Procurement & Compliance Specialist

About CorpsAfrica:

CorpsAfrica was founded in 2011 by former Peace Corps Volunteer Liz Fanning with the idea of turning community development in Africa over to local changemakers. During her own service, Liz was approached by young Moroccans who wanted to be Peace Corps Volunteers so they could help people in their own country, but she had to tell them it was only for Americans. www.corpsafrica.org

Since launching its first program in Morocco in 2013, it has expanded to 10 countries across the continent and aims to expand to all 54 of Africa’s countries in the next ten years. To date, CorpsAfrica has hosted hundreds of volunteers across Morocco, Senegal, Malawi, and Rwanda, who have completed over 800 projects, including building wells, schools, roads, and irrigation systems; establishing literacy programs; and supporting vegetable and livestock farms.Overview of the Position:

The Procurement and Compliance Specialist will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient, transparent, and compliant acquisition of goods, services, and works necessary for CorpsAfrica's programs and operations. This dual-focused position will manage the entire procurement lifecycle for major purchases while also ensuring strict adherence to donor regulations and internal policies across all grant-funded activities. The Procurement and Compliance Specialist will work closely with program teams, finance, and other relevant departments to facilitate timely and cost-effective acquisitions while maintaining robust compliance standards. 

CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, exempt

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary will be commensurate with experience and location. Indicative ranges are $60,000 - $70,000 USD for Washington D.C.-based roles, and $30,000 - $40,000 USD for roles based in Nairobi, Kenya. CorpsAfrica offers a comprehensive benefits package including employer-paid medical insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.

LOCATION: Washington, DC or Nairobi, Kenya. Flexible telecommuting policy, and must be able to travel from time to time as required.

REPORTS TO: Chief Operating Officer Specific Responsibilities: 

Procurement Management:

• Lead the full procurement cycle for major items, from collaborating with global and country teams to define needs and develop plans, to advising on appropriate methods, managing bidding processes (RFQs, RFPs), and facilitating contract negotiations with suppliers and providers.
• Ensure robust documentation and reporting for all procurement activities, including maintaining organized files, tracking paperwork for audits, and preparing accurate, timely reports for management and donors in compliance with required formats.
• Conduct market research to identify potential vendors and suppliers.
• Manage supplier relationships, including identifying, pre-qualifying, and maintaining a database of reliable and compliant vendors, as well as monitoring their performance against contractual obligations.
• Contribute to the refinement of CorpsAfrica's procurement and compliance policies and procedures and provide training and guidance to staff on these policies, donor regulations, and best practices to foster a strong culture of compliance.
• Monitor and report on procurement-related compliance issues, supporting the development and implementation of corrective action plans to address these issues.
• Develop, maintain, and implement an annual procurement plan.
• Provide regular reporting on procurement activities, including spend analysis and vendor performance.
• Analyze procurement data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement. 

GSO Contract Management:

• Develop, negotiate, and manage the Global Support Office’s contracts with vendors, consultants, and suppliers.
• Ensure contracts are compliant with organizational policies and procedures, funder requirements, and applicable laws and regulations. 

Donor Compliance and Grant Management:

• Serve as the primary internal expert on all donor rules, regulations, and compliance requirements for CorpsAfrica's grants, proactively interpreting grant agreements and communicating all obligations (programmatic, financial, procurement, reporting) to relevant staff.
• Develop, implement, and monitor internal control mechanisms and procedures to ensure continuous adherence to donor guidelines and CorpsAfrica policies across all grant-funded activities.
• Oversee and ensure the timely and accurate submission of all grant-related reports (financial, narrative, performance) by coordinating inputs from program, finance, and other relevant teams.
• Establish and maintain robust systems for tracking work plans, deliverables, and performance indicators as outlined in grant agreements, regularly monitoring progress and identifying potential compliance risks.
• Conduct regular internal compliance checks and spot audits of grant documentation, processes, and expenditures to proactively identify and address areas of non-compliance.
• Act as the primary liaison with auditors for grant-related compliance matters, preparing necessary documentation and responding to inquiries.
• Identify and flag potential compliance risks to management, proposing effective mitigation strategies, and providing ongoing guidance to program teams to ensure alignment with grant stipulations. Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, International Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in procurement and/or compliance, preferably within an international NGO or development organization.
• Demonstrated experience in managing procurement processes in compliance with donor regulations (i.e., USAID, EU, UN agencies, foundations, etc.).
• Strong understanding of grant management principles and donor compliance requirements.
• Experience in developing and managing RFQs, RFPs, and contracts, with a focus on incorporating compliance clauses.
• Proven ability to track and manage complex documentation and reporting requirements.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex regulations clearly.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
• A strong commitment to the mission of CorpsAfrica is required, with a desire to support youth leadership, participatory community development, impact evaluation, transparency, and accountability.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French or Swahili is an advantage.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multicultural environment.
• Strong ethical standards and a deep commitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance. 

TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should send CV and Cover letter that illustrates qualifications relevant to this role through JazzHR. Only complete applications from candidates who meet the above qualifications will be considered. Deadline to apply is July 21, 2025.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work full-time in the U.S. or Kenya and should not require employment sponsorship. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, CorpsAfrica encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability or any other legally protected basis.