Management Systems International is hiring for Grants Officer

Grants Officer, USAID/OTI Moldova Program, Chișinău 

Company Profile:  

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com. 

Project Summary:   

Working in close coordination with USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), MSI will establish and manage a flexible, quick-response mechanism supporting activities that will advance democracy and stability in Moldova. USAID/OTI and MSI will work with a coalition of civic, media, and government stakeholders in support of program goals. The program will operate primarily through a small grants mechanism and will rely on ongoing analysis of the local context to inform programming. 

**Please note: Only Moldovan citizens are eligible for this position** 

Position Summary:  

The Grants Officer (GO) is primarily responsible for the development of grant budgets, implementation plans, and grant agreements, working under the supervision of the Grants Manager (GM) and Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP). The GO will serve as grantees’ primary point of contact for review of deliverables and closeout of grants. The GO will also support grantees in the development of budgets and implementation plans, review and approve deliverables, and ensure compliance with USAID and MSI regulations. This is a long-term assignment. 

Responsibilities:  

• Liaise with communities and/or counterparts within government entities in assigned geographic area to assist the Program Development Officer (PDO) with the development of activities and guide the implementation of projects; develop and maintain transparent, friendly, open, and professional relationships with local counterparts, beneficiaries, and other international organizations, as well as local and national authorities. 
• Provide weekly updates on grant implementation to the rest of the program team, utilizing the activity database, meetings and other tools. 
• Create and edit budgets for grant agreements in coordination with the PDO. 
• Review and adjust grant budgets in consultation with the procurement team. 
• Ensure proper negotiation of the terms and conditions for Grants Under Contract (both cash and in-kind) and review and analyse budget estimates (for cash or in-kind grants) for allocability, reasonableness and consistency. 
• Ensure the proper preparation and execution of grant documents and grant disbursements consistent and compliant with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and MSI requirements, procedures and best practices.
• Track any changes in the financial needs of an activity and modify budgets as necessary using the activity database. 
• Complete excluded party verifications and Memoranda of Negotiation (MN). 
• Maintain accurate and timely program and grant documentation in electronic, hard copy and back-up copies, and ensure that completed grants are closed in a timely manner according to deadlines. 
• Support the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist with data collection, as needed, and with contributions to the final evaluation reports.  
• Review all grantee deliverables, with the support of the PDO, for the final approval by the DCOP for grant close out. 
• Have constant and close communication with the Program Team in anticipation of contingencies.  
• In coordination with the GM, DCOP and Procurement Officer, ensure that all grants are managed in response to overall program needs.  
• This position reports to GM and/or DCOP but works as part of the Program Team (consisting of the PDO, GO, and Procurement Officer) under the PDO’s overall strategic leadership.  

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required. 
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in developing and managing grants design, including compliance oversight required. 
• Knowledge of donor agency policies and business practices and direct experience managing the finances and administration preferred. 
• Willingness to learn new systems and dedication to compliance required.  
• Excellent communication skills as well as: a) proactive problem-solving abilities independently and with teams, b) a strong service orientation, and c) inter-personal skills, self-awareness and emotional intelligence. 
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously under pressure in a stressful environment and with colleagues from different cultural and professional backgrounds. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English is required. 

MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work. 

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs. 

MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer. 

Reasonable Accommodations: 

MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates. 

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.  

To apply: Please visit our website, www.msiworldwide.com