Grants and Program Assistant, San Miguel

Overview:
**BACKGROUND**

Creative Associates International Inc. is a dynamic and fast-growing professional services firm that specializes in international development in the areas of education, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Washington, DC, the firm has a field presence in 30 countries worldwide with a strong and diverse portfolio that includes global contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other clients including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. The firm has earned a solid reputation among its clients and missions worldwide and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

**PROGRAM DESCRIPTION**

In close coordination with USAID, the program will contribute to the US government efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, including increasing community and institutional resilience.

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The Grants and Program Assistant will be responsible for supporting the effective and efficient management of grants administration, support and work closely with the programs teams to ensure flexible, innovative, and rapid-response mechanisms are designed to target key zones. S/he will also ensure that the grant management and administration function is always in compliance with Creative and USAID’s policies and procedures; and will work towards capacity building of the recipients as well as the other staff members in the area of grants management.

**REPORTING & SUPERVISION**

The Grants and Program Assistant reports to the Grants Officer San Miguel.

**Responsibilities**:
**PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES**

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

- Update and maintain grants files in the database for the project, on Creative’s SharePoint, and generates weekly internal grants reports.
- Issue and review relevant information pertaining to grants clearances using the Activity Cycle Flow Chart.
- Enter information in Creative’s online grants database and ensure data is always up to date.
- Ensure compliance with Creative’s grants policies as detailed in the Field Manual and the program’s Activity Manual Addendum (Grants Manual).
- Coordinate closely with program staff to ensure timely administration and monitoring of grant agreements.
- Coordinate with finance, procurement, and program staff to support grantee kick-off meeting, monitoring and closeout of grant activities.
- Support the close coordination with Grants, Procurement and Programs to ensure activity-level spending is on track and provide quality control on any required budget modifications.
- Provide guidance and interpretation for program staff as well as grantees of Creative’s grants policies and procedures and USG regulation.
- Provide administrative support to the Programs team in the design, development, and implementation of activities.
- Provide inputs relevant to the management of the grants and direct implementation pipeline and ensure budgets are updated prior to any procurement request.
- Support the MEL Officer and Program teams, with the resources and tools to accomplish the Activity Cycle.
- Support the management of financial commitments, spending, and de-obligations of the activities pool and all program fund sources.
- Ensure that grant master files are always up-to-date and ready for audit.
- Provide support to technical units on grants compliance and the online grants database.
- Other duties as required from the Grants Officer.

Qualifications:
**REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS**:

- High school diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in relevant field or professional accounting/financial qualification highly desired.
- 1+ year of general work experience and 1+ years of specific experience relative to the position required.
- Medium level Spoken and Written English is highly desired, Entry level required.
- Previous experience with small grants programs or exposure to in-kind grants highly desired.
- Previous experience in community development programming highly desirable.
- Competence in computers and using financial software.
- Understanding of budget and cost control management.
- Spanish fluency required.
- Must have existing work authorization for El Salvador.