About Rare

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive. For over 50 years, across 60 countries, we have inspired and empowered millions of people and their communities to shift their behaviors and practices to protect our shared planet. We are a global leader in driving social change for people and nature and believe that the cumulative power of individual and community action is a vital pathway to safeguarding and restoring our shared waters, lands, and climate. 

Fish Forever is Rare’s global initiative to restore near-shore fisheries in the tropics. Fish Forever is helping improve fishery productivity, profitability, and sustainability while also boosting livelihoods, protecting habitats, and enhancing coastal resilience to climate change. 

Position Overview:

As part of the Fish Forever Program, Brazil team, the Program Manager independently oversees a portfolio of complex projects within the Fish Forever program in Brazil country. The individual performs a range of tasks related to program/grants management and program strategy that require processing and interpretation of complex concepts and issues. This includes program/project management, budget management, donor compliance, financial planning, coordination, administrative support, and oversight of select Fish Forever grants. The individual will work with program and support staff to ensure that the management of Fish Forever grants follows the policies and procedures of Rare and donors. They will help improve and maintain Rare’s grants management system and processes needed to manage the Fish Forever program. The Program Manager serves as a critical link between the program’s central team, country teams, and Rare’s support team.

Essential Functions:

Program Management:

• Provide independent management oversight over a portfolio of grants and related deliverables in support of Fish Forever Brazil.
• Assist in the preparation and management of work plans, budgets, contracts, and sub-agreements.
• Work closely with Brazil leads to ensure alignment of country implementation plans with Rare’s and Fish Forever’s overall plan and strategy.
• Monitor the timeliness and quality of outputs by donor commitments and Rare Brazil guidelines.
• Identify project risks or delays and develop mitigation plans to address them
• Support and coordinate with Brazil leads periodic review and evaluation of activities according to the project M&E framework, work plan, and grant requirements. Prepare and conduct all related program status reviews.
• Develop all related donor reports in coordination with country teams. Manage all related reporting timelines. Work with Brazil Development team and Implementation team to ensure donor relationship is maintained and strengthened.
• Co-develop simple but standardized project management tools, reports, and guides to facilitate communication, knowledge, and information sharing.
• Travel to the field and project sites to support implementation, operations, and major project activities as needed.
• Support the expansion of Fish Forever into new states in Brazil, including setting up program operations, M&E systems, and relevant capacity building.
• Support Brazil leads in organizing donor visits and evaluations.
• Assist with any capacity building on program and grant management-related topics.

Budget Management:

• Provide high-level oversight of grant-funded budgets, including coordinating the preparation, monitoring, and reporting of budgets.
• In collaboration with the Brazil Finance team and Brazil leads, ensure clarity and alignment of budget and operating plans to support proper implementation of project activities.
• Oversee the high-level budget-to-actuals of related grant budgets.
• Identify any risks and work with country teams and finance to develop mitigation plans.
• Work with Finance and Implementation teams to develop and finalize donor financial reports.

Program Management Officer (PMO):

• Generate grant portfolios for each active grant in grant in Brazil using a pre-established template.
• Ensure grant portfolios are regularly updated and made available to relevant staff.
• Oversee the collection and maintenance of grant documents for effective decision-making.
• Guide Rare Brazil staff on how to navigate and access information and documents.
• Proactively consult and respond to staff feedback on how to improve the system.

Communications:

• Support the Executive team in preparing and conducting Staff meetings.
• Serve as a point person for information related to assigned Fish Forever Brazil grants or ad hoc donor questions.
• Facilitate effective coordination between Brazil and Rare Inc., such as the departments of Fish Forever Global, Finance and Development teams in the US, and other geographies on all grant management matters.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master’s (or equivalent) degree in public/business administration, project management, international development, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience is required.
• Strong project/program/grant management and reporting experience required.
• Experience working with international NGOs required.
• Experience working in Brazil and the North States is desirable.
• Experience working with funding organizations such as foundations, multilateral organizations, and government agencies. Experience managing multiple restricted grants is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and use financial systems and implement administrative policies.
• Knowledge of the full program cycle is desirable.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to perform complex tasks and prioritize competing requests.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse and global community.
• Well organized and able to manage deadlines independently/work remotely.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.
• Working knowledge of conservation/fisheries/environmental issues and grants management desirable.
• Proficiency in word processing, basic accounting, managing databases and spreadsheets, and familiarity with online project management tools.
• A creative, solution-oriented approach to operational logistics and knowledge management.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.
• Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate virtual international meetings.
• Ability to travel to country project sites.

Rare is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.