J-PAL Southeast Asia Job Vacancy: Finance and Grants Manager - Jakarta, Indonesian

Finance and Grants Manager - J-PAL Southeast Asia

Organization:

J-PAL Southeast Asia at UI 

Country 

Indonesia

Education 

Bachelor's

Master's

Language Requirement 

English

Indonesian

Length of Commitment 

Two years

Start Date 

ASAP

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global network of affiliated professors who conduct randomized evaluations (REs) to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is based on scientific evidence. J-PAL’s three core activities are:

1. Conducting Rigorous Impact Evaluations: J-PAL conducts randomized evaluations to test and improve the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty.
2. Building Capacity: J-PAL equips practitioners with the expertise to carry out their won rigorous evaluations through training courses and joint research projects.
3. Informing Policy: Disseminating the results of J-PAL affiliates’ research to policymakers, identifying the most cost-effective ways to achieve policy goals, and promoting the scale-up of highly effective policies and programs. 

J-PAL Southeast Asia (J-PAL SEA) is a regional office of J-PAL and is housed at LPEM, part of the University of Indonesia.  J-PAL SEA works in close collaboration with J-PAL and receives assistance and advice from J-PAL staff, but is responsible for its own management, operations, and fund raising

The Finance and Grants Manager will serve as the chief administrative and financial officer for the J-PAL SEA, working closely with the Executive Director and J-PAL SEA’s host institution to manage office finances, plan for responsible growth, develop and monitor core and project budgets, manage day-to-day financial activities, including payments, purchase orders, contracting, and cash management, provide financial control, and work with donors on general and project funding.  It is expected that the Finance and Grants Manager will have a background of financial leadership in the non-profit sector in Indonesia. 

Financial Management

• Develop multi-year budgets for J-PAL SEA and track results; report regularly to J-PAL SEA Executive Director on the financial situation; anticipate problems and develop solutions;
• Develop funding plans that will allow significant growth if implemented fully; work with ED to implement those plans, including accessing funding from new sources while maintaining current donor relationships.
• Report to major J-PAL SEA donors on financial operations, J-PAL SEA growth prospects (and contingencies); and risks and opportunities.  Brief funders on J-PAL SEA financial strategies as needed.
• Work to improve project budgeting, operational budgeting, and cost recovery.
• Maintain a system of financial control that meets University and donor requirements for transparency and responsible management of resources.
• Directly manage and develop finance and administrative staff at J-PAL SEA who are responsible for grants management, office management, human resources, and financial administration.

Grants Management

• Manage grant funds, including multi-million dollar initiatives,  at J-PAL SEA in accordance with donor requirements;
• Report regularly to Principal Investigators on grant financials, including working with researchers and donors to reallocate funds as needed, to plug funding holes, and to negotiate with donors;
• Work with research staff to develop proposals, providing input on substantive areas of project/program operations and financial issues of staffing, budgeting, and contracting;
• Manage service contracts and vendor relationships, including procurement;
• Manage the timely assembly and submission of proposals that meet J-PAL SEA’s standards and donor requirements for submission.
• Manage reporting to donors, requests for extensions and modifications.  Provide early warning to PIs on financial issues.
• Ensure that staff effort is appropriately allocated to grants and that funds from grants are used in accordance with grant terms.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal skills and analytical abilities; a bachelor's degree (advanced degree desirable); broad knowledge of the principles of financial and administrative management; accomplishment in a position requiring independent planning and efficient utilization of resources; demonstrated leadership skills;  minimum of five years of direct, significant financial management and administrative experience.  Ability to budget and conduct expense analysis in a non-profit setting preferred; strong computer experience with various accounting, database, and financial packages, strong written and verbal communication skills, proven ability to communicate with senior donor representatives.  Should be able to take a broad view of organizational management while maintaining strong understanding of budget, contracts, and grants details.

Note on Work Authorizations: You must have work authorization in Indonesia (either by being an Indonesian national or otherwise). 

How to Apply

Please send an email with your application to jpalseajobs@ povertyactionlab.org by July 31st, 2016 following these instructions exactly:

1. Use the following as the email subject line: “101861 J-PAL SEA Finance and Grant Manager”. Please do not include any other text in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application.  
2. Attach PDF copies of your CV, your academic transcripts, and a cover letter no longer than 500 words. The cover letter should discuss how you meet the aforementioned position requirements, emphasizing relevant skills and experience, as well as why you are interested in working with J-PAL SEA and how this experience will contribute to fulfilling their future academic and professional plans.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates are advised to apply at the earliest. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.