Funding and Reporting Manager

Background

The funding and reporting manager (FRM) is accountable for effective and compliant delivery of the park’s grant portfolio, high-quality data-based reporting for internal and external purposes, and effectively packaging the park’s identified funding needs.

In this multifaceted position, one functions as a critical bridge between the strategy and operational reality of the park, the objectives, preferences and compliance requirements of funders as well as the needs of the teams at headquarters, most notably fundraising. The role requires strong writing and coordination skills, a good grasp of the regulations and interests of donors, a solid handle on budgeting and monitoring & evaluation and lastly, someone with a passion for capturing the ecological, social and economic impact (objectives) of the park.

You are the park’s focal point for any questions from head office around fundraising and metrics, which requires close collaboration with the park manager, financial controller as well as the Heads of Department in your park, responsible for the implementation of the park’s strategies.

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

• Oversees the park’s grant portfolio, monitoring effective and compliant delivery of respective projects. This includes working closely with the financial controller to ensure correct allocations of donor funding and tracking burn rates, coordinating grant work plans and briefing the heads of department on key deliverables, providing required partner visibility and monitoring risks to grant project components’ delivery. Represents the park in the quarterly funding calls, debriefing APN funding and finance teams on your park’s funding needs, grant delivery and key operational updates;
• Maps out the park’s funding needs, and develops compelling funding packages, concept notes and proposals for fundraising among both private and institutional donors. Ensures the proposals are closely aligned with the park’s long-term objectives, business plan, approved budget and monitoring program;
• Coordinates and collates park reporting, both for internal and external purposes. This includes collaborating with the heads of departments to ensure the right metrics to capture the parks’ impact are being measured and data is being entered accurately into African Parks’ reporting systems. Next to developing timely and high-quality donor reports that reinforce our reputation, develops park factsheets for engagement events, shares monthly operational updates, makes the communications team aware of highlights and compiles analytical reports that inform data-based decision making and performance evaluations for the park;
• Coordinates or collates park-level surveys, case studies, data collection and analyses that inform impact assessments for donors and partners;
• Support the writing of operational documents such as business plans and special project descriptions;
• Writing compelling grant concept notes and proposals with emphasis on strong logical flow and hard data: The FRM will work with the Account Managers and Park Management Units to support proposal writing through a collaborative process.
• Managing complex projects, setting, and managing timelines, coordinating input from multiple teams, and ensuring error-free work, typically for 2-3 overlapping projects at any one time.
• Where needed, provides support to carbon credit or other ecosystem service valorisation processes, facilitates park visits from key stakeholders such as donors.

Skills, competencies and experience required for the position

• Full professional competency of English and the national language of the park’s host country;
• At least 3 years of experience working in philanthropy, conservation, social development or sustainable land use management and a good track record of working with donors, including with institutional funders such as the European Union, USAID or GIZ;
• Have excellent analytical and communication skills with the ability to prepare proposals, reports, and concept papers to a high level of proficiency.
• Possess an in-depth understanding of complex donor requirements including: US, EU, German and other public funding agencies
• Strong writer and experience in developing external communications such as grant proposals and impact reports;
• A solid handle on Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks and ideally compliance requirements for various donors;
• Exposed to program development, budgeting and detailed financial reporting requirements;
• Able to keep the team organized and focused on the key priorities within a multitude of projects with deadlines, taking strong ownership of safeguarding and improving African Parks’ quality standards as the leading conservation organization on the continent;
• Good with people, a capacity builder and sensitive to operating in intercultural environments;
• Resilient and flexible, able to operate effectively from remote areas;
• University degree in Conservation, Biology, Social Development, Communications, International Relations, Social Sciences or other relevant field.

Key relationships:

• Director of the RNCE
• Park Management Unit
• Regional Funding and Reporting Manager
• Finance Manager
• Donors and national and international institutions