SCOPE OF WORK

USAID Jordan Public Financial Management and Administration Activity (PFMA)

Grants Specialist

1.   PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Jordan Public Financial Management Activity (PFMA) aims to work in partnership with USAID/Jordan and the Government of Jordan (GOJ) to improve Jordan’s revenue system and enhance their budget management process. PFMA will build the capacity of the Jordanian Ministry of Finance and other government institutions to modernize the revenue collection system, encourage compliance—including making it easier for taxpayers to comply with tax obligations—upgrade public procurement management, and improve budget planning, preparation, and execution. Key objectives include: 1) improving the revenue raising system; 2) streamlining the budget management process; 3) optimizing public expenditure management; and 4) implementing crosscutting Public Financial Management reforms such as interventions to address COVID-19. Through a combination of technical assistance, capacity building, and facilitation, tangible and measurable results are expected during the anticipated five-year duration of the activity.

2.   POSITION PURPOSE

The Grants Specialist will play a role in managing and implementing the project’s grants guided by the PFMA work plan. The Grants Specialist will support the design and management of the grants funds. S/he will be responsible for adherence to the project’s Field Operations Manual (FOM), Grants Manual, USAID regulations, contract requirements and limitations, grant policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems. The individual will proactively coordinate with all staff on planning and implementing grants through open communication, proactive market research, and price analysis.

3.   KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Management:

·       Ensures that all grants activity follows the approved Grants Manual and complies with all regulations, policies, and procedures.

·       Responsible for providing training, guidance, and direction to project grants staff and other project departments (technical, MEL, Operations and Communications) on planning, implementation, and compliance of grant policies, procedures, responsibilities, and instructions.

·       Responsible for ensuring documentation requirements are met for Grants with various project departments, i.e., technical, grants, procurement, MEL, communications, and finance.

Planning, Implementation, and Compliance:

·       Oversees the grants management of the project, including managing the full award cycle for grants, from solicitation to close out.

·       Participates in work planning and activity planning to align the grants program with overall project activities.

·       Leads the development of timeline and details required for any activities needing grants; conduct market search and price analysis in coordination with technical and procurement staff.

·       Prepares Request for Applications (RFAs) or other Notices of Funding or collaborative design opportunities to solicit applications/concepts and assess the capacity and readiness of potential grantees.

·       Manages the evaluation and selection committee process for grantees.

·       Provides input into and feedback on draft partnerships descriptions (grant agreement SOWs) and milestones, ensures quality control of grant agreement SOWs (especially the milestones), and drafts the means of verification for milestones.

·       Prepares the required approvals to ensure compliance with internal and external contract and policy requirements.

·       Conducts all due diligence processes for verification of the information submitted by possible grantees.

·       Ensures all grant budget estimates meet the standards of allowability, allocability, cost reasonableness, and consistency.

·       Prepares grant agreements and amendments, explaining terms, conditions, roles, and responsibilities. Ensures that identified weaknesses in initial grantee assessments and related requirements are incorporated into the agreements explicitly/clearly with the required monitoring and actions on the part of the grantee and PFMA.

·       Provides an initial orientation for and perform field visits to grantees, as well as manages the provision of adequate support, training, and capacity development for grantee management and compliance with USAID regulations.

·       Ensures post award grant management in accordance with relevant regulations and generates reports of status of grant activities, such as forecasting payment, inventory, amendments, close outs, and sector specific data (i.e., monthly and quarterly reporting).

·       Maintains a grant monitoring system that, at minimum, tracks the following: 1) number of funded activities and dollar amounts; 2) type of organization; 3) activity type; 4) cost-sharing; and 5) development impact among others.

·       Supports the technical, M&E and Communications teams in monitoring the work of grantees in agreement with USAID and DAI policies and regulations.

·       Coordinates with Finance and Technical Teams to ensure on-time deliverables, payments, and cash flow requests by monitoring milestones and payment schedules.

·       Manages the grant closeout procedures, including disposition plans (as applicable).

4.   QUALIFICATIONS

·       Bachelor’s degree in business or related field is required.

·       At least 5 years of professional experience in grants management with experience in USAID grants management preferred.

·       Proven knowledge of USAID Automated Directive Systems and Federal Acquisition Regulations pertaining to grants under contract, subcontracts, and procurement.

·       Proven ability to lead award processes and multi-stakeholder discussions for driving the evolution of program descriptions and/or scopes of work from solicitation to activity closeout.

·       Excellent writing and communications skills with particular experience in developing justifications for contracts and grants award documentation; and data-driven tracking and reporting for grants and subcontracts management.

·       Proven experience managing a small team or demonstrated leadership within a team.

·       Ability to solve complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluation options based on relevant information.

·       Previous experience with DAI policies, procedures, and systems (TAMIS) preferred.

·       Strong communication skills - both written and oral – in English and Arabic.