Oti Lebanon Grants Specialist

The OTI Lebanon project is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID),  through a contract with Chemonics International.  The project grants to a variety of institutions, including international and Lebanese NGOs, community based organizations, governmental entities, or informal groups, to implement project activities.  The program is currently implementing small-scale infrastructure projects, repair and rehab of private and public facilities and small-scale water and sanitation projects. The program is seeking an Engineer who will serve as Procurement Specialist but also oversee the above mentioned projects.  The Grants Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring that these grants are implemented rapidly and effectively, in full compliance with USAID and Chemonics regulations and policies. The Grants Specialist will be the primary party responsible for the implementation of grant activities, working in coordination with other team members including the Chief of Party, Operations Manager, OTI Country Representative, Senior Transition Advisor, Project Development Specialist, Procurement Specialist, and Finance Specialist.  Responsibilities:  Assist in the design, development and implementation and program monitoring and evaluation of grant-making and grants management policies, procedures, and practices, in coordination with the Chief of Party, Operations Manager, and other staff. Provide policy guidance and interpretation for other Lebanon Civic Initiative project staff involved in grant making and grants management as well as sub-grantees. Analyze and evaluate grant applications, proposals and grant agreement/award documents to ensure adherence to established grants management policies. Ensure proper negotiation of the terms and conditions for sub-grants (both cash and in-kind) and review and analyze budget estimates (for cash or in-kind grants) for allocability, reasonableness, and consistency. Under the direction of the Chief of Party and Operations Manager, ensure full compliance with the policies, practices and procedures relating to all aspects of grants under the Lebanon Civic Initiative project, discussed in the Activity Management Guide. This includes specific procedures relating to grant solicitation and selection, grant awards, grant implementation, grant monitoring and evaluation and grant close-outs. Ensure the proper preparation and execution of grant documents and grant disbursements consistent and compliant with USAID and Chemonics requirements, procedures and best practices. Documentation required will include items such as negotiation memos, grant activity forms, branding and marking plans, or others. In coordination with the Finance Specialist and Procurement Specialist, assess recipient capabilities related to activity implementation and advise them on how to enhance them. In coordination with the Finance Specialist and Procurement Specialist, analyze, assess, and assist with budgetary and financial aspects of grant proposals, recipient financial management capacities and planning for implementation/procurement and cash disbursement needs for grants implementation throughout the life of the project. The Grants Specialist will work with other team members to ensure adequate cash flow for grant activities throughout their implementation. Ensure effective liaison between project staff and grant recipients; provide project grant recipients with technical advice and assistance in areas such as financial management, and financial sustainability, procurement requirements and implementation planning. Work under the supervision of the Chief of Party, and in close coordination with the Operations Manager, Project Development Officers, Finance Specialist, Procurement Specialist, OTI Country Representative, and other team members on all matters relating to grants. Qualifications: Strong management and administrative skills, preferably with respect to managing cash and in-kind grants. Good analytical ability and knowledge of community-based organizations and an up-to-date understanding and knowledge of political and social conditions inLebanon. Demonstrated experience in assessing recipient organizations’ grant-worthiness, as well as their financial, administrative and program planning capacities. Patience, good humor, and an ability to get along well with people in a team, sometimes in demanding and/or busy circumstances. Experience and/or good understanding of donor organizations. Field experience with NGOs preferably inLebanon, and experience in, monitoring and evaluating field projects, and ability/willingness to travel throughout the country on a regular basis. At least three years relevant experience in the management and administration of grants and/or donor-funded projects, such as activity management, financial management, procurement, and/or sub-contracting. Demonstrated experience in activity management focused on ensuring that procurement, finance, logistics, and programmatic aspects are being implemented on-time and in accordance with the specifications of the approved activity. Familiarity with USAID Contract Management and Grants Management policies and procedures is desirable but experience with other donor funded projects will be accepted Ability to work in a professional and cordial manner with fellow staff members, visitors, partner institutions including international and local NGOs, governmental entities, support organizations, and the general public. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to prioritize multiple work assignments in an extremely fast-paced environment, to meet deadlines, and to exercise good, professional judgment that reflects positively on the image and communicates the established program message of the Chemonics and the Lebanon Civic Initiative program Ability to effectively use computer software including the Chemonics accounting software, the OTI Activity Database (training project provided by project), and word processing and spreadsheet applications. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in written form in both Arabic and English.