Lead Grants Specialist – Africa

About the role

The Lead Grants Specialist provides expert public award administration and finance services for The Nature Conservancy’s Africa region. Reporting to the Grants Manager, the role oversees a team of Grant Specialists and ensures compliance with U.S. federal, state, local, and international donor regulations.

Key responsibilities

• Administer and maintain documentation for public awards and related financial activities in line with TNC policies and best practices.
• Supervise and develop a team of Grant Specialists/Associates, monitoring workload distribution and hiring needs.
• Collaborate with the Grants Manager to report on issues, resolve challenges, and implement improvement projects.
• Provide guidance on complex award administration questions to staff at all levels.
• Coordinate with other Lead Grants Specialists across the region as needed.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience, including 3 years in public award accounting, compliance, and financial analysis.
• Proven experience recruiting, supervising, and developing staff.
• Professional certification such as CPA or CIA preferred.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and accounting principles.
• Familiarity with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, and standard contract clauses.
• Experience with multilateral and international donor regulations (e.g., IKI, UK GOV, GCF, GEF, UNDP, BAF).
• Proficiency in accounting and financial reporting systems.