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Director, Grants and Contracts and Associate Counsel PACT

Requisition Number 12-0009
Post Date 1/18/2012
City Washington
Description Summary: The Director – Grants & Contracts and Associate Counsel (DGC) is responsible for overseeing and administering awards to Pact from a variety of donors along with the award and administration of Pact’s headquarters-based subgrants portfolio. This position is also accountable for providing counsel to the senior management team (and the Board as requested and directed) regarding the legal impact of organizational decisions and negotiations.

The DGC reports to the Chief Financial Officer

Specific Duties:
• Management
o Manage the Agreement Management (Grants and Contracts) Department to ensure timely and effective award management and administration of a diversified portfolio of awards; assign or reassign award portfolios within the Grants & Contracts Department to ensure a balanced workload and timely service delivery.
o Maintain and develop the legal and contractual infrastructure required of a US-based nonprofit organization which operates internationally, including organizational policy, labor and immigration law, contracts, leases and affiliate agreements.
o Develop and manage the annual budget for the Grants and Contracts Department.
o Oversee timely, accurate closeout of awards to Pact by planning and coordinating submission of final financial and programmatic reporting, preparation of final inventories, financial reconciliation of subgrant line items and property disposition requests.
• Contract Negotiation and Agreement Management
o Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of grant, consulting, business and administrative agreements in connection with Pact’s work. Occasionally, with the assistance of external counsel.
o Advise proposal development teams with technical, contractual, and budgetary input; review Pact proposal submissions for compliance with donor regulations; develop responses to contractual and budgetary questions
o Provide authoritative guidance to internal business teams on corporate goals and objectives relating to contract activity.
o Review and negotiate incoming awards to Pact recommending changes/modifications or acceptance of specific contract terms and conditions; identify and communicate special reporting or financial tracking requirements under new awards.
• Legal Issue Support and Management
o Provide legal opinions and counsel, and serve as a trusted advisor to C-level management. Conducts and commissions research and analysis of specific legal questions and prepares memoranda, opinions and position papers upon request. Serves as an expert resource to the Board and its committees on the organization’s legal structure and governance.
o Triage incoming legal threats and provides legal defense enabling Pact to fulfill its mission. Much of this work will be done through and with external counsel, both pro bono and paid, inside and outside the United States.
o Draft policies and amendments to the Pact by-laws and other corporate documents, at the request of the Pact Board of Directors, its committees, and CEO.
o Draft and negotiate binding contractual agreements between the organization and third parties.
o Select and direct the activities of outside counsel retained to represent the organization.
• Compliance Issues
o Respond to donor inquiries on compliance issues and resolve disputes between Pact and donors or Pact HQ and field offices.
o Ensure contract review, approval and execution is in accordance with corporate policy and/or business unit guidelines.
o Ensure internal systems are maintained and up-to-date with all current awards and obligations
o Develop, update, and regularly review a variety of sub-grant templates used in Pact sub-grant programs under its prime awards; maintain a central repository of approved templates that ensures compliance by Pact’s sub-grantees with all relevant donor terms and conditions.
o Maintain Pact’s policy manuals including, but not limited to, Procurement, Award Administration, and Subgrant Management. Provide input to other policy relating to contracts, grants, or subgrants.
o Communicate and monitor specific donor and Pact compliance requirements to field offices; coordinate with Pact’s Country Management Teams to develop compliance plans for programs funded by a variety of donors. Participate in regular country management team meetings to resolve contractual or compliance issues
o Provide guidance and oversight to program and finance staff on various contractual areas such as cost share, prior approvals, allowable/unallowable costs or activities, audit requirements, restricted items, etc.
o Develop, implement and maintain systems and processes for the documentation and tracking of legal matters, including, for example, filings and registrations, legal threats, trademark permission requests, business agreements, and the like;
o Investigate and evaluate the legal implications and impact of legal compliance issues, and recommends operational changes or alternative policies and procedures.
o Provide training for the staff and affiliates on legal aspects of issues encountered in the conduct of their business
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate and bar licensure, at least 15 years of relevant contract management experience and a minimum of 10 years of experience in the practice of law with at least 5 in support of a not for profit organization. Legal experience should be broad in nature and address transactions, contracts, regulatory, litigation, and commercial practice areas.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally

Preference for:
• More than 15 years of relevant experience managing award and administration of federal grants and contracts
• Experience supervising a staff of professionals. Ability to mentor and guide professional growth and development in the areas of procurement and contracts/grants management.
• Experience providing contractual or compliance guidance to new business plans, proposals and budget development
• Demonstrated track record of establishing and sustaining interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID CTOs, AOs and COs, donor representatives and partners
• Working knowledge of OMB Circulars; Federal Acquisition Regulations; applicable legislation for USAID; HIV/AIDS; and grants and cooperative agreements
• Knowledge of two or more of the following legal practice and program areas: acquisition law; ethics; personnel, EEO and labor law; fiscal law; business integrity and procurement fraud; international and operational law; administrative law; disputes resolution; litigation; and FOIA and Privacy Act matters.


Skills and Abilities

Behavioral Competencies
• Role Model for Department staff

Leadership
• Ability to sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with internal colleagues and contacts in donor and peer organizations
• Sets strategic vision for Department
• Consistently works within internal process and procedures and ensures others do the same
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills
• Ability to drive Department-wide initiatives

Project Management
• Excellent planning and resource management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively present complex ideas to diverse audiences
• Ability to problem-solve complex issues
• Ability to multitask with ease and grace, balancing and adapting to frequently changing priorities
• Advanced negotiating and conflict resolution skills
• High proficiency in developing and managing a budget

Technical Skills
• Expertise in one of Pact’s technical areas or a support function
• Expert knowledge and understanding of donor policies and regulations
• High competence using common desktop applications and internal systems

People Management
• High proficiency in supervising staff, including providing honest feedback and meaningful development opportunities
• Ability to mentor others and model successful management techniques and approaches

Apply On-line