The Community Just Transition Fund (CJTF) has been established as a feminist non-profit company to support community networks and initiatives working towards a just transition at local level. The Fund encompasses the Just Transition Hub, a support structure which will serve to resource and strengthen community groups and movements towards the establishment of Just Transition Centres (JTCs). The CJTF works to disrupt exclusive models for financing just transition initiatives by empowering communities and ensuring that communities are not just beneficiaries of transition investments, but co-developers and co-owners of them.
The CJTF is a pioneering climate justice fund committed to advancing community-led and locally rooted solutions that enable a just transition to a low-carbon, equitable, and resilient future. We work to strengthen the power, agency, and self-determination of communities affected by climate change, inequality, and economic transitions through catalytic grant-making and accompaniment support, capacity strengthening, movement building, and strategic partnerships.
About the Job
Position Summary:
The CJTF is seeking a dynamic and values-driven Grants and Operations Manager to help build and strengthen a transformative funding institution dedicated to advancing climate justice and a just transition. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional who is passionate about social and environmental justice, organizational development, and community-led change.
The Grants and Operations Manager will provide strategic leadership across grant management, organizational operations, governance systems, and institutional effectiveness. The role is responsible for overseeing the full grant-making lifecycle, strengthening operational systems and internal controls, ensuring compliance with donor and statutory requirements, and supporting the effective implementation of CJTF’s mission and strategic objectives.
Working closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, consultants, partners, and programme teams, the Grants and Operations Manager will help build a high-performing, values-aligned organisation that centres care, accountability, learning, and growth while enabling innovative and community-led just transition initiatives to thrive.
About the Role:
As CJTF continues to expand its grant-making portfolio and deepen its role within the climate justice ecosystem, the Grants and Operations Manager will play a critical role in designing, strengthening, and managing the operational systems that support equitable and effective grant-making. The position will ensure that resources reach community-based organisations, grassroots movements, activists, and initiatives working to advance climate justice, social equity, and locally led development.
The successful candidate will help operationalise CJTF’s vision by developing and maintaining grant-making systems that are transparent, participatory, accessible, and accountable. They will contribute to strengthening trust-based philanthropy practices and ensuring that communities most affected by climate impacts and economic transitions are meaningfully supported through CJTF’s funding strategies.
Key Responsibilities
1. Grant-making Leadership and Portfolio Management (35%)
Lead the end-to-end management of CJTF’s grant-making portfolio, ensuring that funding reaches community-based organisations, grassroots movements, activists, and locally led initiatives advancing climate justice and a just transition.
Oversee grant application, assessment, approval, contracting, disbursement, reporting, and close-out processes.
Develop and continuously improve grant-making policies, procedures, tools, and systems.
Ensure grant-making practices are transparent, equitable, accessible, and aligned with CJTF’s values and strategic objectives.
Maintain grant management databases and reporting systems to support learning, accountability, and decision-making.
Monitor grant performance and contribute to organisational learning and impact measurement.
Support relationship management with grantee partners and strengthen a culture of trust-based philanthropy and mutual accountability.
2. Grantee Onboarding, Grant Compliance, and Operational Support (20%)
Provide operational and compliance support that enables grantee partners to effectively manage resources while meeting funding and reporting requirements.
Lead onboarding processes for new grantee partners, ensuring timely contracting, orientation, systems access, and support.
Coordinate grant due diligence and organisational capacity assessments where required.
Monitor compliance with grant agreements, donor requirements, and CJTF policies.
Support grantees in understanding reporting obligations, financial requirements, and compliance expectations.
Track grant milestones, deliverables, reporting schedules, and payment requirements.
Provide responsive operational support to grantee organisations to strengthen implementation effectiveness and accountability.
Maintain accurate grant records and documentation throughout the grant lifecycle.
3. Operations and Institutional Strengthening (25%)
Lead the development and strengthening of organisational systems, policies, processes, and controls that enable CJTF to operate effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with its values.
Develop and improve operational systems, workflows, policies, and procedures.
Ensure effective implementation of governance, procurement, risk management, and operational controls.
Strengthen organisational systems that support collaboration, knowledge management, and institutional learning.
Support organisational planning, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Contribute to the development of a values-aligned organisational culture that centres care, accountability, growth, and collective leadership.
Support the operationalisation of organisational strategy and institutional growth priorities.
4. Financial Coordination, Risk Management, and Compliance (10%)
Support sound stewardship of resources through effective financial oversight, compliance management, and risk mitigation.
Work closely with finance partners to strengthen budget management, grant financial oversight, and compliance frameworks.
Identify operational and grant-related risks and develop mitigation measures.
Support internal and external audits, donor reviews, and compliance assessments.
Ensure adherence to relevant legal, regulatory, donor, and organisational requirements.
Monitor compliance across grant-making and operational functions.
5. Strategic Leadership, Partnerships, and Resource Mobilisation (10%)
Contribute to CJTF’s long-term growth, sustainability, and influence within the climate justice and just transition ecosystem.
Support proposal development, donor engagement, and resource mobilisation efforts.
Contribute to organisational strategy development and implementation.
Build and maintain positive relationships with donors, partners, consultants, civil society organisations, and movement stakeholders.
Represent CJTF in relevant networks, platforms, and sector engagements.
Provide operational insights and recommendations that support strategic decision-making and institutional effectiveness.
Requirements
A strong commitment to climate justice, social justice, and a people-centred just transition.
Proven experience in grants management, philanthropy, donor-funded programmes, or institutional operations.
At least 5 years of progressive experience in grants management, programme operations, institutional development, philanthropy, or nonprofit management.
Experience working with civil society organisations, community-based organisations, social justice movements, or climate and environmental initiatives.
Knowledge of trust-based philanthropy, participatory grant-making, and locally led development approaches will be highly advantageous.
Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Strong understanding of governance, compliance, risk management, and operational systems.
Experience developing and improving organisational policies, processes, and internal controls.
A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proposal development and donor reporting.
A learning mindset and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
The ability to work independently while contributing positively to a small, mission-driven team.
To apply
To apply, email your application (completed AA bio form, one page motivation letter and updated CV) [all in MS Word format]) by Tuesday, 15th September 2026 to [email protected]
More Information
- Job City Johannesburg or Pretoria (remote)
