Grants & Compliance Advisor

Hashtag Nonprofit NPC; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Johannesburg is seeking a Grants & Compliance Advisor to provide expert guidance on grant management and ensure compliance with grant requirements. Ideal candidates should have 5-7 years of experience in grant management and possess strong communication and analytical skills. This role includes strategic input into grant-making processes, oversight of grant implementation, and capacity building for program staff.

Qualifications

• 5 -7 years’ grant management experience in grant making.
• Strong understanding of grant regulations and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with grants management information systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic input into grant design and implementation.
• Develop and oversee grant management database and dashboard.
• Monitor and maintain audit-ready grant files.

Skills

Grant management experience

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Project management skills

Capacity building

Negotiation skills

Digital fluency

Education

Post graduate qualification in social science or related field

Tools

Grants management information systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Grants & Compliance Advisor at Hlanganisa Community Fund

Deadline: 19 September 2025

Region: Johannesburg

Type of employment: Full time

Job Description

Job Role: Grants & Compliance Advisor

Level: Manager

Reporting to: Director: Programmes and Impact

Role Purpose: This role provides expert guidance and capacity building on grant management to Hlanganisa’s programme team to ensure compliance with grant requirements, regulations and organisational policies. The Grant and Compliance Advisor will mitigate organisational risk and ensure accountability and transparency in all aspects of grant administration and organisational compliance.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Input Into Grant Making
  • Provide strategic input into the design and implementation of Hlanganisa’s grant-making processes to ensure alignment with the organisation’s philanthropic advocacy agenda.
  • Champion and integrate trust-based grant-making principles, emphasising transparency, mutual accountability, and equitable power dynamics with grantee partners.
  • Contribute to shaping the type of grants awarded (e.g., core, project, or capacity-building support) to ensure they respond to partner needs and advance Hlanganisa’s strategic objectives.
  • Ensure grant-making decisions reinforce Hlanganisa’s position on inclusive, community-driven development and amplify the voices of marginalised groups.
  • Advise senior management on emerging trends in philanthropy and funding to strengthen Hlanganisa’s strategic positioning in the sector.
  • Collaborate with programme teams to ensure grant-making is not only transactional but also a strategic lever for systems change and social justice impact.
  • Develop frameworks to measure and demonstrate the strategic value and impact of grants awarded.

• Grant Management
  • Provide technical input on the grant management design and process ensuring alignment with organisational goals and donor requirements.
  • Develop and oversee grant management database and dashboard
  • Control the grant management reporting schedule, maintaining a database of grant proposals and reporting deadlines
  • Maintain register of grant proposals, tracking proposals approved, rejected and those still in the pipeline
  • Develop and maintain an archiving and access system for key grant documents.
  • Review and advice on unsolicited applications
  • File grant agreements in a central filing system
  • Maintain audit-ready grant files and facilitate external grants audits as required.
  • Ensure grants are implemented and reported on according to contractual agreements
  • Review grant application budgets and financial parameters
  • Prepare grant agreements and submits for approval to Director for Programmes and Impact
  • Distribute approved grant agreements to Programme Officers
  • Manage the programme reporting and payment schedules and monitor programme budget expenditure.
  • Prepare instructions for payment of grants
  • Review programme systems for effectiveness and propose improvements
  • Remain up to date with best practice in grant-making

• Grant Compliance Oversight
  • Oversee grant implementation, provide technical input where required to ensure adherence to donor regulations, financial reporting requirements, and other compliance standards.
  • Monitor grant milestones and report on issues hampering the smooth implementation of grants
  • Monitor monthly, weekly, quarterly expenditures against the grant agreement
  • Review and reconcile assigned grants financial transactions and reports.
  • Participate in regular meetings to assess compliance with terms and conditions of grants
  • Resolve internal and external issues/problems related to grants administration

• Capacity Building
• Provide training and guidance to programme staff on grant management and compliance procedures
• Provide training and guidance to grantee partners

• Risk Management
• Identify and mitigate potential risks related to grant management and compliance

• Policy Development
• Develop and implement internal policies and procedures related to grants and compliance

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Interact with donors, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure effective communication and collaboration

• Reporting
• Support the preparation of and provide technical input on reports to donors and other stakeholders

• Programme Compliance
  • Conduct risk assessments by identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities across programme processes, identify where compliance breaches may occur, and develop strategies to mitigate these risks
  • Monitor and audit programme practices by reviewing records, and activities to identify any compliance issues or deviations from established policies
  • Ensure that existing programme processes are designed for optimal efficiency
  • Ensure consistency of processes across the programme department
  • Ensure that staff are compliant with grant policies and processes and organise training where necessary, developing a culture of compliance across the organisation

• Knowledge and Information Management
  • Maintain an accurate and up to date grants database and filing system.
  • Capture and disseminate lessons learned and best practices in grants and compliance management
  • Use data to inform strategic decision making, compliance, risk management, and programme improvement
  • Collaborate with programme support to ensure alignment of grants data with broader organisational impact metrics

Qualifications

• A post graduate qualification in social science, development, business administration, law or another related field
• Foreign nationals applying for this role confirm that they are in possession of a valid South African work permit.

Key Skills and Experience

• 5 -7 years’ grant management experience in grant making / DFI
• Previous exposure to intermediary grant making
• Strong understanding of grant regulations, donor requirements and compliance frameworks
• NGO sector experience with funders, government, and CBOs
• Ability to administer finance back-end procedures to facilitate grant payments
• Experience with grants management information systems (MIS)
• Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills
• Capacity building, coaching and mentoring skills
• Negotiation skills
• Analytical thinking with practical problem-solving
• Organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple workstreams and meet deadlines
• Digital fluency with Microsoft Office, grants management systems, and key online platforms

Experience

• 5 -7 years’ grant management experience in grant making / DFI
• Experience with intermediary grant making
• Strong understanding of grant regulations, donor requirements and compliance frameworks

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter to [e-mail] by Friday, 19 September 2025.

Additional Information

• Applicants who have not been contacted by 30 September 2025 should consider their application unsuccessful.
• We reserve the right to withdraw the position or not make an appointment.
• All personal information submitted will be processed in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).