Position:
Darwin Project Grants Manager
Location:
Remote
Department:
Field Conservation
Reports To:
Director of Field Conservation
Employee Classification:
Part-time, Approx. 10hrs/week
Employment Status:
Non-exempt
Start Date:
March 1, 2026
Period of Employment:
Four years
Hourly Rate:
US $34.85/hour
Organizational Background:The Commonwealth Zoological Corporation d/b/a Zoo New England (ZNE) is the nonprofit organization that operates Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Both zoos are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
ZNE’s mission is to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future generations by creating engaging experiences that integrate wildlife protection and conservation, research, and education. Providing meaningful connections to wildlife has been at the heart of this mission, helping people fully understand the incredible biodiversity of our planet and the critical role they can play in ensuring it remains a healthy, thriving environment for generations to come.
Since 2017, ZNE’s Field Conservation Department(FCD)has been working with federal, state, municipal, and nonprofit partners to protect and support rare wildlife, runningover 12 projects and programs in New England andsupporting over 20 international programs on four continents.
ProjectBackground:in July of 2025 ZNE was awarded a DarwinInitiative (UK)grantcoveringfour years, to begin in April of 2026. These funds will support acommunity basedconservationproject entitledRecovering Wildlife, Protecting Forests, and Alleviating Poverty through Community Governance, to take place in the province ofGilgit-Baltistan, in northern Pakistan.
ZNE is the lead on this project, but implementation of theprojectworkplanand activitieswilllargely dependon two in-country partners, Pakistan Environment Trust (PET) andWildlife Conservation and Development Society (WCDS).
Position Background:To support this project, ZNE seeks a dynamic, well-organized, hard-working, and committed team player to oversee the budget, finances, and other administrative aspects of the project, and to provide direct support to the ZNE FCD Director in managing the operations of the project. The Grants Manager provides an important support role, and duties will vary from day to day. This position requires a person who thrives in a flexible work environment, is keen to learn, and is eager to be part of a team.
Primary Responsibilities:
- The Grants Manager is responsible for ensuring that ZNE, partners, and the project meet and follow all rules and regulations and expected of grantees of the UK Government, DEFRA, and Darwin.
- Work with ZNE and partners to build a management system for grant administration and to periodically review progress toward grant objectives; assist in monitoring partner expenses to ensure spending within award budgets.
- Review funding agreements to ensure compliance with terms.
- Ensure project grant administration is on track; coordinate preparation of financial reports for donor;assist with reconciling budget-to-actuals for financial reports;review and approve grant financial reports prepared by country partners prior to submission to ZNE for signature and final submission to Darwin.
- Ensure the ZNE Finance Department has processed revenue and expensesin a timely manner and according to the grant budget.
- Coordinate subgrant compliance in Pakistan; support in-country partners in understandingthe grant management processes, systems, tools and donor compliance requirements; train equivalent partner staff as needed.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a program of study such as finance, accounting, economics, or business (or similar) , MBA preferred.
- Proven financial management experience in an international organization (3+ years).
- Experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge or similar accounting systems.
- Demonstrated knowledge of grant and contract compliance with government agencies.
- Excellent organizational skills, including ability to set and follow priorities, take initiative, work on multiple items simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
- Excellent computer and systems skills with respect to MS Office applications (advanced skills in MS Excel ) and major financial accounting and reporting software.
