Senior Contracts and Compliance Advisor at WaterAid Ghana

About The Job

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.