Grants Unit Manager

Macfadden is seeking a Supervisory Grants Specialist, in support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The Supervisory Grants Specialist is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all grants management functions. He/She will serve as the principle sourced of information and advice regional management officials on laws, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to grants management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for planning, directing, coordinating and managing all grants processing activities.
• Provide recommendations to senior management that significantly affect grants operations.
• Communicate assistance policies and procedures and significant changes through meetings, written documentation, and oral presentations.
• Perform a variety of supervisory functions to include assigning and supervising the activities of grant specialists.
• Serve as the principal point of contact for information/guidance on grants.
• Provide guidance in the interpretation of assistance award terms and conditions, and U.S. Government (USG) and non-USG regulations.

Essential Functions:

Pre-Award Functions:

• Collaborates in the development of evaluation criteria and assists in the preparation of statements of work.
• Prepares solicitation documents.
• Performs detailed analyses of all elements of cost in contractor proposals/applications. Determines the competitive range and prepares defensible justifications when required.
• Obtains appropriate data from business and technical officials. Issues necessary modifications to clarify questions concerning such topics as specification changes, language ambiguities, or clarification of contract/assistance clauses or subcontracts/sub-awards.
• Serves as lead negotiator responsible for a significant program or for major procurements, which may include several types of instruments.
• Prepares the award documents and recommends their execution.
• Negotiates Participating Agency Services Agreements (PASA) and Participating Agency Program Agreements (PAPA) in accordance with statutory and procedural regulations and general agreements with other Federal agencies.  Negotiations include prices, terms, special conditions, and amendments. Coordinates PASAs and PAPAs with officials in participating Federal agencies.

Post Award Administration:

• Conducts in-depth compliance review and evaluation of complex, unusual, or unprecedented contract/assistance actions requiring higher-level approval.
• Ensures that contract/assistance terms and conditions are met and that the contractor/recipient delivers the required goods or services in a timely manner to achieve the objectives of the Agency's projects and programs.
• Recommends issuing cure or show-cause notices when the contractor/recipient is not in compliance.
• Conducts analysis and prepares required documentation for various contracting/assistance actions, including: incremental funding, rate and cost adjustments, redirection of effort, time extension, incorporation of change orders, stop work orders, cure notices or show cause letters and award closeout.
• Interprets award provisions for awardees and for officials of the agency, and provides appropriate advice and guidance. Advises technical office counterparts and contractors /grantees/recipients on their administration responsibilities contained in the award.
• Terminates awards for the convenience of the Government or default by the awardee. The incumbent is responsible for the preparation of all documentation necessary to support and defend termination decisions. Negotiates termination claims settlement.

Education: Bachelor’s degree with 15 years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 12 years of relevant experience

Experience: Prior management experience; Experience that demonstrates pre-award negotiation skills and experience in making formal presentations and award administration

Skills:    

• Knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to grants management (Federal Acquisition Regulations, USAID Acquisition Regulations, Contract Information Bulletins, Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives, and USAID Automated Directive System)
• Demonstrated ability to lead team(s) and provide strategic advice on highly complex, time sensitive procurements.  Must be able to communicate complex and difficult policy and programmatic issues understandable by knowledgeable laypersons without oversimplifying.

U.S. Citizenship is required; selected candidate must be able to qualify for a government sponsored security clearance.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.  The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.