Compliance Manager – European Donors at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Rwanda): (Deadline 31 August 2023)

Compliance Manager – European Donors at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Rwanda): (Deadline 31 August 2023)

Job Description

Position:                                  Compliance Manager – European Donors

Reports to:                               Associate Director – Award Compliance

Position Managed:                 None

Capacity:                                 Global, Continental, Regional, and Country Support

Position Type:                          Full-Time

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes/seascapes, and presence in more than 60 nations across the globe, WCS has amassed the scientific knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local people. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of rural people whose livelihoods depend on the utilization of natural resources.

Job Purpose:

The Compliance Manager – European Donors is an integral member of the Grants Management and Compliance (GMC) Award Compliance Team. Reporting to GMC’s Associate Director of Award Compliance, they will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight and compliance support for the rapidly increasing WCS’s European Public Donor Portfolio.  The Compliance Manager – European Donors will serve as the European public donor compliance expert and will provide regulatory analysis, interpretation and concept to close-out compliance advice, guidance, and support to WCS teams pursuing and implementing European public donor awards.  As a member of the GMC Awards compliance team, they will work collaboratively to build organizational public donor compliance capacity, develop, and increase compliance performance standards for all WCS, and provide donor specific guidance for all European public donor compliance related issues or aspects throughout the award life cycle.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide specialized guidance to WCS program teams at the country, regional, and headquarters level to ensure compliance with rules, regulations, and award requirements of WCS’s European public donors (EU, Germany, France, UK, Norway, FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), and others, as relevant). Guidance to include but not limited to, bidding eligibility, cost allowability and recovery, donor approvals, procurement, subawards/beneficiaries, audit support, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as WCS contact for requests for information, interpretation, and guidance on a broad range of compliance topics related to European donors’ award rules and regulations.
• Provide expert compliance-related support for European public donor proposal development, guidance on review and negotiation of new awards and amendments, issuance of subawards, communications with donors, kick-off meetings, etc. across all WCS programs.
• Liaise with other departments across WCS – including Accounting, Operations, the Office of General Counsel, Purchasing and HR – to identify risk and resolve compliance issues related to awards funded by WCS’s major European donors.
• In collaboration with WCS Europe-based staff, particularly WCS Directors for Strategic Partnerships with EU, French and German Donors, provide regulatory and compliance guidance related to funding opportunities from European donors.
• Assist and as appropriate, lead in the development and implementation of comprehensive, single, and multi public donor compliance training programs, donor-specific procedures, guidance, award documents, and practical tools to help ensure compliance with European public donor awards.
• Participate in and as directed, lead/moderate internal working groups and platforms for knowledge sharing related to WCS’s major European public donors’ compliance.
• Track changes to WCS’s major European public donors’ regulations, and ensure WCS processes, procedures, and policies are updated accordingly.
• Support the development of European public donor focused subaward materials. As needed, provide guidance and assistance on European public donor funded subaward review, assessments, subaward development, implementation, monitoring, and close-out.
• Engage in peer discussion groups involving other international NGOs and academic institutions.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a relevant field such as business, finance, or non-profit management (other fields eligible when applicant has sufficient relevant expertise/experience).
• At least 5 years of experience in an international, donor-funded organization in a compliance capacity.
• In-depth knowledge of grant & contracts award procedures and compliance requirements applying to WCS’s major European public donors.
• Proven compliance experience working along the lifecycle of awards funded by the EU, Germany, and France. Additional experience with FCDO and other European donors is an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills and capacity to analyse complex problems and provide solutions.
• Experience providing training and/or developing and rolling out guidance materials.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate complicated concepts clearly and concisely both in writing and orally, in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness to learn, awareness and understanding of different viewpoints and expertise.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability and preference for working collaboratively in a team.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt quickly to new challenges.
• Fluency in English required.
• Strong experience with MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook) is required.
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.

Preferred requirements:

• Experience with major financial accounting and reporting software (SAP or equivalent) as well as work management platforms (e.g., Asana) is preferred.
• Professional proficiency in French or Spanish.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities.

The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies.

Salary Range

Competitive salary commensurate with experience

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