Partnership and Innovation Fund (PIF) Director

Winrock International KISAN II Project

Details / requirements:

Position Title: Partnership and Innovation Fund (PIF) Director

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Unit: PIF

Reports To: Deputy Chief of Party/ Finance

BACKGROUND:

The Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN) II Project is a USAID funded five-year second phase of the USAID Feed the Future (FTF) initiative in Nepal. The aim of KISAN II is to increase resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of income growth in the FTF zone of influence.  The US$ 32.70 million project is implemented by Winrock International in collaboration with five other Nepali and US based organizations: Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy, Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED), Development Project Service Center (DEPROSC), Digital Green, Siddhartha Inc, and Overseas Strategic Consulting (OSC).

KISAN II aims to work with private sector firms, input suppliers, Millers, and private sector change agents etc.; whoever are playing a catalyst role in agriculture productivity, competitive market systems, a stronger enabling environment to agriculture sector business growth and literacy skills. KISAN II will work in the 20 districts in the West, Mid-West and Far-West Regions (FTF Zone of Influence I), and four earthquake -affected districts in the Central Region (FTF Zone of Influence 2).

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The PIF Director will take a lead role of KISAN II PIF portfolio of Grants Cycle Management. S/he will be responsible for leading KISAN II’s Grants Program, ensuring that grants are processed in timely manner and the process adheres to KISAN II ’s Grants Manual, reviewing grant packages to ensure that they meet KISAN II and USAID requirements in the contract and Grants Manual, monitoring the grants budget, expenditures, and reporting thereon.

The PIF Director will also involve in the design and implementation of PIF in close coordination with DCOP/Agriculture, Component lead of output # 1, and other cross cutting teams as required. S/he will also make close coordination with MEL Director to develop the monitoring, evaluation, and learning system for PIF grants ensuring that data is collected, tracked, and analyzed regularly as per grant agreements. In addition to overall PIF responsibilities, the PIF Director will manage a PIF Team which consists of a Grants and Subcontracts Manager, Grants and Subcontracts Officer, and Grants and Subcontracts Assistant. The PIF Director will also be responsible for Coordination, Communication etc. for PIF portfolio. S/he will be responsible to ensure that the project meets USAID contractual requirements during the PIF project implementation.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • With the support of the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/ Finance, coordinate the development of quality PIF proposals and narrative reports with relevant teams.
  • Lead the PIF Department as a custodian.
  • Manage full Grants Cycle funded by KISAN II to Private Sector Business and other Entities;
  • Design and Implement a comprehensive grants monitoring and evaluation system;
  • Liaise with HQ Award Management to ensure all the award documents meet internal standards before submitting to USAID;
  • Lead the organization and follow-up of grant opening meetings, monthly grant review meetings, budget management (Budget vs Actual) meetings and grant close out meetings in collaboration with relevant stakeholders;
  • Monitor and support the use of grants management tools such as GUC Manual and database to ensure accurate tracking of opportunities and grants reporting;
  • Support the subcontract process with local or international partners, including due diligence of potential partners and review draft subcontract agreement in line with KISAN II processes and donor requirements;
  • Coordinate award modification documents in coordination with relevant program and finance teams;
  • Provide training and mentoring to program, operations, cross cutting team and MEL staff on compliance with donor regulations to ensure high quality implementation;
  • Provide technical guidance to KISAN II partners to aware them donor regulations to ensure compliance within operations, program implementation and reporting. Raise compliance issues proactively with program staff and operations team;
  • Provide capacity building support to local partner organizations, including report and proposal related mentoring and training;
  • Keep the COP/DCOP informed of any projected inabilities to meet contractual obligations, report submission and burn rates/significant budget variances;
  • Maintain hard and soft grant files of the KISAN II, PIF portfolio;
  • Perform other duties related to assignment proposed by his/her supervisor as and when necessary;

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQURIEMENTS:

Education: Preferably Master’s degree in a relevant field such as financial management, finance analysis, financial planning, or accounting;

Experience: The ideal candidate will have the following experience:

  • A minimum of seven years of work experience for Master level or ten years of experience for Bachelor level in leading financial and grants management of donor-funded programs. USAID experience strongly preferred.
  • Experience of managing small grants to local organizations and private sector organizations.
  • Supervisory experience of managing department colleagues and subordinates.
  • Strong computer software skills in MS Excel. Word, and Grants data base management.
  • Knowledge or familiarity of USAID procurement process.
  • In using accounting software (such as QuickBooks).
  • Strong communication skills, both oral and written with fluency in both English and Nepali required

Other: High level of English and of Nepali is required.

Disclaimer: This position is contingent upon USAID approval.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can post their cover letter and CV to Jobs.KISAN@winrock.org within 24 October 2017 . Applications received after the stipulated date will not be entertained.

Overview

Category Administrative / Management
Openings 1
Experience Please check vacancy details.
Education Please check vacancy details
Posted Date 15 Oct, 2017
Apply Before 24 Oct, 2017
City Kathmandu