ADMINISTRATIVE AND GRANTS ASSISTANT

Program: USAID Youth Actively Create Opportunities (YACO)

Location: Skopje, North Macedonia

Duration: 4 years

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that fosters private sector development in the economically developing world. Since 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions that have resulted in more than 1.5 million jobs in 137 countries. We partner with businesses, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, jobseekers, and governments to sustainably build capacity, create jobs, and grow enterprises, sharing proven skills and experience that improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the world. Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others. 

IESC is implementing the $10m USAID Youth Actively Create Opportunities (YACO) Activity in North Macedonia in the period 2023-2028. The purpose of the Activity is to increase positive youth contributions to society and collective youth leadership across North Macedonia. The Activity prioritizes three broad areas of intervention:  

Component 1: Create partnerships to support the development of economic opportunities that are attractive to youth.  

Component 2: Strengthen youth competencies for jobs, progressive careers and active civic participation.  

Component 3: Promote values that underpin self-reliance, such as responsibility, independence, lawfulness, strong ethics, civic engagement and striving for accomplishment.  

The Administrative and Grants Assistant will work full-time and be based in Skopje. Under the direction of the USAID YACO Director of Finance and Administration and the Grants Manager, the Administrative and Grants Assistant will provide administrative, operational, and financial backstopping across the Activity including the grants portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Receive and greet guests/visitors. 
• Maintain an effective office correspondence filing system, including copying and scanning, transcribing, formatting and/or editing project documents.
• Support the Director of Finance & Admin with office procurements, such as document preparation, quote gathering, and other tasks as assigned.
• Manage document courier services as needed.  
• Manage logistic support for booking travel and accommodation for staff and consultants, and in processing required travel authorizations. 
• Prepare logistics for meetings and workshops when required. 
• Support the Grants Manager with grant application solicitation processes, including drafting/reviewing funding opportunity documents, reviewing and documenting received grant applications, supporting in due diligence processes for selected applicants, drafting grant agreements, and reviewing grant agreement deliverables.
• Assist in daily administration and implementation of grants.
• Assist in processing grant applications which includes preparing official correspondence to grant recipients, organizing Grant Evaluation Committee meetings, conducting pre-award due diligence activities, and drafting grant approval packages/documentation.
• Maintain the grants correspondence filing system, including copying and scanning documents as necessary. 
• Assist in reviewing grant budgets, grantee programmatic and financial reports, and gather grant payment documentation for technical staff approval.
• Ensure paperwork documentation for all grants includes receipt and acceptance of deliverables or products per the grant agreement requirements.
• Maintain accurate and complete files of grants documentation.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of Finance & Admin and Grants Manager.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of three years of experience in office administration and/or operations required. Experience with USAID grants/procurement is highly preferred. 
• Experience with international donor procurement procedures preferred.  USAID or other international donor experience preferred.
• University degree in business, international business, economic development, or another relevant field preferred.   
• Computer skills required, experience in formatting/editing documents (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) required.  
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and to take initiative.  
• Positive attitude, organizational skills, self-motivated, detail-oriented, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work in a team.  
• Fluency in English and Macedonian and in one of the locally used languages.

NOTE: Candidate must currently have the right to live and work in North Macedonia. IESC cannot provide international relocation or sponsorship for this position.  

How to apply: Please submit a Curriculum Vitae in English and a letter of interest. Applicants must apply using IESC's website using the "Apply Now" function. No emailed CVs will be considered. Finalists will be contacted by IESC. 

Deadline for submission is May 8, 2024. 

IESC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in selection and employment practices.