Senior Contracts and Compliance Advisor at WaterAid

About the role:

In this role, you will work closely with country and regional teams to develop a keen understanding of the compliance risk across two main WaterAid UK regions (Southern Africa & West) and focus on strengthening capacity and reducing compliance risk related to restricted funding management. You will also work closely with finance colleagues to help to embed cost recovery best practice.

Contract Management Compliance Technical Support

• Leading the risk assessment, review and direction for negotiation of complex funding agreements including multi-country and commercial contracts
• Work with finance colleagues to embed cost recovery policy and best practice across WaterAid UK through targeted and general capacity building and communications
• Supporting country/regional teams - with a view of capacity building and developing best- practice - in the review and negotiation of contracts
• Supporting country/regional teams to respond to donor due diligence requests through the development and management of a library of due diligence documents
• Support country teams to prepare and manage the risk of donor audits and visits

Restricted Funding Risk Reduction

• Working closely with other teams (e.g. Finance, Legal, Internal Audit) to ensure WaterAid rules maximise compliance with standard terms and conditions in contracts
• Analysing any new donor compliance requirements among WaterAid's main donors to determine and flag wher donor requirements are stricter than WaterAid rules
• Developing training and tools for country/regional teams on specific donor compliance requirements
• Support International Programme Department Senior Management Team with the monitoring and management of high-risk contracts
• Working closely with colleagues in Bid Management and Country/Regional Teams, assess risk in new funding opportunities / contracts

Enabling Grant/Contract Management Devolution

• Ensure integration of grant/contract management processes, materials and training with Programme, Finance and Internal Audit and promote to colleagues managing restricted funding in country teams
• Jointly lead on socialization of the restricted funding process with the Funding Process and Data Manager
• Enable contract management devolution by supporting WaterAid departments, Members and Country Programmes to build capacity
• Lead on developing a federation wide compliance community of practice supporting compliance colleagues to effectively share best practice

Capacity Strengthening/Troubleshooting

Organizational capacity strengthening is the common theme throughout the 3 accountability areas listed above. It is a fundamental component of this role, as well as being integrated or 'mainstreamed' into the other responsibilities of this role. Specific capacity building activities include:

• Developing and/or adapting training materials on contract management processes (from contract review and negotiations through to contract close-out)
• Delivering trainings to Country/Regional Teams in line with the Contract Management devolution strategy
• Occasionally working intensively and independently with Country Programme's to troubleshoot compliance issues and identify and deliver appropriate support to address capacity gaps

About you:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent standard, or equivalent work experience
• Highly numerate, preferably with a financial background
• Experience of developing and delivering training to diverse audiences
• Experience of reviewing and negotiating contracts, preferably (but not necessarily) in the field of international development
• Experience of working with commercial contracts and complex funding modalities such as payment by results
• Good working knowledge of FCDO, EU and USAID donor rules
• Experience of managing and maintaining grant / contract management processes
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, and ability to adapt and work within a multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience in supporting country teams in setting up processes in grant/contract management and resolving issues.

Salary & Benefits:

• Salaries and benefits for different countries will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience.