YLabs is inviting applications for a Grants Lead to oversee grant management, donor financial reporting, subgrantee compliance and financial administration across its programmes. This is a fully remote, full-time position open to candidates globally, with a preference for applicants based in Africa. The successful candidate will lead the Grants & Compliance Unit within the organisation’s finance department, ensuring that grant funds are managed responsibly, partner organisations meet financial compliance requirements, and donor reporting is accurate and timely. The position offers an annual gross salary of US$38,181 to US$55,909.09, depending on experience and the applicable regional salary benchmark. The initial contract is for 12 months, and the role includes full employee benefits. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, making early applications advisable. YLabs Grants Lead Job Overview Position: Grants Lead Organisation: YLabs Department: Operations & Finance Location: Remote worldwide, with a preference for candidates based in Africa Employment type: Full-time Contract duration: Initial 12-month term Salary: US$38,181–US$55,909.09 gross annually Benefits: Full employee benefits Experience level: Senior manager/supervisor Minimum experience: Five or more years in relevant finance, grant administration or compliance work Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled Application method: Online application About YLabs YLabs is a global design and research organisation founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab. It works with young people to develop inclusive technologies, digital products and services that expand youth agency, opportunity and well-being. The organisation combines youth-driven design with expertise in adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product development, behavioural science and epidemiology. Based in Rwanda and the United States, YLabs has worked across 18 countries, focusing on improved health and wellness, greater economic opportunity and increased climate resilience. The Grants Lead will support the organisation’s financial systems and funding partnerships, helping ensure that resources allocated to innovation and development initiatives are managed effectively. Key Responsibilities The Grants Lead will oversee the complete lifecycle of restricted donor funding, from partner due diligence and grant contracting to financial reporting, monitoring and closeout. 1. Partner Due Diligence and Contracting The successful candidate will assess prospective subrecipients’ financial capacity by reviewing audited financial statements, liquidity, debt exposure, accounting systems and internal controls. They will classify partners according to financial risk and determine suitable disbursement arrangements, including advances, instalments or reimbursements. The role also involves coordinating subrecipient agreements, onboarding procedures and standardised financial reporting templates. 2. Fund Management and Grant Administration The Grants Lead will develop budget templates, coordinate fund disbursements and ensure partner expenditure complies with donor requirements. Responsibilities include reviewing financial reports, transaction listings, bank reconciliations and eligible costs. The role requires monthly budget-to-actual analysis, cash-flow reviews, identification of financial irregularities, audit coordination and follow-up on corrective action plans. 3. Consolidated Financial Reporting Working with the finance team, the Grants Lead will consolidate expenditure across subrecipient partners using QuickBooks and prepare financial performance updates for the Director of Finance. Reports will cover spending rates, portfolio liquidity, financial risks and overall grant performance. 4. Subgrantee Monitoring and Capacity Building The successful candidate will oversee the subgrant pipeline from calls for proposals and application intake through award management and closeout. They will also train partner finance teams, conduct risk-based desk reviews and monitoring visits, verify supporting documents and maintain grant management manuals and internal controls. 5. Donor Reporting and Budget Development Additional duties include preparing accurate multi-currency donor financial reports, developing project and proposal budgets, monitoring donor funding tranches, reviewing expenditure allocations and coordinating donor-specific audits. Eligibility Requirements Applicants should meet the following requirements: Be currently based in Africa, although the role is advertised as remote and open to global candidates. Hold a valid work permit for their country of residence. Possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field. Have at least five years of direct experience in grant administration, subgrantee management, auditing, financial compliance or a senior finance management role within an international nonprofit, incubator or aggregator organisation. Demonstrate experience managing large institutional grants, such as funding from the Mastercard Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada or USAID. A professional qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA or an equivalent certification is preferred. Candidates should also have strong analytical skills, sound financial risk assessment abilities, excellent technical writing and experience coordinating partners across multiple countries. Technical Skills and Competencies The role requires proficiency in accounting and financial management software, such as QuickBooks, Bill.com and Expensify. Experience with grant management platforms such as Submittable, SurveyMonkey and Fluxx is also desirable. Advanced Excel skills are important for financial modelling, expenditure tracking and budget variance analysis. Candidates should be comfortable using Slack, Google Workspace and other remote collaboration tools to coordinate work across time zones. The successful applicant must communicate financial information clearly, work effectively with diverse teams and be willing to travel within Africa when required. Salary and Employment Benefits YLabs offers an annual gross salary ranging from US$38,181 to US$55,909.09 for this position. The final salary depends on experience and the organisation’s regional salary benchmarks. The organisation follows a compensation approach based on equitable pay for work of equal value. Salaries are paid in the local currency of the employee’s permanent work location, meaning the advertised US-dollar range may not represent the currency in which the employee receives payment. The position is full-time and includes employee benefits. The initial contract lasts 12 months. How to Apply for the YLabs Grants Lead Job Interested candidates should apply through the official YLabs recruitment platform. Review the full vacancy announcement and confirm that the qualifications and experience match the requirements. Prepare an updated CV highlighting grant management, donor compliance, financial reporting, audit coordination and subrecipient oversight. Emphasise experience managing institutional donor funding and multi-country partnerships. Highlight relevant professional certifications, accounting software proficiency and advanced Excel skills. Submit the application through the official careers portal. Locate the Grants Lead vacancy under the Operations & Finance department and follow the application instructions. How to Strengthen Your Application Applicants should demonstrate measurable achievements in grant management, such as improving financial controls, reducing reporting errors, strengthening audit readiness or overseeing complex donor-funded portfolios. Where possible, provide examples of managing restricted funding, assessing subrecipient risk, monitoring expenditure across multiple countries and preparing consolidated donor reports. Candidates should also explain how their experience supports accountability, compliance and effective use of development funding. Application Deadline Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No fixed closing date is provided in the vacancy announcement. Interested candidates should apply as early as possible. 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