Are you looking to channel your skills into meaningful, energizing work that will directly contribute to protecting our natural world? Do you want to work with an exceptional group of passionate and caring colleagues?

Birds Canada is the country’s premier national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 100+ dedicated staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s Voice for Birds – will you join us?

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Manager of International Grants and Compliance works with our multiple initiative partners in South and Central America and Mexico to ensure funds disbursed are used in compliance with Government of Canada (especially, but not limited to, Global Affairs Canada) terms and conditions. 

This role works directly with the Director of International Grants and Compliance and the Birds Canada Finance team to ensure the monitoring of direct grant agreements, support capacity building (processes and practices) of partners in grant management and donor compliance, collaborate on project partner budget revisions, support partner preparedness for Global Affairs Canada audit, and ensure accountability to all stakeholders and donors.

The incumbent must be able to work with a high degree of autonomy and be willing to learn from colleagues and counterparts and play the role of a partner committed to collective results. Success will emerge from the successful candidate’s ability to collaborate with counterparts in Finance teams both in Canada and in Latin America and the Caribbean. Because of the highly collaborative nature of this work, this position requires professional Spanish and English fluency. Additionally, candidates must be legally entitled to work in Canada to be considered for this role. 

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

This is a full-time role reporting to the Director of International Grants and Compliance. It can be performed fully remotely from anywhere in Canada, in a hybrid arrangement from a home office and one of our regional offices (Port Rowan, ON; Delta, BC; or Sackville, NB), or fully in person from our national office in Port Rowan, ON.

While some offsite and in-person work will be required, most collaboration will occur virtually. This role will require international travel approximately 2-4 trips per year, especially to Latin America. Some travel destinations may include remote locations with basic amenities only. The start date for this role is mid-late June 2025. 

TOTAL COMPENSATION

Birds Canada is proud to offer an exceptional Total Compensation Package, including a competitive starting salary and 5% RRSP matching after 12 months of service. In addition, staff enjoy a primarily employer-paid extended benefits package including health and dental coverage, Basic Group Life Insurance, Group out-of-province travel insurance, Vision, ADD&D and short- and long-term disability coverage. We offer all staff 4 weeks’ vacation per year to start along with 12 personal health days and additional paid vacation days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

STARTING SALARY: The starting salary for this role is $83,846-$89,436 per year commensurate with your previous experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide Partner Support and Capacity Building

·        Serve as a key liaison with Conserva Aves finance officers and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to ensure consistent understanding of compliance, budgeting, and reporting.

·        Co-lead capacity building efforts on donor and agreement compliance (especially Global Affairs Canada), provide direct support remotely and through occasional travel, and foster strong, trust-based relationships with Canadian and international colleagues.

Implement Donor Accountability Mechanisms

·        Work with project partners and the Director, International Grants and Compliance to develop and monitor grant agreements with partners, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support timely and accurate project financial reporting, ensuring alignment with Birds Canada’s financial processes.

·        Collaborate with internal finance staff on forecasting, variance analysis, and budget monitoring

·        Co-create a culture of mutual accountability with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Canada by co-creating processes, directly carrying out regular spot checks of expense transactions, recording findings, identifying areas of high risk and making recommendations and taking corrective action.

Mitigation of Financial, Compliance and Contractual Risks

·        Serve as a liaison between Latin American and Caribbean partners and Birds Canada staff to plan, monitor, and adapt budgets based on project needs and context. Provide expert guidance to support equitable fund use, resolve compliance issues, and enhance project impact.

·        Anticipate compliance challenges and co-develop mitigation strategies, including direct and in-person support and capacity building, primarily in Spanish.

Financial Systems Implementation and Alignment

·        Support the Director, International Grants & Compliance in aligning Conserva Aves project budgets and forecasting with Birds Canada’s overall organizational budgeting and forecasting.

·        Serve as a technical specialist supporting Birds Canada’s International Cooperation and Conservation and Finance team members to develop, monitor and revise project budgets in line with the expressed priorities of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Staff Wellness and Culture Building

·        Support and promote wellness-focused leadership and collective responsibility for wellbeing and success of the team and projects.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

·        Professional Spanish and English language fluency (spoken & written) required; Additional language skills in Portuguese and/or French an asset

·        Significant knowledge and/or experience (5+ years) supporting and/or leading grant and financial management of international cooperation or conservation programs ($5million+), especially in Latin America and the Caribbean

·        Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data, identify compliance issues and collaboratively implement solutions including directly with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

·        Strong experience in the use of Results Based Management or adaptive management approaches and tools.

·        Strong experience building relationships with diverse colleagues and partners, especially in Latin America

·        Advanced knowledge of spreadsheets, databases and MS Office suite of applications as well as familiarity and understanding of accounting software.

·        Strong knowledge of the policies, practices, standards and compliance requirements of Global Affairs Canada.

·        Experience with other institutional donors and/or philanthropic foundations is an asset.

·        Commitment to working towards collaborative results and contributing to a psychologically safe and healthy team environment.

·        A personal commitment to creating a more sustainable and equitable world.

This position is also open to those who can demonstrate a depth of experience that may not solely stem from traditional years in the field, but rather from alternative pathways or unique contexts.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

·        Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field (eg., finance, business, management), with

·        Specialized project or financial management training or certification as an asset; or

·        Significant equivalent lived experience in financial or grant management in conservation and community development actions in Latin America, including with women-led or Indigenous or Afro-descendant Organizations.

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume along with a covering letter outlining how your experience makes you the perfect candidate for this role via the Birds Canada Online Job Portal by 5pm EST on June 6, 2025. We encourage interested candidates to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and initial interviews may be conducted prior to the closing date.   Accommodations are available at any stage of the recruitment, selection, and/or assessment process to support diverse accessibility needs.

At Birds Canada, we are committed to fostering a culture that values Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation, and Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, as integral approaches that shape all that we do in our organization and for nature (read our full commitment to inclusion at this LINK ). We oppose prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination, and aim to ensure that people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experiences feel a sense of belonging and can participate in protecting wild birds and their habitats.

We are actively seeking to improve our ability to reach all candidates with our job postings. Applicants belonging to racialized groups, who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or who have a disability, are therefore welcome to mention this in their cover letter, if they feel comfortable, although this is not a requirement.