Senior Grant Compliance Manager

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

The Grants and Contracts Unit (GCU) provides support to Mercy Corps’ Country Office and Global Support Team operations, including financial, program, and administrative staff, on donor regulations compliance along with related internal policy compliance. GCU also provides primary support for the subaward administration function, with an emphasis on drafting compliant subaward agreements and modifications.  GCU supports grant compliance and subawards through a three-part strategy of expert technical guidance, training, and grant compliance and subaward resources.  Our mission is to increase the level of knowledge and the availability of tools and resources to promote the highest possible standards of financial accountability, transparency, efficiency, and donor compliance.

General Position Summary

The Senior Grant Compliance Manager (SGCA) focuses on providing expert technical guidance, training and support to Mercy Corps’ country office and Global Support Team operations, including financial, program and administrative staff, on donor regulations compliance along with related internal policy compliance.  Each SGCA provides this support to their assigned countries/regions and in addition has responsibility for assigned compliance focus areas and related projects. Responsibilities include direct compliance support to field and HQ teams, including direct support for complex programs, enhanced compliance support for proposals and awards that are higher value/have complicating factors and staying current on donor regulations. The SGCA will also participate in matrixed teams, share and build the capacity of others, and help integrate their technical areas with others. Compliance focus area for this position is managing the grant compliance resources program.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Grant Compliance (for Assigned Countries/Regions):

• Act as the primary “GCU Compliance Help Desk” function.  This function entails serving as a resource for and providing counsel to the International Finance team, Program team and country offices, in reviewing grant agreements and other compliance-related documents. Be available to answer and/or research compliance related questions from applicable International Finance, the Program Department and country office teams. Escalate issues as needed to GCU Director.
• Provide risk-based enhanced compliance support for higher value or higher effort awards from proposal to close-out, including leading the negotiation of award terms, leading the resolution of compliance issues with donor and guidance on tracking compliance requirements.
• As assigned, perform periodic compliance monitoring of specific procedures or areas related to country operations.
• Travel to country offices to lead or assist with country specific compliance projects, including compliance trainings.
• Lead or assist with audit responses related to compliance in coordination with the GCU, Legal and International Finance teams.  Deploy to the field to assist in the gathering of documentation or to support in-country audits as needed, as assigned.
• Attend Internal Audit Action Plan review meetings when there are applicable grant compliance issues.
• Lead workshop sessions for the Worldwide, Global Support and Complex Program US Government Regulations trainings as assigned.
• As assigned by supervisor, provide virtual and in-person “compliance surge support” for country programs during times of increased programmatic demand.

Complex Programs (for Assigned Countries/Regions):

• Serve as the primary GCU representative on the Complex Program Board for specific programs/awards and assist Global Support and country teams in supporting Complex Programs by providing regulation interpretation, advice and guidance throughout the cycle of the Complex Program.
• Review and participate in negotiation of donor agreements, including reviewing internal comments, summarizing issues, and reviewing/drafting final response letter(s) to the donor.
• Lead the delivery of in-country regulations training or other start-up activities for new US Government funded Complex Programs.
• Develop and assist the country offices in managing the program specific compliance tracker.
• Advise on or assist in drafting compliance related requests for approval to donors/funders of Complex Programs.
• Provide in-depth compliance assistance to program management and country teams with the design of innovative or new areas of program implementation to be compliant with donor regulations while achieving the desired outcome(s).
• Attend Complex Program Board meetings. As a part of this responsibility, maintain an in-depth knowledge of the program description, award terms and current status of the program through review of relevant documents.
• Advise on or assist with close-out activities to ensure compliance with the award terms.

Grant Compliance Resources

• Develop and manage, in coordination with the GCU Director, an overall grant compliance resource program.

• Establish and manage a web-based information center for donor compliance information.

• Design and create new compliance guides and templates as need arises, and maintain existing compliance templates for changes in regulations.

• Responsible for overseeing the grant award review and approval process, including applicable resources, and provide targeted training to address deficiencies. Coach other team members on approaches and methodologies for negotiating terms with donor representatives.

• Lead or assist with compliance related special projects, such as the researching of new donor requirements, supporting donor inquiries or responses, or developing compliance systems, as assigned.

• For new compliance resource initiatives, in coordination with the GCU Director, lead or serve on team designing system, policy, procedure and developing manuals, as need.

• As assigned, upon establishment of a new compliance resource, responsible for supporting and ensuring resource is functioning as intended.

Other:

• In coordination with the GCU Director, create and/or deliver other grant compliance training and/or programs, such as periodic webinars.
• In coordination with the Subaward Compliance Managers (SCMs) and the GCU Director , provide backstopping support for departmental subaward responsibilities, including drafting and negotiating subaward agreements and modifications based on agreed procedures, reviewing pre-award assessments and audit reports, and other support.
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director, Grants and Contracts Unit

Works Directly With: Country office personnel, including Country Finance Managers, Country Directors and Program Managers; International Finance; Regional Program Team; Internal Audit; Global Procurement & Logistics; and Accounting.

Knowledge and Experience

• This position requires a BA/S or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Five to eight years of progressive grant management experience in a medium to large international organization, including responsibility for grant management, compliance systems, and subaward administration, is required.
• An advanced knowledge of the rules and regulations governing the management of US Government grants (particularly USAID, Dept. of State and USDA) and other donor-funded grants is required.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial reporting, accounting systems, budget development and administration is required.
• Effective verbal and written communication, analytical, organizational and prioritization skills as well as presentation skills are necessary.
• Employment overseas and experience working for an NGO with high levels of USAID funding is preferred.
• Fluency in English is required; fluency in a foreign language (such as Arabic, French, Spanish) preferred.

Success Factors

Managerwill demonstrate significant experience with the regulations of MCG’s major donors. Proven ability to successfully communicate concepts, procedures and objectives and initiate and maintain positive and productive relationships with country office staff, program staff and donor agencies is necessary.  The ability to read, understand and interpret detailed award terms and conditions as well as maintain a detailed knowledge of the regulations will be a critical success factor.  A high level of attention to detail in all aspects of his/her work is a necessity.  The Managermust be able to conduct themselves with a high degree of integrity and objectivity while also working towards an overall objective of positively promoting compliance. Through significant experience with MCG’s major donors, the Managerwill be able to advise and coach other Mercy Corps staff on how to respond to and/or negotiate with donors on regulations issues. Managermust demonstrate the drive and initiative to contribute to internal team efforts.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

Some travel (up to approximately 25-30%) may be required to field locations, including program locations that may include insecure or harsh environments.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.