Senior Contracts and Compliance Advisor in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Ghana at WaterAid

Job Description

Senior Contracts and Compliance Advisor

Contract: Permanent, Full time

Salary: Salaries and benefits for different countries will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience. See further details below for examples

• Bangladesh + Dhaka: BDT 1,326,048 -2,758,176Plus circa 100% of basic pay in allowances
• Nigeria + Abuja: NGN 13,236,668 - 16,868,287 Plus 33% of basic pay in allowances
• Ghana + Accra: GHS 134,057 - 210,427 Plus benefits.
• Nepal + Kathmandu: NPR 2,762,049 - 3,996,021 Plus benefits.

Location: The role can be based in any location with a WaterAid office with priority given to candidates based in West Africa or Southern Asia as the role will provide primary support to these regions, subject to right to work eligibility in the respective countries.

Closing Date: Applications will close on 23:59 8th May 2023. Shortlisting and interviews may take place on a rolling basis and the application process will close if a suitable candidate is found prior to the advertised closing date. Interviews will take place week commencing 22nd May 2023.

How to apply: To see the full job description, please click 'Apply'.

• Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format.
• Please indicate your location and the right to work eligibility in your Cover letter.

About WaterAid:
Want to use your skills in contracts and compliance to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere?

Join WaterAid as a Senior Contracts & Compliance Advisor to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good. On top of that you'll be joining a 2020 Great Place to Work® award-winning organisation.

About the Team:
The Contracts & Compliance unit supports management and country teams to make sure we have the right policies, tools and training in place to effectively manage the restricted funding we secure so that WaterAid can effectively deliver on its mission.

As our diligent and tenacious Senior Contracts & Compliance Advisor you will oversee and improve WaterAid UK's internal contract management processes as well as developing and delivering training and capacity building across WaterAid country programmes, embedding cost recovery best practice and any other compliance related ad hoc work and projects as necessary.

About the role:
In this role, you will work closely with country and regional teams to develop a keen understanding of the compliance risk across two main WaterAid UK regions (Southern Africa & West) and focus on strengthening capacity and reducing compliance risk related to restricted funding management. You will also work closely with finance colleagues to help to embed cost recovery best practice.

Contract Management Compliance Technical Support

• Leading the risk assessment, review and direction for negotiation of complex funding agreements including multi-country and commercial contracts
• Work with finance colleagues to embed cost recovery policy and best practice across WaterAid UK through targeted and general capacity building and communications
• Supporting country/regional teams - with a view of capacity building and developing best- practice - in the review and negotiation of contracts
• Supporting country/regional teams to respond to donor due diligence requests through the development and management of a library of due diligence documents
• Support country teams to prepare and manage the risk of donor audits and visits

Restricted Funding Risk Reduction

• Working closely with other teams (e.g. Finance, Legal, Internal Audit) to ensure WaterAid rules maximise compliance with standard terms and conditions in contracts
• Analysing any new donor compliance requirements among WaterAid's main donors to determine and flag wher donor requirements are stricter than WaterAid rules
• Developing training and tools for country/regional teams on specific donor compliance requirements
• Support International Programme Department Senior Management Team with the monitoring and management of high-risk contracts
• Working closely with colleagues in Bid Management and Country/Regional Teams, assess risk in new funding opportunities / contracts

Enabling Grant/Contract Management Devolution

• Ensure integration of grant/contract management processes, materials and training with Programme, Finance and Internal Audit and promote to colleagues managing restricted funding in country teams
• Jointly lead on socialization of the restricted funding process with the Funding Process and Data Manager
• Enable contract management devolution by supporting WaterAid departments, Members and Country Programmes to build capacity
• Lead on developing a federation wide compliance community of practice supporting compliance colleagues to effectively share best practice

Capacity Strengthening/Troubleshooting

Organizational capacity strengthening is the common theme throughout the 3 accountability areas listed above. It is a fundamental component of this role, as well as being integrated or 'mainstreamed' into the other responsibilities of this role. Specific capacity building activities include:

• Developing and/or adapting training materials on contract management processes (from contract review and negotiations through to contract close-out)
• Delivering trainings to Country/Regional Teams in line with the Contract Management devolution strategy
• Occasionally working intensively and independently with Country Programme's to troubleshoot compliance issues and identify and deliver appropriate support to address capacity gaps

About you:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent standard, or equivalent work experience
• Highly numerate, preferably with a financial background
• Experience of developing and delivering training to diverse audiences
• Experience of reviewing and negotiating contracts, preferably (but not necessarily) in the field of international development
• Experience of working with commercial contracts and complex funding modalities such as payment by results
• Good working knowledge of FCDO, EU and USAID donor rules
• Experience of managing and maintaining grant / contract management processes
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, and ability to adapt and work within a multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience in supporting country teams in setting up processes in grant/contract management and resolving issues.

Salary & Benefits:

• Salaries and benefits for different countries will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience.

Our Commitment

An inclusive workplace:

We are committed to being an organisation where everyone is included, respected, and empowered to be their best. We represent and celebrate our staff, partners and everyone we work with, and create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential.

Equal opportunities:

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding:

We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.