Grants & Contracts Manager

Grants & Contracts Manager

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is open to candidates based in the United States and the Americas preferably Arlington, VA and Seattle, WA. Remote candidates will be considered. Please view a full list of our CI Offices in the US/Americas here.

CI is seeking a grant and contract manager to oversee a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs. The successful candidate will be able to apply regulatory expertise in a flexible and agile manner in order to support CI grantees and partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Grants & Contracts Manager provides support in interpreting, applying, and ensuring compliance with donor obligations, organizational policies, and industry best practices. The position develops business-partner relationships with assigned programs to ensure that grant and contract management is performed efficiently and to a high standard of quality, providing full-cycle grant and contract support and training to staff and sub-recipients.

Successful candidates for this position will have experience in procurement, sub-grant management, or other finance-related fields, the ability to professionally communicate across a diverse community of stakeholders and to uphold the highest standards of integrity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensure that the assigned portfolio of grants and contracts complies with the prime donor’s requirements, with an emphasis on oversight of financial reporting, contractual compliance, and strengthening sub-recipient grant management capacity.
  
• Oversee financial and administrative aspects of the grant and contract life cycle, including planning, application, contracting, implementation, and close-out.
• Conduct due diligence, including financial risk assessments, security screenings, and validation of award data in systems of record; review and analyze all due diligence documentation to establish appropriate financial risk mitigation measures.
• Prepare grant agreements, contracts, and amendments; ensure the integrity of data in grants and contracts database(s).
• Review financial reports and supporting expense documentation submitted by grantees for accuracy and allowability in accordance with CI and donor policies.
• Analyze and resolve routine compliance issues.
• Develop capacity-building recommendations for sub-recipients.
• Conduct pre-award field visits, new grantee orientations, and kick-off meetings.
• Develop respectful, accountable, and open working relationships with grantees and CI Program staff, convening meetings, calls, and site visits when necessary to address performance, compliance, or reporting needs.
• Support the Director and Vice President to ensure that grant management systems meet program needs and continuously work to refine systems to reduce organizational inefficiencies.
• Ensure all procurement under sub-awards is executed in compliance with prime donor policies.
• Ensure reporting and award compliance targets are managed; progress tracked and expectations communicated to internal team members.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Travel is expected internationally
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
• For the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, all US-based Conservation International staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This mandatory vaccine requirement applies to all staff working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site in CI US offices. CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines. Requests for reasonable accommodations or exceptions related to medical or religious reasons will be considered. Candidates are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree, preferably in a finance-related field.
• 4-6 years of experience in a not-for-profit setting working in grants or finance.
• Minimum 2 years of experience with procurement processes.
• Experience with US government or multi-lateral donor rules and regulations.
• Experience in a matrix management environment.
• Experience mentoring or training staff or implementing partners.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills including intermediate Excel, familiarity with databases, and cloud-based document management systems and collaboration tools.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in written and oral Spanish and/or French.

Preferred

• Some knowledge of environment and international affairs.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled