Multicountry Sub-Awards & Compliance Manager
Description
National Position only based in Amman, Jordan OR Beirut, Lebanon OR Aden, Yemen OR Erbil, IRAQ
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 solutionsinto action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)
Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the MENA/Europe region in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region. Mercy Corps has ongoing programs in Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.
Mercy Corps recently launched its new global ten-year strategy, “Pathway to Possibility,” which reflects our ambitions to not only meet basic needs of communities affected by conflict and climate, but to achieve lasting, transformational change at scale. Pathway to Possibility (P2P) includes a three-layers resilience approach at its core and aims to deliver impact through four key outcome areas: Food Security, Water Security, Economic Opportunity, and Peace and Good Governance. P2P is also driven by five organizational commitments on being climate smart; evidence-driven; safe, diverse and inclusive; locally-led; and innovative and creative.
As a result of recent funding disruptions, Mercy Corps’ MENA/Europe Leadership has decided to optimize resources and create efficiencies by creating a new structure for smaller country portfolios under the management of the regional team directly; namely Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen. This role is the product of this structural change decision.
The Position
The Sub-Award & Compliance Manager ensures and facilitates compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures, donor regulations and requirements for partners The successful candidate will work with team members and implementing partner(s) to ensure smooth, efficient and effective sub-granting process that adhere to Mercy Corps’ policy and donor regulations. The Sub-award & Compliance manager will support the efforts of capacity development of local organizations to meet finance and compliance requirements and develop professional processes and/or systems.
Essential Responsibilities
Subgrants Management
· Administer the partnership / sub-granting processes in accordance with MC subgrant manual. Including adapting MC processes for private sector Subgrants.
· Review, analyze and ensure financial pre-award assessments/and other due diligence are performed, recommend special conditions, modifications to the subgrant agreement and/or monitoring plan to lessen financial and compliance risks.
· Oversee the subgrants and modification process and make sure it is in accordance with relevant donor requirements and Mercy Corps policies.
· Make sure that our partner follows all special award conditions in subgrants.
· Follow with team the Monitoring and Verification of Partner Projects process and make sure that the different departments apply it.
· Review sub-grant financial reports prepared by his/her staff and supporting document and provide constructive feedback to beneficiaries and PM/ Finance Manager as necessary.
· Lead the development and maintenance of the compliance toolbox for subgrants.
· Lead with all aspects of audit preparation for Mercy Corps and partners audits and act as main focal point for compliance for subgrants.
· Make sure that the Sub-award financial management manual applies to all subgrants.
· Follow up on the internal audit action points related to sub-award and make sure that correction plan/actions are in place. · Conduct a Quarterly review or spot check on all the department internal controls & tools and communication gaps or area for improvement to the MCO finance and compliance manager.
Compliance
· Communicate in a timely fashion with HQ compliance on all compliance issues or concern for the department.
· Act as the main focal point between HQ compliance and MCO field for all Subgrants related. Also, make sure that field is getting the recent updates (Forms, Template agreement, processes…) by conducting periodic call with HQ.
· Review the compliance task force (budget review, due diligence review, drafting contracts…) and suggest changes and/or improvement plan to the MCO Senior Finance & Compliance Manager if needed.
· Support the MCO Senior Finance & Compliance Manager in the proposals by making sure all costs in partner budget are in line with donor’s rules and regulations.
· Support the MCO Senior Finance & Compliance Manager to identify solutions to issues that are compliant yet facilitate the achievement of organizational development objectives and partnership strategy.
· Support the MCO Sub-Award finance team with Partner Procurement Monitoring Forms and make sure they are applied.
· Develop and maintain a partnership compliance tracker / issues log.
Team Support & Capacity Development
· Support with guidance and training for partners and MCO subaward team.
· Provide tailored capacity development support to partners in relation to compliance matters in conjunction with other team focal points.
· Conduct Sub-Award compliance induction for new staff
· Lead the Sub-award compliance unit and make sure that all tasks are achieved and the team is serving to reach the program’s goals and objectives.
General
· Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission
· Other duties as assigned
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
● Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
● Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
● Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
Supervisory Responsibility
MCO Subaward team in Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and Jordan.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: MCO Senior Finance & Compliance Manager
Works Directly With: Sub-award Finance Officers across Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen and IRAQ, other Finance staff, Program team, HQ Compliance team, All Mercy Corps departments and staff as well as staff from partner(s) organizations.
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.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
· University Degree or Higher, ideally in field relating to law, business, finance (or other related subjects).
· Four or more years of experience working in Non-Governmental Organization, ideally focused on humanitarian relief.
· Experience in working with sub-grants, due diligence, internal controls, small grants, and/or contracts is required.
· Good understanding of structure and processes in NGOs.
· Very good understanding of USAID/USG, FCDO, ECHO, UN, GIZ regulations required.
· Working understanding of procurement, administration and finance systems.
· Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
· Effective verbal and written communication and good organizational skills.
· Commitment to local capacity building and experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
· Demonstrated familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
· Commitment to high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
· Arabic and English language written and spoken is essential; Excellent written English is desired.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will have proven experience of compliance-related matters and of working and communicating effectively with team members and others of varied work styles. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, and meet deadlines and a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. The successful candidate will be able to work independently or collaboratively as part of a team and with partners.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures and values at all times and venues, in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to not endanger Mercy Corps’ humanitarian mission.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in LOCATION, and it requires up to 15% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
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
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).