[Hiring] Senior Associate, Grants & Contract Management @Aceli Africa

Role Description

Reporting to the Chief of Staff and working closely with Aceli's Finance, Operations, and Fundraising teams, the Senior Associate will oversee grants and contract compliance, ensuring that contracts, subawards, and donor agreements adhere to Aceli's policies and procedures, donor requirements, US nonprofit regulations, and industry best practices. The role will also be responsible for maintaining the registrations of Aceli US, a 501(c)(3) legal entity, and ensuring ongoing compliance with applicable federal and state requirements. The Senior Associate will be expected to work collaboratively across teams, exercise a high degree of autonomy, and take ownership of key operational and compliance responsibilities.

The ideal candidate will have experience in US nonprofit (501(c)(3)) operations and compliance, including managing international donor funding. They will bring exceptional organizational skills, a creative and collaborative approach to problem-solving, and a strong interest in continuous learning and developing expertise in nonprofit compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Contracts, Procurement & Subawards
  • Lead Aceli’s procurement function to ensure compliance with donor and grant requirements.
  • Draft and negotiate contracts, ensuring contractor compliance with Aceli's policies and donor requirements.
  • Conduct pre-award risk assessments and due diligence on subrecipients.
  • Monitor subaward progress and financial reporting, managing subaward closeout.
  • Maintain organized files for all contracts and subawards within Aceli’s contract management system.
  • Train Aceli team on procurement and compliance requirements.
• Donor & Grant Compliance
  • Provide documentation and support for donor due diligence assessments and audits.
  • Track and fulfill donor reporting and compliance requirements across Aceli's grant portfolio.
  • Maintain Aceli's International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) publication and dashboards.
  • Guide staff and partners on donor requirements and Aceli's policies and procedures.
• Aceli US Registrations & Corporate Compliance
  • Prepare, file, and maintain federal and state registrations for Aceli US.
  • Track US federal and state nonprofit compliance requirements and filing deadlines.
• Systems & Records
  • Implement and monitor systems for tracking and storing procurement documentation and contracts.
  • Maintain Aceli's grants and contracts records, ensuring data accuracy and up-to-date documentation.
  • Analyze trends in compliance processes and propose improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in nonprofit operations, grants management, contract management, or compliance.
• Working knowledge of US 501(c)(3) nonprofit compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with subcontracting, procurement, and subawards under agreements funded by foreign governments.
• Experience managing compliance and reporting requirements for international donor funding.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound assessments quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Team-oriented and proactive, able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated ability to work with teams across multiple continents and cultures.

Preferred

• Experience working with partners and implementers in East Africa.
• Familiarity with US government grant and contract requirements.
• Experience with Airtable or similar database tools.
• Interest in and commitment to international development and agricultural finance.

Additional Information

Aceli is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are required to be authorized to work in the US. Please share an updated CV and cover letter by November 27, 2026. Applications without a Cover Letter will not be considered.