Position: Grants and Procurement Manager
SPARK Office: Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, or Tunisia
Type/Duration: 1 year
Reports to: COO, with functional reporting line to ENI Project Lead
Job Purpose
The Grants & Procurement Manager is responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and management of SPARK’s regional grants programme aimed at supporting start-ups in their growth and scaling phases. This role ensures the successful distribution of financial support to businesses with high potential for job creation and innovation across Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tunisia. The Manager will work closely with sub-grantees to ensure compliance with EU regulations, monitor their progress, and provide technical assistance throughout the grant lifecycle, ultimately driving economic growth and competitiveness in the MENA region.
In addition to this, the position will oversee the procurement function in SPARK globally, in close collaboration with the in-country procurement managers.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Regional Grant Management for From Innovation to Creation (ENI) Programme
- Participate in the design and development of the Regional Grants Call, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.
- Assist in the evaluation and selection process of grant applications, coordinating with national and regional evaluation committees.
- Ensure grants are awarded based on sound financial management principles and compliance with EU regulations.
- Oversee the entire grants process from award to reporting, including reviewing and approving budget plans for sub-grantees.
- Monitor sub-grantee financial and administrative compliance, ensuring adherence to EU guidelines and SPARK’s financial and procurement procedures.
- Conduct regular financial reviews and audits of sub-grantees, ensuring accurate use of funds and documentation.
- Facilitate timely disbursement of funds, ensuring alignment with project milestones and financial health assessments.
- Provide ongoing support to sub-grantees on the procurement of goods and services in lines with EU and SPARK administrative, financial, and compliance requirements.
- Organise and facilitate training sessions and capacity-building workshops for sub-grantees on procurement, financial management, and visibility standards.
- Assist sub-grantees in developing robust financial reporting and procurement systems to meet programme requirements.
- Procurement and asset management
- Functionally oversee the in-country procurement staff in SPARK, coordinating and monitoring the most significant procurement activities.
- Collaborates with Project leads/budget holders to ensure completion of procurement planning at the initial stage of projects
- Ensure compliance with donor and SPARK regulations in procuring program supplies and assets;
- Uphold SPARK's Zero tolerance policy to corruption and fraud;
- Implements anti-corruption/ fraud and accountability measures for procurement in SPARK;
- Facilitates knowledge transfer by offering procurement technical support as needed, extending consultation and guidance across all SPARK initiatives.
Profile
- Relevant educational background
- 3+ years experience with grants management in the MENA region
- 5+ years experience with procurement management of significant operations for an INGO, including high level tenders.
- Previous experience working on EU-funded projects will be an asset.
- Experience coaching and managing others.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Arabic.
- Team player with good social skills, able to coordinate across countries and functions.
- Excellent understanding of partnership selection procedures.
How to apply?
If you are interested, please apply with your motivation letter and your CV (both in English) on https://vacancy.spark-online.org/Tab1/LoadProfileFromVacancy/587 until 30th of September 2024.
All applications will be assessed on rolling basis; interviews can, therefore, take place before the application deadline. However, due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant. There may be a delay between the deadline and the moment we contact selected applicants.
If you have not received a reply, we regret to inform that we have continued with other candidates.