ensure that technical staff and grantees understand and adhere to grant policies, procedures, practices, roles/responsibilities, and Creative’s grants management system, SMART.
• Ensure quality control and the integrity of data in Creative’s online grant management system, SMART, and the client’s (if applicable), and ensure that the data in the system is always up to date to provide grants data in a moment’s notice to upper management.
• Analyze activity budgets for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency; work with program staff to negotiate budgets.
• Ensure timely preparation of grant documentation, such as agreements, neg memos, and amendments.
• Identify issues that may arise during grant implementation in a timely manner, propose and execute appropriate adjustments.
• Demonstrate creative problem solving in addressing and resolving emerging project needs.
• Accountable for up-to-date and audit-ready grant files.
• Participate in the development of the projects annual workplan.
• Contribute on interviews and in the selection process for grant staff.
• Prepare updates, reports, and analyses regarding the grants program to the Chief of Party, Project Director, and Director of Grants Management.
• Incorporate lessons learned to improve processes and procedures based on realities of the project.
• Assist with updating the grants manual and/or templates based on realities of the project; and
• Preparing scheduled and special reports, studies, and analyses regarding the grants under contract program to the Chief of Party, Project Director, and USAID.
• Other tasks as assigned by Supervisor, the Chief of Party (CoP) or CoP’s designee.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Must have 6+ years of general work experience, 4+ years of grants experience, and 3+ years of supervisory experience with groups or teams of staff.
• Bachelors’ Degree or professional qualifications in Accounting, Finance, Business, and/or International Development is required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English highly desired, advanced knowledge required.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
• Ability to think critically through a situation that does not conform to common practice.
• Ability to interpret client rules and regulations.
• Competent computer skills is essential (i.e. Microsoft Word and Excel);
• Experience in using grants management software is desirable.
• Understanding of budget and cost control management essential.
• USAID funded program experience desirable.
• Ability to work under pressure and efficiently handle multiple tasks; and
• Ability to work under own initiative or as a part of a team.