Application Guide

How to Apply for Contract and Compliance Specialist

at American Bird Conservancy

🏢 About American Bird Conservancy

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only nonprofit organization in the Americas dedicated solely to conserving wild birds and their habitats. With a mission to halt extinctions and eliminate threats, ABC combines science, policy, and on-the-ground action to protect over 1,000 species across 15 countries. Working here means contributing to meaningful conservation outcomes while operating in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

About This Role

As a Contract and Compliance Specialist, you will ensure that ABC’s agreements with partners, vendors, and funders are compliant with federal regulations (especially Uniform Guidance) and internal policies. Your work will directly support conservation projects by streamlining contract lifecycles, training staff, and mitigating risk—enabling ABC to focus on its mission of protecting birds and habitats.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start by reviewing a new subaward agreement for a partner working on grassland bird conservation, ensuring terms align with the federal award. Midday, you’d follow up on a procurement request for field equipment, checking cost analysis and vendor compliance. Afternoon could involve a training session for project managers on documenting allowable costs, followed by updating a contract tracking spreadsheet to monitor upcoming deadlines.

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🎯 Who American Bird Conservancy Is Looking For

  • 5+ years of experience managing federal grants and subawards in a nonprofit setting, with deep knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).
  • Proven ability to draft, negotiate, and administer contracts, MOUs, NDAs, and subaward agreements with attention to detail and risk assessment.
  • Experience conducting procurement processes (RFPs, cost analyses, vendor selection) and ensuring compliance with federal procurement standards.
  • Strong communicator who can train diverse teams on compliance requirements and collaborate across departments to improve workflows.

📝 Tips for Applying to American Bird Conservancy

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific experience with federal regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200) and nonprofit subaward management—use these exact terms.

2

In your cover letter, mention a specific conservation project or bird species ABC works on to show genuine interest in their mission.

3

Quantify your achievements: e.g., 'Managed a portfolio of 50+ subawards totaling $3M annually with 100% compliance audit success.'

4

Include examples of process improvements you've implemented (e.g., streamlining contract review cycles) to demonstrate a proactive mindset.

5

Research ABC’s current programs (e.g., BirdScapes, Glass Collisions) and reference how your compliance work enables those initiatives.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your expertise in federal grant compliance and how it reduces risk for conservation organizations like ABC.', 'Showcase your experience training non-finance staff on compliance—a key need for ABC’s cross-functional collaboration.', 'Highlight your ability to manage multiple agreements simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and timeliness.', 'Convey passion for ABC’s mission by connecting your compliance work to enabling conservation outcomes.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review ABC’s latest annual report and strategic plan to understand their conservation priorities and funding sources.
  • → Read about the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and ABC’s role in it.
  • → Familiarize yourself with common federal grant programs ABC uses (e.g., USFWS, NFWF) and their compliance nuances.
  • → Explore ABC’s website sections on 'Our Approach' and 'Where We Work' to see how contracts support field projects.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would ensure a subaward complies with Uniform Guidance requirements.
2 Describe a time you identified a compliance risk in a contract and how you resolved it.
3 How do you prioritize and track multiple contracts with different deadlines and regulations?
4 What experience do you have with procurement processes for federally funded projects?
5 How would you train a team member unfamiliar with federal grant compliance to follow procedures?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Failing to demonstrate specific knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) in your application or interview.
  • Providing generic examples that don’t tie back to nonprofit or federal grant compliance (e.g., only corporate contract experience).
  • Not showing enthusiasm for conservation—ABC is mission-driven, and a purely administrative focus may be seen as misalignment.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to American Bird Conservancy!

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