Scope of Work

USAID Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship

Director of Administration and Finance

Antananarivo / Fort Dauphin, Madagascar (TBD)

1.    Background

DAI seeks a Director of Administration and Finance for an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity in Madagascar entitled Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship. This new activity will focus within the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI), specifically within the ZOI in Anosy, Androy, and Toliara, and will layer with other donors and USAID projects, particularly Harena, USDA Food for Progress, Harena, Riake, and Rano WASH. The activity will have two components:

1.     Increasing sustainable production of diverse and nutritious foods: addressing the low productivity and vulnerability of local food crops, livestock, and fisheries, increasing food security and strengthening value chains by focusing on a diversified, climate-sensitive approach; and

2.    Strengthening resilient market systems: strengthening the private sector and entrepreneurship to create opportunities and build resilience of Madagascar’s food systems, and encouraging, facilitating, and mobilizing private sector investment and financial services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

2.    Position Purpose

The Director of Administration and Finance will provide operational leadership to the project. S/he will be responsible for overseeing all project administration and operations, USAID contract compliance, and compliance with DAI policies and procedures. S/he will oversee operational staff covering day-to-day project functions, including but not limited to project accounting, financial reporting, and compliance, as well has human resources, and procurement. S/he will work closely with the Home Office Project Manager, the Project Accountant, and other home office staff in carrying out their work, while reporting directly to the Chief of Party.

3.    KEy Duties & Responsibilities

Overall Management and Staff Supervision:

·       Responsible for providing training and supervision for team of financial and administrative/operational support staff, which may include heads of Accounting, Finance, Operations, Grants/Partnerships, IT, and Human Resources departments; and implementing their duties when staff is unavailable.

·       Responsible for maintaining comprehensive knowledge of DAI’s USG Project Management Manual, Project Schedule of Authorities, and for identifying areas where policies, procedures and/or practices may not be fully aligned with project management methodology and make changes and/or recommendations to the COP and home office project management..

·       Responsible for coordinating documentation requirements between the project’s various departments i.e., Procurement, IT, Logistics, Human Resources, Technical/Delivery, and other areas.

·       Contributes to quarterly performance and risk management reviews by identifying and rating risks while working in coordination with project and home office project management to design time-bound and accountable mitigation actions. 

Financial Management:

·       Establish and maintain finance, accounting, and procurement guidelines with adequate system controls to protect against financial mismanagement, in accordance with applicable government accounting and administrative regulations.

·       Responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments

·       Manage, process and account for all project expenditures.

·       Oversees disbursement of funds in compliance with internal procedures and Schedule of Authorities and reviews backup documentation completeness for all project related transactions

·       Provide USAID with annual budgets of expenditure as well as quarterly forecasts against budget statements.

·       Work closely with other department groups on problems involving accounting systems and financial planning.

·       Coordinate annual and other financial audits—including preparation of supporting schedules and information—respond to auditor questions and consolidate report formats.

·       Proactively sits with technical Team to conduct budget estimates for technical activities.

·       Prepares monthly financial projections based on scheduled activities.

·       Work with COP to allocate project funds among various program activities.

·       Prepare regular financial reports for appropriate management as necessary or requested.

·       Contributes to review, reporting and planning cycles, and draws on project delivery background to contribute to implementation strategy and delivery management.

·       Supports the COP on all contractual and financial matters with the client, partners, and beneficiaries and takes part in the preparation of budgets and relates realignments.

Subcontracting and Procurement:

·       Coordinate with DAI Home Office on execution of international contracts.

·       Help negotiate contracts, including property leases, on behalf of DAI.

·       Ensure adherence to DAI policies in the procurement of goods and services and ensures proper files/documentation are maintained.

·       Serve as the Chief of Party’s advisor on all contractual and financial matters with USAID and subcontractors.

Operations and Human Resources:

·       Responsible for identifying areas where policies, procedures and/or practices may not be fully aligned and advising project management with options and recommendations.

·       Responsible for coordinating documentation requirements with various departments, i.e.,

·       Confirm that all new hire paperwork is submitted, and personnel files are complete and compliant (in both hard and soft copy) with DAI policy, local labor laws, and USAID regulations.

·       Responsible for overseeing all operational processes related to new office and/or new buy-in program start up. Establish project administrative policies and procedures in accordance with USAID rules and regulations and DAI policy.

·       Reviews and manages local processes and residential paperwork for project expats.

·       Coordinates project needs with local legal counsel.

·       Responsible for overseeing all processes related to new offices and/or project start-up, and manages office lease and relationship with landlord.

·       Manages the recruitment of short-term and long-term technical and operations staff including, salary negotiations, evaluation, and termination of employees, in consultation with the COP.

4.    minimum Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred. Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or another related field.

·       At least 10 years of professional experience, including increasingly responsible operations management experience, preferably with donor-funded organization.

·       Demonstrated experience working with diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.

·       Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations required.

·       Knowledge of DAI policies, procedures and systems preferred.

·       Excellent interpersonal skills, including a strong track record of successful coordination and effective working relations with a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., vendors, service providers).

·       Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information responsibly and ethically.

·       Professional-level oral and written fluency in English and French required; professional-level oral and written fluency in Malagasy also highly preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI Organization and Values

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.