Grants and Contracts Officer
USAID FTF Kenya Private Sector Activity (KPSA)
Project Overview and Role:
Palladium is seeking a Grants & Contracts Officer for an anticipated USAID-funded economic growth program which is anticipated to begin in 2023. The Contracts Assistant will assist the effort to manage all USAID subaward contracts under KPSA to ensure that subaward activities are carried out in compliance with USAID and Palladium policies and procedures.
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 .
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Assist in conducting contract and subaward solicitations and advertisements.
Support competitive procurement processes, draft agreements, and develop related subaward documentation.
Assist in the dissemination of contract and subaward Review Guidelines for evaluators, including scoring formats.
Conduct due diligence and aid the negotiation of agreements with sub awardees.
Support the administration, compliance, and implementation procedures of subawards, and ensure compliance with USAID grants regulations including procurement regulations.
Assist fund transfers after reviewing financial reports and ensuring compliance with subaward agreements (in coordination with technical staff).
Maintain grants records in the grants management system
Maintain subcontracts and consultant registry
Conduct tracking and reporting, ensuring timely usage of funds as per annual work plans
Provide guidance to sub awardees for the Branding and Marking Plan and Monitoring and Evaluation of grant implementation practices.
Provide feedback or inputs into grants under contract manual as required.
Support contract and subaward close out and final reporting
Any and all other project-related tasks as required by the Chief of Party and Palladium HQ
Required Qualifications:
Degree in relevant subject (Business, Economics, Finance, Procurement, etc.)
Experience in contracts, subawards, or grants management
Experience in grants solicitation or subcontract procurement solicitation or management.
Microsoft Office Suite proficiency and the ability to operate spreadsheet and word-processing programs at a highly proficient level
Proactive problem-solving, decision-making, and good judgement skills
Attention to detail and ability to perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities effectively and efficiently
Ability to communicate effectively with managers, colleagues, service providers, and clients
Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded programs of a similar size preferred
Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements preferred
Experience working for large donor organizations such as USAID preferred
Local Kenyan candidates are preferred
Written and oral proficiency in English required
Company Overview:
About Palladium - 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 governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.
Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.