Sub-award and Compliance Officer

Mercy Corps

Details / requirements:

Mercy Corps is an international, non-governmental humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping to build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps began operations in Nepal in 2005, and since then has implemented projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security and nutrition, financial services, youth engagement, and disaster risk reduction/ climate change adaptation. The Promoting Agriculture, Health, and Alternative Livelihoods Program (PAHAL), a five-year, $37M Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP), aims to help vulnerable populations in Nepal become more resilient to the stressors and shocks that impede food security.

Mercy Corps currently invites applications from all potential Nepali candidates for the following position:

Sub-award and Compliance Officer - 02 Positions

(Full time based in Nepalgunj and Dadeldhura with 60% field travel for monitoring visits)

The Sub Awards and Compliance Officer for Mercy Corps’ Nepal-funded Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) is responsible for ensuring and facilitating the compliance of programs with donor regulations and requirements for all sub-grantees. Responsibilities include reporting to the Sub-award and Compliance Manager, working closely with the regional, district and Local NGOs staff, monitoring local NGOs, reviewing financial reports and capacity building of local NGOs to meet finance and compliance requirements of USAID, so that these local organizations develop professional personnel and systems.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT:

  • Bachelors in Business Studies with minimum of more than 3 years of relevant field or management experience of complex, multidimensional programming including administering small grants in an international/local environment. Additionally, experience in sub awards design, negotiation, and administration is required including proven success in managing the administration and compliance of US government funding, particularly with the management of large USAID funded sub award mechanisms of a comparable size. Please refer to nepal.mercycorps.org for the full position description before applying.

“Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, especially women and members of disadvantaged groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer”.

Interested candidates are requested to submit a CV and cover letter by October 19, 2015 to the address below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.

Attn: Human Resources Officer

[Please mention the title of the Position on the subject of the e-mail while applying]

Email to: jobs@np.mercycorps.org

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Sub-award and Compliance Officer

DUTY STATION: Regional Office-Dadeldhura and Nepalgunj

POSITION CATEGORY: Full-time AND Regular 

SALARY LEVEL: Step 2

CURRENT EMPLOYEE:

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps is an international, non-governmental humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping to build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to support people, communities and organizations that can bring about positive change. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has helped people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their lives. Our worldwide team in 41 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people. For more information, see www.mercycorps.org.

Mercy corps began operation in Nepal in 2005, and since then has implemented projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security and nutrition, financial services, youth engagement, ad disaster risk reduction/ climate change adaptation. To date, this programming has reached over 9, 00,000 people in 23 districts. Mercy Corps Nepal works to build the absorptive, adaptive and transformative potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal. The goal is attained through a systems based approach to market development, financial services, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation ad youth engagement.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

  • The Sub Awards and Compliance Officer for Mercy Corps’ Nepal-funded Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) is a key position in the 5-year USAID/FFP-funded tentatively titled by USAID as the “Community Resilience Program,”, responsible for ensuring and facilitating the compliance of programs with donor regulations and requirements for all sub-grantees. S/he will report to the Sub-award and Compliance Manager and work closely with the regional, district and Local NGOs staff. S/he will also be responsible for local NGOs monitoring, reviewing financial reports and capacity building of local NGOs to meet finance and compliance requirements of USAID, so that these local organizations develop professional personnel and systems.
  • Responsible for pre-award financial review and other due diligence of apparently successful applicants. Develop and conduct sub-recipient financial and compliance training workshops. Review sub-recipient financial reports against approved donor line items and obligated amount ensuring correctness, completeness and submitted on time. Develop sub-recipient monitoring plans, conduct financial monitoring of subrecipients and prepare financial monitoring visit reports. Follow up on all sub award compliance issues, audits and document resolutions. Maintain sub award tracking as well as financial files in accordance with the Field Finance Manual. Responsible for sub award modification as required, financial close-outs, including ensuring that all requirements of the sub award agreement have been met and that sub award funds have been properly settled. Provide compliance guidance and consultations to sub-recipients on a demanddriven basis. Assist the program team with assessing sub-recipient organizational needs so that the sub award process strengthens the ability of local NGOs/CBOs to meet standards. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  • Sub Awards Management: Work closely with the partner organizations (PLAN USA, iDE, TUFTS, RIMS, Rupantaran, NTAG and LNGOs as determined) to ensure they are issuing, managing and monitoring sub awards in accordance with the “COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM” sub award manual. Ensure that the “COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM” program is complying with the procedures as approved in the “COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM” sub awards manual, and that the annexes are being used as applicable. . Assist in designing EOI, actively participate in local NGO selection process, Pre–award survey, and play a key role in negotiating and awarding sub-awards.
  • Compliance: Ensure that the “COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM” is executed in alignment withthe Cooperative Agreement and the applicable USAID regulations, staying abreast of changes in regulatory environment related to donor/grant compliance; update “COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM” policies and procedures as necessary. Help find practical solutions to ensure resolutions to issues are compliant, yet facilitate the achievement of program objectives. Review “COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM” sub award transactions, major contracts and other documents for compliance requirements and ensure these requirements are met. Identify and communicate compliance risks associated with program implementation to line manager. Prepare and maintain internal compliance-related reports. Help to provide direction with regard to any grant or contract functions needed for the program’s success and to provide input on program 
  • Team Management: Create and sustain a dynamic and participatory work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence. Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews. Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary. Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives. Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes. Ensure that all staff receive appropriate communications regarding their compliance assignments and responsibilities. Play a role to deliver training programs and materials to ensure all staff are aware of the compliance requirements related to their position.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING:

  • As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:

  • Sub-award and Compliance Manager

NOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelors in business studies. 3+ years of relevant field or management experience of complex, multidimensionalprogramming including administering small grants in an international/local environment. Experience in sub awards design, negotiation, and administration is required. Proven success managing the administration and compliance of US government funding, particularly with the management of large USAID funded sub award mechanisms of a comparable size. Proven experience managing complex teams in difficult environments. Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate and defend Mercy Corps’ interests with a diverse range of international and local organizations and other groups. Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary. Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required. Experience working in complex political environments, and accordingly under dramatically more complex USG regulations. Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid understanding of financial and procurement systems. Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

  • A successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving and a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. S/he will be able to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, a knowledge of procurement and tendering and a curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures are all essential.

SIGNATURES:

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Employee                                                                                                                                  Date

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Supervisor                                                                                                                                Date

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To the extent possible under law, Mercy Corps has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this document.

Overview

Category Administrative / Management
Openings 2
Experience 3+ years
Education B. Com./BBS
Posted Date 08 Oct, 2015
Apply Before 19 Oct, 2015
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