Grants and Partnerships Manager

USAID FTF Kenya Private Sector Activity (KPSA)

Company Profile :

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities, and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental, and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organization, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran, or marital status.

Position Description: 

Palladium is seeking a Grants and Partnership Manager for an anticipated USAID-funded economic growth program which is anticipated to begin in 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Feed the Future (FtF) Private Sector Activity (KPSA) will be a 5-year program focused on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle.  The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach. For more information on the potential project, please consult the RFI: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338564 .

Duration: 5 years (anticipated start in July 2023)
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Roles and Responsibilities:

Manage grants administration, compliance and implementation procedures, and ensure compliance with USAID grants regulations, including procurement regulationsFacilitate and coordinate technical design of innovative grant and partnership approaches to meet the technical strategies of the Inclusive Business Model, Financial Institutions and Business Advisory Service Providers teamsSupport designing and conducting grants solicitation and advertisements utilizing Palladium’s Pay for Results methodologies
Support the design, planning, outreach, implementation, and maintenance of partnerships for KPSA, including with internal and external partnersManage grants commitments, taking into account probability-weighted pipelines and other tools to manage grant agreements against obligated amountsEnsure design of grants and partnerships are aligned with the project’s technical strategy and results-based methodology and in compliance with USAID rules and regulationsFacilitate pre-award risk assessments of grantees and partnerships and the maintenance of meetings and workshops with partners
In accordance with Palladium’s USAID-approved Grants Under Contract (GUC) manual, develop and execute all aspects of the GUC process, including development of the GUC manualSupport designing, preparing, and negotiating partner strategies with internal staff and potential partnersAssist in negotiating, in collaboration with Palladium HQ, grant terms and agreements, with potential grantees Facilitate and manage grants close out and final reportingOther tasks as deemed necessary 

Position Requirements:

Knowledge of USAID grants policies, procedures, and reporting requirementsBachelor’s degree in business administration, finance or a related field in international business management, finance, accounting and/or auditing experienceExperience in managing grants under contract for USAID-funded programs of a similar sizeExperience in managing innovation grants, performance-based grants, or other mechanisms to algin performance incentives with an activity’s strategic objectivesExperience in managing partnerships, interacting with stakeholders, collaborating on meetings and workshops, and overseeing partnership activitiesPrior experience in a management role on a USAID funded program highly desiredExperience managing staffDemonstrated experience coordinating and collaborating with various stakeholders and grant awardeesAdvanced knowledge of computers and MS ExcelLocal Kenyan candidates are preferredWritten and oral proficiency in English required