Grants and Contracts Specialist

Locations: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Deadline: 30 September 2026 (Early Application are encouraged as the position may close once a suitable candidate is found).

Job Description

About Palladium

Operating in over 50 countries, Palladium is a global consulting and implementation company working in partnership with governments, businesses, investors, and communities to design and deliver solutions that create lasting positive impact. We address some of the world’s most complex challenges across infrastructure, economic growth and natural capital, health, energy, climate and environment, and digital transformation—strengthening systems, institutions, and markets to support inclusive and sustainable development. Our more than 2,100 staff worldwide work as trusted advisors across diverse contexts, combining deep technical expertise, implementation techniques, and innovative technology to deliver locally informed, client-focused solutions that help organizations achieve measurable, sustainable impact.

Palladium is part of GISI’s global family of companies, which aims to create solutions for the world’s most complex challenges. With annual revenues of $14 billion, GISI’s approximately 15,000 employees are engaged in projects across 100 countries worldwide providing construction, program/project management, and engineering consulting services.

Project Overview

The GHSD America First Palladium Sole Source Award supports country-led efforts to strengthen health systems, advance global health security, and sustain essential health services in alignment with the America First Global Health Strategy. Leveraging Palladium’s expertise in health systems strengthening, digital transformation, and data use, the project will strengthen governance, service delivery, and decision-making through integrated and interoperable systems across priority health programs. The award also supports stronger health financing, public financial management, and accountability mechanisms to promote resilient, efficient, and country-owned health systems.

Duration and Funding

This is a fixed-term, project-funded position with an initial term of 12 months (through September 2027). Employment is contingent upon the availability of funding, with the potential for extension based on project requirements and funding availability.

Location

This role is based in Palladium’s Addis Ababa, Ethiopia office, with periodic travel within Ethiopia to project sites and regional offices. Applicants must have authorization to work in Ethiopia, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Position Summary

The Grants and Contracts Specialist supports the effective administration of grants, contracts, subawards, consultant agreements, and other award instruments throughout their lifecycle. Reporting to the Director, Finance and Operations, the Specialist will help ensure compliant award management, effective partner oversight, risk mitigation, and timely execution of contractual obligations in accordance with donor requirements, organizational policies, and applicable regulations. The role will work closely with technical, finance, procurement, MEL, government and subcontract teams to support quality implementation, performance monitoring, and stewardship of project resources. The Specialist administers the project’s subcontract portfolio, which includes local EMR implementation firms and specialized technology and health financing vendors, and ensures that deliverable-based payment terms are flowed down and tracked.

Key Deliverables (Year 1)

· All project subcontracts and consultant agreements executed within the first two months, with deliverable-based payment terms and compliance clauses.

· Subcontract deliverable and payment tracker maintained and reconciled monthly with finance and technical leads.

· Due diligence, risk assessments, and compliance monitoring completed for each partner, with documented follow-up.

· Audit-ready award files for every instrument.

Primary Responsibilities

· Manage grants, contracts, subawards, and consultant agreements throughout the award lifecycle.

· Draft and negotiate subcontracts with local EMR implementation firms and technology and health financing vendors, including deliverable-based payment terms flowed down from the prime award.

· Support the preparation, review, modification, monitoring, and closeout of award instruments.

· Track deliverables, payment schedules, and contractual obligations for each subcontract, and reconcile subcontractor deliverables with the project’s own result verification schedule.

· Ensure compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and applicable legal requirements.

· Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready award documentation and records.

· Support risk assessments, due diligence reviews, compliance monitoring, and audit processes.

· Coordinate with technical, finance, procurement, MEL, government and subcontract teams to ensure effective award implementation.

· Provide guidance and capacity strengthening to staff and partners on grants and contracts management.

· Support reporting, documentation, and continuous improvement of award management systems and processes.

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Public Administration, Procurement, Project Management, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Master’s degree is an advantage

Experience

· Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in grants management, contracts administration, subawards, procurement, compliance, or related functions.

· Demonstrated experience managing the full lifecycle of grants, contracts, subawards, consultant agreements, or other award instruments.

· Experience supporting donor-funded programs and international development projects, including partner management, compliance monitoring, and risk mitigation.

· Experience with U.S. Government (USG) funding mechanisms and regulations, including the U.S. Department of State (DOS), CDC, and other federal agencies, is highly desirable.

· Demonstrated experience supporting audits, due diligence assessments, award reviews, and donor compliance processes.

· Experience supporting health, governance, or development programs in Ethiopia is preferred.

Technical Competencies and Skills

· Strong knowledge of grants, contracts, subaward management, and donor compliance requirements.

· Familiarity with U.S. Government regulations and funding mechanisms, including DOS, CDC, USAID, and other federal agencies.

· Understanding of compliance and award management requirements of major donors, including the World Bank, UN agencies, and other development partners.

· Experience managing award lifecycles, compliance monitoring, risk management, and audit processes.

· Strong documentation, reporting, record management, and Microsoft Office skills.

· Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply early as the position may close once a suitable candidate is found. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual, or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.