Outgoing Agreements and Financial Associate Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was founded in 1961 and has since become a leading global conservation organization. With a mission to help people and nature thrive, WWF operates in over 100 countries, collaborating with communities, companies, and governments to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and promote sustainable solutions. The organization is grounded in scientific research and driven by collaborative efforts, focusing on conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, and addressing climate change. WWF boasts nearly 1 million members in the United States and over 5 million members globally, reflecting its extensive reach and commitment to environmental conservation.

Job Overview:
The Outgoing Agreements and Financial Associate Specialist plays a crucial role in the administration of outgoing agreements, which include subgrants, consulting agreements, travel support agreements, and other contracts. This position is under the direction of the Senior Program Administrator and is responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of outgoing agreements from issuance to close-out for assigned portfolios. The Associate Specialist's responsibilities encompass preparing, reviewing, processing, and tracking agreements, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, WWF policies, and audit standards. Additionally, the role involves maintaining accurate records in WWF systems such as SmartSimple and Workday. The Associate Specialist also provides essential day-to-day support to Program Administrators and Program staff throughout the outgoing agreement lifecycle, ensuring timely and accurate payment processing in accordance with WWF policies and procedures. This position requires a working knowledge of outgoing agreement procedures and contributes to efficient, accurate, and compliant agreement administration.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Outgoing Agreements and Financial Associate Specialist include coordinating outgoing agreements from issuance through close-out for assigned portfolios. This involves drafting outgoing agreements and amendments using approved WWF templates, reviewing scopes of work, budgets, and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy, and coordinating routing, approvals, signatures, and agreement execution. The Associate Specialist is also responsible for maintaining complete and accurate agreement records in SmartSimple and Workday, collaborating with program administrators to conduct grantee risk assessments, and tracking milestones, deliverables, and reporting deadlines for assigned agreements. Additionally, the role includes processing outgoing agreement payments in a timely and accurate manner, coordinating with Program staff and Finance to resolve routine payment questions, and maintaining financial documentation for audit and compliance purposes. The Associate Specialist will also assist with routine administrative tasks related to financial documentation and payment processing as assigned, and respond to routine procedural questions from staff and partners.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Outgoing Agreements and Financial Associate Specialist position should possess a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of relevant experience in grants administration, contracts administration, public administration, nonprofit operations, project coordination, or a related field. Experience in coordinating or administering agreements, contracts, grants, or similar administrative processes is essential. A basic understanding of the grants management lifecycle and an interest in developing knowledge of grant financial management and donor compliance requirements are also required. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple assignments while maintaining accurate records are crucial for success in this role. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external partners, are necessary. Candidates should also demonstrate customer service, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, and have proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook. Experience with grants management or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as SmartSimple and Workday is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Outgoing Agreements and Financial Associate Specialist position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related discipline. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of grants administration and financial management within a nonprofit context.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in grants administration, contracts administration, public administration, nonprofit operations, project coordination, or a related field. Candidates should have experience coordinating or administering agreements, contracts, grants, or similar administrative processes, as well as a basic understanding of the grants management lifecycle. An interest in developing knowledge of grant financial management and donor compliance requirements is also important.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is essential for effective communication within the organization and with external partners. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly if they align with WWF's global operations and partnerships.

Additional Notes:
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S., and this position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Relocation is not provided for this position. WWF promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.