USAID AGRICULTURE GROWING RURAL OPPORTUNITIES ACTIVITY IN UKRAINE (AGRO)

Grants and Procurement Assistant

Background:

USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO) Activity is a seven-year cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chemonics International, Inc. It began on November 15, 2019.

The AGRO Activity is to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and profitable micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises (MSMEs) that are successfully integrated into competitive markets both in Ukraine and internationally.

The Activity objectives are aligned with the three elements of the market systems conceptual framework: the core value chain, supporting functions, and rules and regulations.

To effectively address the food crisis that emerges in Ukraine and internationally, AGRO works for the restoration of the agricultural sector, in particular its modernization, efficiency improvement, and diversification, which contributes to the long-term economic recovery of Ukraine and the improvement of global food security.

Within the USAID Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI-Ukraine), AGRO will provide assistance enabling Ukraine to store roughly 1.5 million tons of grain as part of the USAID's broader efforts to maintain the rate of production and export of grain from Ukraine to other countries of the world.

AGRO operates on the basis of the market system conceptual approach (https://beamexchange.org).

In September 2022, the estimated cost of the Activity was extended to US$120,000,000, and its implementation period was extended through November 13, 2026. AGRO employs over 70 long-term CCN employees.

Position Description:

The Grants and Procurement Assistant is expected to ensure rapid and effective execution and implementation of subawards and contracts through Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) in full compliance with Chemonics policies and procedures and adherence to USAID rules, regulations, and standards.

Principal Duties and Obligations (Essential Functions):

• S/he will work in coordination with the Grants and/or SIF Managers providing administrative and technical support. S’he’ll ensure that subrecipients/contractors comply with all regulatory requirements (e.g., ADS, CFR, and OMB) and requirements outlined in the AGRO Subawards and Contracts Manual in a satisfactory and professional manner.

• Help with preparation of subaward and contract solicitations (RFA, APS, RFPs, etc.), review subaward/contract applications, proposals, and subaward/contract agreement documents.

• Help with reviews applications and price proposals, finalizes subaward/contract documents, manages and monitors the subawards/contracts approvals.

• Ensure that suppliers and contractors are fully compliant with contract terms and conditions in terms of reports and/or invoices, as well as with USAID regulations and Chemonics’ policies and procedure.

• Check deliveries and invoices against purchase order for type, quantity, and condition.

• Prepare purchase requests and orders, supplier agreements, and contracts for procurements.

• Drafting memos regarding service providers’ and vendors’ performance.

• Supports the pre-award determination process of applicant/bidders to responsibly administer subawards and contracts.

• Ensure that all files are maintained in conformance with the Chemonics filing system and are up to date and audit-ready at all times.

• Assist with conferences, workshops, trainings, and other capacity building exercises relating to subaward and contract awards and conducting procurement independently.

• Work closely with the CLA and MEL teams to devise appropriate methods for evaluating the results AGRO delivers in relation to SIF subawards and contracts.

• Use Microsoft Teams as needed to carry out tasks and collaborate with other activity staff.

• Participate as directed in collection and analysis of Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) data.

• Prepare sections of reports, plans, success stories and similar documents as requested.

• Participate in regular activity Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) discussions.

• Comply with Chemonics’ standards of business conduct.

• Perform other appropriate tasks as requested.

Terms of work, SOW Timing and Reporting Relations:

One-year fixed term employment agreement with possible extension each work year up to the end of the AGRO implementation (November 14, 2026), subject to availability of respective tasks in the successive AGRO Annual Work Plans.

The Grants and Procurement Assistant will work under direct supervision of, and report to, Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Director.

Office location: Kyiv or remote.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Higher education in a relevant field at least to the bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience;

• Minimum of 2 (two) years of experience in procurement, support, design, administration, and management of grants and/or subcontracts required or experience in other relevant fields;

• Experience in support, design, administration, and management of donor-funded grants and/or subcontracts is preferred;

• Knowledge of the USAID grant and/or subcontract lifecycles, applicable rules and regulations required; knowledge of Chemonics policies and procedures related to grants and subcontract management and graduation from Chemonics Grants Practicum is a plus;

• Ability to work quickly and creatively without sacrificing compliance or quality to operationalize SIF activities;

• Experience with data entry, filing, ataloging, retrieving, and preserving records is required;

• Demonstrated experience multitasking with attention to details;

• Оrganization, and time management skills;

• Native speaker of Ukrainian; demonstrated strong writing and oral presentation skills in English preferred;

• Experienced user of MS Office 365 applications;

• Demonstrated success working in a multinational, multilingual team under pressure and tight deadlines.

Application Instructions

Send electronic submissions to [email protected] by May 5, 2024. Early applications are encouraged. Please submit your CV and cover letter with "Grants and Procurement Associate" in the subject line; please do not forget to additionally indicate your name in the subject line of your e-mail. No telephone inquiries, please. Only finalists will be contacted.