Social Solutions International, Inc. (Social Solutions) is a Hispanic and woman-owned business emphasizing quality research and evaluation, training and technical assistance, and institutional support services. We are a mission-driven organization that believes that superior science can improve the world. Social Solutions is dedicated to the creation of social and health solutions to improve the welfare of underserved populations worldwide.

Social Solutions is a large, thriving business with a fun atmosphere that encourages creativity, new ideas, and employee health and well-being. We put our employees first and use empathetic leadership, taking a genuine interest in our employees’ lives and the challenges they face in and out of the workplace. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are integral to our company culture, and we are continuously striving to enhance our DEIA efforts across our company. You will feel like a contributing member of a growing team and company that has flexibility to enhance processes and procedures quickly to improve performance and growth. We help our employees carve out a professional pathway that has mutual benefits for them and Social Solutions. 

• Submit CV and cover letter to info@pacificamerican.fund with the following:

• Email subject line: Grants Manager Candidate - First Name Last Name
• CV File Name: Grants Manager_First Name Last Name_CV
• Cover Letter File Name: Grants Manager_First Name Last Name_Cover letter

Social Solutions International Inc. is seeking a seasoned professional to serve as the Grants Manager. This is a key-personnel, senior-level international or local hire position with a significant management and leadership role in implementing the Pacific American Fund. The Grants Manager will be leading and managing the grantmaking facility and grantee capacity-building activity with people-management responsibility for up to 5-6 Grants Specialists, in addition to short-term external consultants who will serve as advisors for staff augmentation purposes. The Grants Manager reports to the Chief of Party and the position is based in Suva, Fiji Islands.

Social Solutions is implementing the Pacific American Fund under direct contract with USAID. The Pacific American Fund is a $35 million, 5-year regional grantmaking facility funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and operates across 12 Pacific Island countries. The Pacific American Fund provides and monitors grants to civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other eligible entities addressing a wide range of development challenges across the Pacific region. Administration of the Pacific American Fund grantmaking facility entails preparing and issuing solicitations, reviewing proposals, awarding grants, monitoring and evaluating grant performance, monitoring, and auditing financial reports, ensuring due diligence and compliance with USAID rules and regulations, closing out grants, and reporting to USAID. The Pacific American Fund team provides organizational capacity-building to local sub-grantees to ensure proper stewardship of USG funding and improved organizational and financial management of local partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Program-level Strategy: Strategically lead and manage the Pacific American Fund's grantmaking facility

• Update grantmaking policies and procedures for award solicitation, award execution, grant management, and capacity building support for grantees.
• Improve processes for effective grant management

• Award Solicitations

• Write USAID-compliant award solicitation to include programmatic focus, evaluation criteria, grant application requirements, etc.
• Project manage the solicitation process from solicitation announcement, grant application submission coordination, technical evaluation coordination and analysis, preparing the Grants Review Board presentation, and feedback notification to grant applicants.
• Project manage award processing adhering to USAID ADS 302 and 303.

• Grant Management: Provide oversight to manage a $20M grant portfolio with 20-30 awards

• Project manage the Grants Team to monitor grant performance for prompt grant payment processing, required plans and document approval, and fixed-fee deliverable documentation;
• Provide quality control and manage capacity building support to grantees to ensure timely submission of well-written Quarterly/Annual Performance Reports that adhere to reporting requirements and templates;
• Provide quality control oversight to the Grants Team to ensure that grant payment requests are properly checked for required documentation and that payment reimbursements adhere to the project budget as established in the award agreement;
• Liaise with the Finance Team to efficiently process grant payment requests
• Liaise with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Team to ensure that grantees develop MEL Plans that effectively capture the impact of their activity;
• Liaise with the Strategic Communications Lead to develop grant activity communications collateral, and promptly document grant activities that require notification to USAID such as workshops and training delivered by grantees, VIP site visits, etc.

• People Management: Manage up to 5-6 Grants Specialists as well as short-term consultants

• Develop job descriptions/roles & responsibilities;
• Coach staff toward effective grants management, and 
• Perform standard HR duties (i.e., annual performance appraisals, implementing performance improvement plans, timesheet and leave approvals, etc.);

• Reporting

• Lead Grants Team contribution to PAF Quarterly/Annual Performance Reports and other contract deliverables

• Finance

• Support Finance Team with grant payment schedules for budget forecasting

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• At least 5-7 years of proven experience in leading and administering an international development grants program in similar depth and breadth as the Pacific American Fund (approximately $20M value and 20-30 grants under management);
• A bachelors or graduate degree in international relations/development, public policy/administration, business administration, finance, accounting, economics, law, or another directly relevant field; 
• Intimate understanding of various funding agencies and US government regulations and procedures, namely direct experience applying USAID regulations and procedures in grantmaking and the grantmaking process in accordance with USAID ADS 303saj, and USAID ADS 303mak, including issuing grant solicitations, conducting pre-award assessments, awarding grants, managing grants, and providing capacity building to grantees;
• Proficiency and hands-on experience in 2 or more technical sectors (i.e. climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity/conservation, fisheries, social entrepreneurship, etc.);
• Meticulous and able to perform independently with minimum supervision;
• Curious, inquisitive mindset with the ability to take a common sense approach to grant management;
• Logical and methodical mindset to adhere to standardized processes, templates, and record-keeping to withstand an audit;
• Exceptional computer skills and proficiency in Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides or Microsoft equivalent;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Development and community engagement experience as well as capacity building abilities and in-depth understanding of local CSOs and NGOs; 
• Diplomatic skills and cultural and political sensitivities; 
• Strong experience with performance management and measurement systems; 
• Direct experience working in the Pacific region would be an added strength; and 
• Knowledge of a local Pacific language. 

Social Solutions offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at www.socialsolutions.biz.

Social Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.