Contracts & Grants Officer I in Washington, DC

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories. We seek qualified candidates for the position of Contracts & Grants Officer I in Washington, DC.

Position Description:

• A Contracting Officer is primarily responsible for managing the administrative processes for contract administration from pre-award to contract close-out.
• He/she will provide professional expertise in contract administration to ensure full compliance with donor rules and regulations.
• The functions of the position include: (1) Comprehensive analysis of contract terms and conditions to ensure that the organization has the organizational capacity or is able to acquire the necessary capacity to successfully perform and meet contractual obligations; (2) Expert interpretation of donor (USG and non-USG) rules and regulations; (3) Standardization of administrative procedures for efficient award and sub award management; (4) Development of contractual documents including templates and ancillary business forms; and (5) Capacity building and replication of contract portfolio management systems and best practices in award and sub award management.

Pre-award: Serves as a technical resource to proposal development units (Business Planning and Proposal and Cost and Pricing) by analyzing solicitations, interpreting regulations and award provisions, clarifying compliance issues, etc. Reviews and negotiate critical award terms and conditions. Identify significant risks and recommend plan for mitigation including justification of working at risk.

Post-award: Manages contract set-up in the contract management and/or financial management system. Advises senior management on matters of concern and elements of risk that can be detrimental to successful contract performance. Recommend alternative approaches to overcome any negative impact. Reviews the work of contract specialists before submission to donors. These will include contract add-ons, budget realignments, cost extensions, and other transactions requiring donor approval such as sub awards, salaries, consultant rates, waivers, etc.

• The contracting officer will handle the more complicated or business-sensitive transactions.
• Conducts complex negotiations requiring senior staff engagement.
• Develops and maintain strong relationships with counterparts (internal and external).
• Responds to audit matters (internal and external). Articulates and advocate for the organization’s position on matters of regulation and other contractual issues.
• Collaborates with operations staff and other enterprise services staff to monitor prime contract and subcontract performance.
• Negotiates substantive provisions in lower- tier subcontracts.
• Trains other staff in standardized procedures for efficient award and sub award management. Manages input to contract close-out.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent in Business or related field. Minimum of 7 years’ experience in a contracting position in either the Federal Government acquisition system or a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) – domestic or international. At least 3 years of negotiating experience and direct management of contracts and other agreements. Advanced knowledge of donor (USG and non-USG) rule and regulations including but not limited to USAID, DHHS, DOE, etc. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent organizational skills and strong ability to manage and meet multiple tasks. Read, write and speak English. Fluency in a foreign language is desired. International development, healthcare, or consulting industry experience preferred. Prior experience in a Team Leader capacity.

FHI 360 has a competitive compensation package. Interested candidates may register online through FHI 360's Career Center at www.fhi360.org/careercenter or through the Employment section at www.fhi360.org. Please submit CV/resume and cover letter including salary requirements. Please specify source in your application.

AA/EOE/M/F/V/D