Blue Nature Alliance 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 could be based in La Paz-Bolivia, Bogota-Colombia, San Jose-Costa Rica, Quito-Ecuador, Mexico City-Mexico or Lima-Peru

Conservation International seeks a dedicated, passionate, finance professional to join the Grants & Contract group in its Finance Division. Successful candidates for this position will be motivated by CI’s mission to build a healthier, more prosperous and more productive planet by providing a superior level of support and training in financial and contractual compliance to our programs and sub-recipients around the world. The position will report to the Senior Director for External Grants & Contracts within the Finance Department at Conservation International.

Conservation International (CI), the Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) other private and public partners have joined together to launch the Blue Nature Alliance (the Alliance) with the aim to catalyze actions to conserve 18 million square kilometers of ocean (approximately 5 percent of the global ocean) to safeguard global ocean biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, promote human wellbeing, and enhance ecosystem connectivity and function. The Blue Nature Alliance aims to invest in approximately 40-60 ocean conservation areas globally by 2025. The Blue Nature Alliance Grants & Contracts Manager will be part of a fast-paced, collaborative, and dynamic team that aims to make an outsized impact for the ocean. 

The Blue Nature Alliance Grants & Contracts Manager position oversees a global portfolio of sub-awards implemented by a wide range of organizations from local community-based organizations to international not-for-profit organizations, consulting firms, and individual experts. The Manager coordinates the full cycle sub-award process from calls for proposals, through due diligence, award negotiation, implementation oversight, and financial compliance to close out. The Manager has primary responsibility for ensuring that the Blue Nature Alliance portfolio of grants and contracts are awarded and managed transparently, efficiently, and in compliance with all Alliance policies and procedures. The position places significant emphasis on responsiveness, support, and consideration for partner organization context and needs. Successful candidates for this position will have experience in procurement, sub-grant management, or other finance related field, the ability to professionally communicate with all levels of management both inside and outside of CI, and uphold the highest standards of integrity.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Blue Nature Alliance Grants & Contracts Manager will be responsible for coordinating and managing the full life cycle of 
grants and contracts, including: 

Grants, Pre-award

• Open, timely, and respectful, communication with partners and the Alliance team on status and challenges, throughout the pre-award process.
  
• Interpret and explain CI and donor policies to programs, colleagues, and partner organizations.
  
• Conduct due diligence for grant awards, including 
  • financial risk assessments, assess financial capacity and internal controls; establish appropriate financial risk 
    mitigation measures and communicate identified capacity gaps with the Program team
    
  • security screenings
• Conduct pre-award field visits as needed, conduct virtual new grantee orientations and kick-off meetings.
  
• Prepare and coordinate review and approval of new grant agreements.

Grants, Active Portfolio Monitoring

• Open, timely, and respectful, communication with partners and the Alliance team on status and challenges, throughout the implementation process.
  
• Review financial reports and supporting expense documentation submitted by grantees for accuracy and allowability in accordance with CI and donor policies.
  
• Request disbursements on a timely basis, and ensure accuracy of disbursement information in grant systems.
  
• Ensure all procurement under sub-awards is executed in compliance with prime donor policies.
  
• Review amendment requests and draft amendment packages when relevant and coordinate signature and countersignature.
  
• Conduct site visits and desk reviews as required.
  
• Troubleshoot day-to-day compliance issues and spot/resolve red-flag compliance issues handling sensitive or confidential information with care and diligence.
  
• Develop compliance action plans, recommend tracking and communications systems for issues of non-compliance.
  
• Deliver training in sub-award management and procurement to colleagues and sub-recipients around the world virtually and in person.
  
• Ensure sub-awards are closed out in a timely manner and in full compliance with CI and donor policies.
  
  

Consulting Agreements, Full Cycle

• Coordinate and support procurement process for Blue Nature Alliance consultants, ensuring full life cycle documentation in compliance with CI and donor policies.
  
• Prepare and disseminate or post RFQs, RFPs, coordinate evaluation and selection process.
  
• Prepare and coordinate review and approval of new consulting agreements and amendments.
  
• Pay invoices on a timely basis and ensure the accuracy of information.
  
• Ensure service agreements are closed out in a timely manner and in full compliance with CI and donor policies.
  
• Ensuring accuracy and comprehensiveness of information, data, and documentation for all of the above in systems of record.
  

Other duties as assigned by supervisor. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The duties of this position are carried out in a normal office environment, working with a large, remote network of people.
  
• Travel, up to five times per year, may be required in accordance with COVID safety protocols.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a finance-related field.
  
• 4-6 years of experience in a not-for-profit setting working in grants management, procurement, or finance.
  
• Experience with public, multi-lateral donor rules and regulations.
  
• Strong computer skills including intermediate Excel, familiarity with databases, and cloud-based document management systems and collaboration tools.
  
• Experience mentoring or training staff or implementing partners.
  
• Demonstrated understanding of the cultural context and challenges of working in diverse geographic regions, including in developing countries.
  
• Comfortable managing multiple duties and adapting to changing priorities.
  
• Ability to work under general supervision and take initiative to solve problems under the supervisor's direction.
  
• Positive attitude and ability to overcome obstacles to achieve ambitious targets.
  
• Written and spoken fluency in both English and Spanish.

Preferred

• Familiarity with Trust-based Philanthropy.
  
• Experience with Global Environmental Facility funding, rules and regulations.
  
• Some knowledge of environment and international affairs.
  
• Experience with Salesforce.

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, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.

As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.