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Director, Grants Compliance

National Geographic

Washington, DC

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$156,750–$165,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable Processing, Analysis Skills, Auditing, Billing, Budget Management, Budgeting, Business Administration, Business Skills, Candidate Screening, Communication Skills, Corrective Action, Customer Support/Service, Data Management, Dental Insurance, Due Diligence, Establish Priorities, Expense Tracking, External Audit, Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Compliance, Financial Control, Financial Planning, Financial Reporting, Forecasting, General Ledger Accounting, Government Regulations, Higher Education, Internal Audit, Inventory Management, Inventory Reports, Legal, Maintain Compliance, Mentoring, Microsoft Excel, Negotiation Skills, Nonprofit, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Purchasing/Procurement, Record Keeping, Reference Verification, Regulatory Requirements, Request for Proposals (RFP), Requirements Management, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Storytelling, System Integration (SI), Tax Regulations, Tax Returns, Team Player, Technical Support, Time Management, Training/Teaching, Treasury Management, Vision Plan, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Washington, DC
POSTED
3 days ago
How You’ll Contribute The Finance team is a valued thought partner at the forefront of decision making, providing timely and accurate financial information, deriving meaningful insights from data, and empowering the organization with innovative solutions which are agile and nimble to grow and adapt quickly to change. The Finance Department’s major areas of responsibility include financial planning (budgets, forecasts, and analytics), accounting and reporting, payroll, purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, gift processing, tax returns and compliance, risk management, investment oversight and treasury management. Reporting to the Deputy CFO & Controller, the Director, Grants Compliance acts as the primary steward of the overarching structures, policies, and procedures that govern the Society’s management of external foreign-funded grants, potential future US Grants cooperative agreements, and subawards. This role oversees the full grant lifecycle for both the National Geographic Society and its Explorer subrecipients, ensuring all activities adhere to donor government laws, legal requirements, and internal policies. Working collaboratively with Partnerships, Finance, Legal and Business Affairs, the Director is responsible for mitigating risk, disseminating official guidance and creating project-specific grant manuals to guide successful project implementation. Future supervisory responsibilities and the expansion of the team will be contingent upon the successful winning of new grants and cooperative agreements. Your Impact Key Responsibilities Award & Subaward Management (35%) Oversee the full grant lifecycle, serving as the agency liaison for comprehending and implementing all official guidelines . Assist with the drafting and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and ensure subaward objectives align with Donor Grant Agreements. Oversee the subaward application evaluation process, screening applications for completeness and managing the Advisory Committee review process. Draft subaward documents and addendums, negotiate final subaward budgets, and confirm final legal review. Ensure proper closeout procedures for all awards and subawards, coordinating final reporting, equipment disposition, and verifying appropriate document retention. Risk Assessment & Compliance Enforcement (35%) Conduct rigorous pre-award vetting and risk assessments for Explorer applicants, which includes reference checks, desk reviews, site visits, and environmental due diligence. Prepare and document Subaward Negotiation Memorandums and Risk Assessment Surveys to justify award decisions and establish risk mitigation plans. Manage instances of subawardee noncompliance by developing corrective action plans, imposing additional oversight, temporarily withholding payments, or suspending/terminating subawards when necessary. Review and approve Explorer subawardee invoices prior to payment to ensure expenses are documented, eligible, and allowable per the grant budget. Ensure that subawardee procurement practices meet competition requirements, appropriate thresholds, and procurement integrity standards. Guidance, Training & Auditing (30%) Develop and conduct training tutorials for Explorer subawardees on compliance matters, including ethics, procurement, financial reporting, and record keeping. Maintain open communication with internal departments (Finance, Legal, Audit) to inform business decisions and enforce proper data management and third-party risk assessment systems. Ensure subrecipients maintain accurate inventory and financial records. Provide ongoing monitoring, coordinate with internal and external auditors, and respond to audits involving external awards. What You’ll Bring Minimum Education Required Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required. Minimum Years and Type of Experience At least 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit or higher education grants compliance, financial planning, and internal audit. Minimum of 3 years of management experience is highly preferred. Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with Workday or similar integrated general ledger systems. Experience with international grants, particularly compliance and subaward monitoring. Requirements and Qualifications Analytical & Problem Solving: Exceptional business, financial, and analytical skills with an ability to manage large amounts of data, perform in-depth risk assessments, and make sound business judgments. Ability to deal with issues at a highly detailed level as well as from a broad-based, strategic perspective. Communication & Collaboration: Strong oral, written, and presentation skills to effectively interface with staff, agency representatives, and subawardees in a highly professional manner. Acts as a trusted thought-partner who can facilitate training and provide technical assistance. Work Ethic & Time Management: Self-reliant with strong initiative, capable of prioritizing workload, and dependable in meeting frequent deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Integrity & Teamwork: Demonstrated integrity, a customer-service focus, and a track record of working effectively with people at all levels of the organization, both independently and as part of a team. Requires the highest level of confidentiality when handling sensitive materials. Supervision 1-5 staff members Salary Information The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations. The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The salary range for this position is $156,750.00 - $165,000.00. In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks. Job Designation Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Tuesday and Wednesday. Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if preferred. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization. Who We Are The National Geographic Society uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Our mission is only complete when our staff, explorers, educators, youth and partners are seen, valued, and heard. We embrace each person’s identity, experiences, and abilities, and we commit to cultivating an environment where everyone benefits from opportunity, mutual respect and a sense of belonging. National Geographic's headquarters is located in the heart of Washington, D.C. We offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental benefits, generous vacation and parental leave time, a 401(k) plan, flexible work options, and career development.

About the Company

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National Geographic