Mercy Corps Sub-Grants Coordinator ( PROGRESS Programme) Job in Nairobi

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. 

Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. 

Mercy Corps is looking for a committed and dynamic individual to take up the following position:

Sub-Grants Coordinator, PROGRESS Programme - Nairobi
 

Programme / Department Summary: The PROGRESS Sub-Grants Coordinator will play a critical role in the successful implementation of a proposed multi-year project as part of DFID’s BRACED initiative (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters). Mercy Corps anticipates a programme award under BRACED to implement the “Programme for Resilient Systems” (PROGRESS).

If awarded, PROGRESS will be comprised of a multi-partner consortium poised to deliver a 36-month initiative designed to build absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacity of more than 500,000 individual households in northern Kenya (Wajir and Garissa) and northern Uganda (Karamoja). 

The Kenya-based F&A Manager will play a key role in implementation of the entire program.
 

General Position Summary: The Sub-Grants Coordinator oversees the inner workings of the PROGRESS Consortium partner agreements and sub-grant resources to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps systems, donor compliance requirements, and overall efficient grant management with the aim of timely deliverables, milestones and value-for-money efforts.
 

Essential Job Functions:
 

Program Implementation:

• Oversee and coordinate management of sub-grant agreements and financial management of sub-grants
• Review and track expenses and proper documentation as per Mercy Corps procedures and donor requirements for record keeping and accountancy
• Responsible for processing of sub-grants and issuance of payments, transfers and transactions between PROGRESS consortium members as well as locally engaged partners.
• Oversee pre-award and post-award activities include asset control, timely reporting and contract fulfilment to check against payment
• Work with PROGRESS Finance and Administration Manager to track budget and expenditures vis-à-vis sub-grant awards and ensure proper reporting, documentation and overall deliverables are reviewed by Senior Management and signed off on prior to issuance of payment.
• Ensure consistency across sub-grantees on basic provisions and highlight issues that could be viewed as bias or discrepancies.
• Provide regular reports on progress, issues, recommendations that need to be considered for operational adjustment

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting: Work with the PROGRESS Senior Management, M&E and finance staff in Nairobi and home office to ensure that PROGRESS deliverables are aligned with value-for-money objectives and that financial milestones are proportionate to program milestones.

Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building:  

• Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of personnel at all levels. 
• Implement, and ensure all staff are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback. 
• Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff do the same. 
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Program Support Operations: Ensure that PROGRESS financial systems are efficient and are based on smooth-running infrastructure that facilitate timely and efficient program implementation. Provide regular review of field operations to ensure cost-effectiveness and provide guidance on improved operational practices for value-for-money.
 

Security: Work with field office management teams to establish financial reporting and management systems that ensure the safety and security of PROGRESS financial resources including cash assets and records.

Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Supervisory Responsibility: None
 

Accountability: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
 

Reports Directly To: Finance and Administration Manager
 

Works Directly With: Kenya and Uganda Country Directors and finance teams, Kenya and Uganda PROGRESS Programme Managers, Sub-Grants Coordinator and Sub-Grants Officer, and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, Master’s preferred
• Minimum 5 years’ experience with grant management, including pre- and post-award management, financial analysis, budgeting and experience with DFID compliance requirements.
• Excellent organizational skills with close attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills- oral and written.
• Must be able to work in a cross-cultural environment with strong diplomacy and negotiating skills.

Success Factors:
 

The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:

• A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.
• Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
• Excellent analytical and information management skills.
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
• Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
• Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
• A focus on building staff capacity.

NB: All the positions are pending approval of our PROGRESS program by the donor.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before October 27th, 2014 containing a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org. 

The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for.