Position:                          Team Leader -Subgrant Management

Term of Employment:   One Year with the possibility of extension  

Duty Station(s):             Addis Ababa

Required Number:         One

Application Deadline:    October 19, 2023

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) was established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify systemic bottlenecks, conduct studies, and provide recommendations, provide implementation support, manage projects, create linkages and coordination among activities and   agricultural development programs. The Institute is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions that, to be the leading centre of innovative solutions to catalyse and contribute to the transformation of the Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030 where smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

 ATI provides a unique platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results.

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

 Job Summary

The sub-grant team leader is responsible for the management of financial and administrative matters related to ATI’s sub-grant program by implementing Leading and implementing all necessary financial and technical responsibilities and giving service to sub-recipients. S/he is responsible for sub-grant management, including managing and implementing financial, budgeting, and accounting matters to sub-recipients, and ensuring that all expenditures are compliant with sub-agreement and funding donor requirements. S/he will be responsible for the overall sub-grant management in the pre-award, post-award, and project closure phases.

The performance of the Sub-grant Team Leader will be evaluated primarily based on the degree of adherence of sub-grants to Implementing Partners in the principles and procedures of ATI’s sub-grant operation manual and on the processing efficiency of any sub-grant ideas initiated by the program team as per the required quality and within the agreed timeline.

The Sub-Grants Team Leader reports to the Director of the Sub-grant.

1.      Grants Management and Compliance

• Manage the entire subgrant process, from start to finish, which includes close collaboration with the partnership team,  legal department, program staff, and other ATI operational staff, as needed.

• Administer and review the pre-award due diligence assessment and analyse the organizational capacity of potential partners to manage subgrant funding and project implementation.

• Review sub-recipients statements of work, certifications and representations, conflicts of interest policy implications, data use, material transfer, and other compliance considerations.

• Regularly review sub-recipient budgets, budget justifications, indirect cost rates, fringe benefits, and more.

• Help ATI staff determine if a potential partner should be considered a contractor or sub-recipient.

• Draft all subgrant agreements, and ensure alignment with original grant agreements, including appropriate flow-down of terms and conditions.

• Draft any other agreements and amendments (such as independent contractor agreements or contract services agreements) that need to align with original funding agreements, including appropriate flow-down of terms and conditions.

• Ensure that sub-grants are implemented in compliance with ATI and relevant donor regulations.

• Ensure uniform and effective systems are in place and utilized for proposal development, information management, and sub-grant management (including reporting, implementation monitoring and tracking, and filing) across the sub-grant team.

• Monitor and support the use of sub-grant management tools for the proper monitoring and the successful, compliant implementation of programs and early warning in case of obstacles or challenges.

• Play a key role in advising on and overseeing ATI’s Project Cycle Meeting (PCM) approaches (Opening Meetings, Project Implementation Meetings, Project Learning Meetings, and Closing Meetings), ensuring the sub-grants team is always represented in the Project Cycle Meetings, documenting meeting discussions, providing live support to Project Leads, and tracking the progress of meetings.

• Monitor and supervise all external including donor reporting to ensure timely delivery of high-quality reports that meet their and ATI requirements.

• In collaboration with the Finance Teams, follow up on disbursement requests throughout the project life cycle until the final report is accepted by the donor, the final advance payment is made, and the grant is closed.

• Review donor agreements and coordinate their review with the relevant ATI department.

• In close collaboration with other ATI teams, conduct training for staff on sub grant management, project management, financial management, and donor accountability tools and procedures.

• Work closely with all relevant departments to monitor program compliance proactively and regularly with donor requirements.

• Act as the focal point for coordinating external audits with other finance and programs. Monitor the audit schedule and liaise with the finance and compliances to plan, support, and supervise external audits.

• Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform successfully in their positions.

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both Head Office and Regional staff.

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the ATI HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

• Participate in Field level coordination forums, as relevant.

• Work with the DP to coordinate any donor visits and facilitate any reasonable requests from funding affiliates and governing bodies.

2.      Monitoring and Evaluating Subgrants

• Design, maintain, and manage a subgrant management database.

• Work with the Subgrant team to ensure sub recipients meet all reporting requirements.

• Closely track all end dates of ATI’s subgrants and work with ATI program staff if amendments are needed.

• Before a subgrant is closed out, work with the Subgrant Director and applicable ATI program staff to assess subrecipient performance.

• Track and provide analysis and metrics on current and closed subgrants, like spending patterns, and outstanding reports.

• Work with program staff and sub-recipients on subgrant close out, like documentation, distribution of inventory, retention of intellectual property, audit, etc.

Job Requirements

•  Bachelor or master’s degree in economics, Business Administration, Finance, International Development, or another relevant field of study, obtained from a recognized University.

• At least ten (10) bachelor's or eight (8) years of master’s degree-relevant experience in grant administration, donor compliance management, and sub-recipient grant management. Of which Three years in a senior grant management position. 

• Experience with multiple donor-funded programs and in the agriculture sector is a plus

• Excellent sub-grant management skills and ability to build relationships with government counterparts, NGOs, and private sectors.

• Ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced work environment.

• Display creative problem-solving in addressing and resolving emerging project needs.

• Superior analytical and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail and a high degree of personal initiative

• Experience in accounting and budget management, database administration, project management, and information gathering.

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Ability to cooperate effectively and harmoniously with all stakeholders including different teams within ATI, government organizations, development and implementing partners, and other organizations.

• Experience in development, including working in project management, donor relations, grant management, and resource mobilization for multilateral and bilateral agencies, private foundations, or NGOs. 

• Ability to establish priorities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines.

• Ability to cooperate effectively and harmoniously with all stakeholders including different teams within ATI, government organizations, development and implementing partners, and other organizations.

• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office Suite (ERP, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

• Fluency in English and Amharic, both verbal and written and any other local language.

• Willingness to respect and adhere to ATI values.

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to CLICK HERE

It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter.

Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.