Project Overview and Role:

 The Kenya Feed the Future Private Sector Activity (KPSA) is a $48 million, USAID-funded, Palladium implemented project that will accelerate inclusive economic growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural firms, health firms and other sectors. Using a systems approach, KPSA will provide a suite of customized, high-impact services that increase the productivity of firms such as SMEs, smallholders, Business Advisory Service Providers (BASPs) and Financial Institutions (FIs), increase market linkages, and mobilize finance to support targeted sectors. From 2024 – 2029, KPSA will use its Inclusive Growth Platform to mobilize $400 million in finance, create new jobs, increase exports and sales, and increase access to healthcare services.

 The Senior Grants and Partnerships Manager manages administration, compliance, and implementation procedures of subawards, complying with USAID regulations and Palladium policies.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

 Roles and Responsibilities:


 Manage grants administration, compliance and implementation procedures, and ensure compliance with USAID grants regulations, including procurement regulations
 Facilitate and coordinate technical design of innovative grant and partnership approaches to meet the technical strategies of the Inclusive Business Model, Financial Institutions and Business Advisory Service Providers teams
 Support designing and conducting grants solicitation and advertisements utilizing Palladium’s Pay for Results methodologies
 Support the design, planning, outreach, implementation, and maintenance of partnerships for KPSA, including with internal and external partners
 Manage grants commitments, taking into account probability-weighted pipelines and other tools to manage grant agreements against obligated amounts
 Ensure design of grants and partnerships are aligned with the project’s technical strategy and results-based methodology and in compliance with USAID rules and regulations
 Facilitate pre-award risk assessments of grantees and partnerships and the maintenance of meetings and workshops with partners
 In accordance with Palladium’s USAID-approved Grants Under Contract (GUC) manual, develop and execute all aspects of the GUC process, including development of the GUC manual
 Support designing, preparing, and negotiating partner strategies with internal staff and potential partners
 Assist in negotiating, in collaboration with Palladium HQ, grant terms and agreements, with potential grantees
 Facilitate and manage grants close out and final reporting
 Other tasks as deemed necessary


 Position Requirements:


 Knowledge of USAID grants policies, procedures, and reporting requirements
 Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance or a related field in international business management, finance, accounting and/or auditing experience
 Experience in managing grants under contract for USAID-funded programs of a similar size
 Experience in managing innovation grants, performance-based grants, or other mechanisms to algin performance incentives with an activity’s strategic objectives
 Experience in managing partnerships, interacting with stakeholders, collaborating on meetings and workshops, and overseeing partnership activities
 Prior experience in a management role on a USAID funded program highly desired
 Experience managing staff
 Demonstrated experience coordinating and collaborating with various stakeholders and grant awardees
 Advanced knowledge of computers and MS Excel
 Local Kenyan candidates are preferred
 Written and oral proficiency in English required