Senior Compliance & Grants Officer

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world. DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

USAID BIODIVERSITY

Scope of Work

USAID Biodiversity will conserve nature, enhance human well-being, and safeguard Nepal’s biodiversity to improve the health of ecosystems, fight environmental crime, and improve the ability of communities to prepare for and adapt to impacts caused by climate change and natural disasters. The activity will achieve measurable conservation targets within the biodiversity-rich, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems in and around the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, Kailash Sacred Landscape, Terai Arc Landscape, and the proposed Karnali Conservation Landscape while increasing resilience to climate change and contributing to the inclusive and sustainable development of the Nepali people. To accomplish this, USAID Biodiversity will implement activities aligned with three mutually interrelated and reinforcing objectives: Improve the health of ecosystems (Objective 1), Strengthen environmental crime control and natural resource safeguards (Objective 2), and enhance the climate resilience of natural and human systems (Objective 3).

1. Objectives of the assignment 

The Sr. Compliance and Grants Officer is responsible for supporting USAID Biodiversity operations and grants by ensuring adherence to USAID, DAI and Nepali rules, regulations, and law. This position requires proven experience and knowledge of FAR, USAID ADS, AIDAR, Nepali regulatory bodies and laws and ability to rapidly learn DAI grants management, financial management, procurement, and operational procedures.  S/he will report to the Director of Operations and provide support to the Senior Action Fund Manager, thereby ensuring compliance across the grants (“Action Fund”) portfolio, ensuring financial records, beneficiary, records, grant inventory, and grant closeouts are properly undertaken and managed in the project’s Grants Management system in TAMIS. In addition, s/he will support the Director of Operations and other senior management with the review of operational (finance, procurement, HR, logistics) records for compliance, and partaking in any investigations as requested by senior management or DAI’s Home Office.

2.  Tasks & Responsibilities

• Engages fully in new grant development, ensuring compliance in the identification of grant beneficiaries, the management of the process setting up new grants, the grant award, and the management and proper close-out of said award.
• Continually reviews grants records and other operational records (including procurement, subcontract, inventory, finance, human resources, logistics management records) to ensure these activities are carried out according to USAID regulations, and DAI policies and procedures.
• Prepares monthly reports for senior management highlighting any errors or compliance findings in grants administration and management.
• Oversees the grants inventory, ensuring records and reporting are completed in a timely manner, and manages all grant inventory dispositions.
• Conducts periodic internal reviews of finance, grants, procurement, inventory, stock management, fleet/fuel management and personnel files and records to ensure that procedures are followed.
• Establishes a regular audit schedule for other operational records and provides reports for other operational department heads on the findings in each discipline. 
  • Finance vouchers and finance reports, invoice, and payment workflows
  • Procurement Purchase Records
  • Property leases and payments
  • Subcontract records and invoices
  • Grants administration and grants records in TAMIS (project administration system)
  • Consultant engagement records
  • Inventory records
  • Stock Management records
  • Fuel consumption records and Fleet logs
  • Participant per diem and event attendance sheets
• Supports the Inventory Custodian with annual USAID inventory reporting.
• Advises on any corrective measures required, be it via memoranda, training, procedure adjustments, etc.
• Maintains full documentation of all compliance activities, including complaints received, investigations undertaken and final outcomes.
• Ensures transparent grants procedures and audit-ready grants records.
• Advises all department heads on compliant record keeping.
• Maintains the Project Record Map.
• Acts as the Field FOM Administrator, ensuring that the Field Operations manual is kept up to date, including any critical updates issued by DAI’s Home Office.
• Serves as a confidential point of contact for employees to seek clarification on compliance issues or report irregularities.
• Consults with counterparts at DAI’s HO, ensures all compliance guidelines and procedures remain up to date, and provides training on compliance-related topics, policies, and procedures.
• Serves as liaison and support for internal/external audits, coordinates action plans to close out audit findings.
• Supports investigations as required, ensuring timely completion of investigations and proactive status updates with key stakeholders, while also respecting staff discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
• Provides general assistance to the Senior Action Fund Manager in grants tracking and TAMIS grants administration.
• Provides progress reports and compliance updates to DOO once per quarter.
• Performs other duties assigned by his/her supervisor or designer.

3.  Qualifications 

• University degree in relevant field required.
• Work experience of at least 6 years with a master’s degree, or 10 years with a Bachelor's degree in related field. Subtract one year of relevant experience—5 years with MA or 9 years with BA—for persons of excluded groups.
• Demonstrated experience in USAID contracting, compliance and grants, and other USG international regulations.
• Strong communication abilities, and experience working with diverse partners. 
• Excellent English writing, speaking, and reading skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office software.

Application link:

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/iyg0yfh5zl/index

Application instructions:

Please select the position for which you are interested in applying for, fill out the required information and upload your CV. Only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on the next steps.

Interested candidates should submit their application no later than June 29, 2023. 

Women and persons from excluded groups are encouraged to apply.

Consistent with DAI’s commitment to attracting and retaining staff from all races, ethnicities, castes and backgrounds, DAI may adjust eligibility requirements to allow for applicants from excluded groups.  In these cases, the Scope of Work and vacancy announcement will clearly indicate the minimum requirements according to the Country Compensation Plan as well as the revised minimum requirements for applicants representing an excluded group. DAI promotes workforce diversity and in Nepal, DAI considers excluded groups to be women, Dalits, indigenous ethnic minority groups, Madhesi, Muslim, persons with disabilities, people living in remote areas, and sexual and gender minorities.