Director, Grants Compliance and Project Management

Position: Director, Grants Compliance and Project Management

Supervisor: Controller

Location: Washington, DC (hybrid)

Status: Temporary (1 year), Full-Time, Exempt from Overtime.  Possibility of extension based on funding and performance. 

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ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION:

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) is a non-profit leader dedicated to advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. A key driver of SFI’s success is its ability to engage diverse communities to deliver across its four pillars: Standards, Conservation, Community, Education. At SFI, we aim to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered, and supported in advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations.

SFI operates in both in the United States and Canada and is awarded grants from federal, state, provincial and local governments as well as from foundations. Currently, SFI is a recipient of over $15 million in grants for urban forestry, climate smart forestry, and fire resiliency, including from the United States Forest Service (USFS), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) that will be delivered over the next 3-5 years. Most grants include sub-recipient funding and, in addition, SFI has its own outbound grant program for Education, Community, and Conservation. SFI’s grants include in-kind and other matching requirements.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Director, Grants Compliance and Project Management oversees the financial management, compliance and reporting of all grant-funded programs within the organization, and tracks spending against grant agreements and vendor contracts. This role ensures the accurate and timely preparation of grant financial reports, maintains compliance with grant and contract requirements, and provides strategic financial support to program staff. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in accounting and financial management within the non-profit sector, project management experience, experience with Federal, Provincial, State grants, and experience managing single audits. The Director will work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership and Program Managers in all departments of the organization.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Grant Financial Management & Compliance [75% of time]

• Oversee and lead the financial management of all grants ($15 million), including but not limited to grant budgeting, expenditure tracking, and grant financial reporting. This includes inbound grant revenue, as well as pass-through and sub-recipient expenditure funding, and eventually will also include SFI’s outbound grant expenditure program for all pillars.
• Monitor and reconcile grant expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and compliance with grant terms from sponsors to meet invoicing requirements and procurement guidelines and restrictions.
• Prepare and submit accurate grant financial reports to align with and support written reports to US funders in accordance with their requirements.
• Collaborate with the Business Director on Canadian grants, including on federal (ECCC) and provincial funding, providing back up support as needed.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, provincial, and local regulations related to grant management, specifically from the US Federal Compliance Supplement (2CFR200, Appendix XI).
• Maintain comprehensive and organized documentation for US grants, including agreements, amendments, financial reports, and correspondence.
• Conduct regular compliance reviews and audits to ensure adherence to US grant requirements and organizational policies.
• Assist with grant applications by providing the necessary financial data.
• Serve as the point person for the Single Audit, ensuring compliance throughout the year.
• Manage the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) effectively. (Currently, SFI uses the allowed de minimis fixed rate).
• Manage online portals for grant applications and submissions (SAM, etc.).

Collaboration, Support, and Training [20% of time]

• Create, design, and implement policies, processes and procedures related to grant management and proposal development. These should adhere to requirements included in compliance supplements for US and Canadian grants.
•  Advise program managers, VPs, Directors, and Senior Leaders regarding negotiation of new grants, effective startups, and grant management issues.
• Work closely with program managers, VP’s, Directors, and Senior Leaders to develop grant budgets and ensure the proper allocation of funds, including supporting allocation of staff time to fulfill grant obligation, including matching staff time.
• Provide financial analysis and reporting to support program planning and decision-making.
• Assist in the development and submission of grant proposals, including budget preparation and financial narratives.
• Train and support staff on grant management best practices and compliance requirements.
• Identify and participate in training on changes in grant regulations and accounting standards to stay current. Disseminate and train on relevant information to the team.

Other Duties [5% of time]

• Assist in preparing and coordinating the timely completion of the annual audit, 990 information return, and other financial filings.
• Assist with implementing applicable organizational-wide financial structure and process changes.
•  Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position will not initially have direct employee supervisory responsibilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

SFI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements include the ability to work from a desk at a computer for prolonged periods of time.

This position requires occasional travel within the US and Canada, up to 15% of time.

WORK LOCATION

This is a hybrid position. The successful candidate will be required to commute to the SFI office in downtown DC at least 2 days per week, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays as designated in-office days. For the remaining days of the week, you may choose to either work from the office or remotely from your home. SFI reserves the right to increase in-person days to three or more days per week in the future.

WHAT YOU BRING:

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of cumulative experience in accounting or financial management, with direct experience overseeing federal grants and single audits within the non-profit sector, required
• In-depth knowledge of US Federal requirements (FAR, 2CFR200/Uniform Guidance) is required
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required
• CPA or CMA designation preferred
• Experience with foundation grants is strongly preferred
• Experience with Canada grant management would be a benefit
• Experience with and proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office Suite required; experience with Sage Intacct would be a benefit
• Experience with Project Management software and Salesforce (inbound and outbound grant tracking software) would be a benefit
• Previous experience in forestry, forest products, natural resources, sustainability, or environmental education would be a benefit
• Proficiency in Spanish or French would be a benefit

Key Competencies

    Functional Expertise

• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, provincial, and local grant regulations, and compliance requirements
• Sees beyond their own pillar, has a strong understanding of cross-pillar connections and identifies/evaluates/implements strategic opportunities to work across pillars; ensures that such collaborations benefit SFI in the form of better outcomes and greater efficiencies
• Oversees discrete projects or programs from start to finish, seeking the support and input from others and managing consultants as warranted
• Applies a critical and analytical approach to work, dissecting issues, applying expertise and judgment, and identifying root causes and possible solutions
• Excels at data and information synthesis and clear communications related to that synthesis

    Bandwidth Management

• Uses good judgement and makes good use of time in meetings
• Takes responsibility to meet deadlines or communicates challenges with deadlines

   Relationship Management

• Develops and implements programs and policies to cultivate a positive, collaborative, and respectful culture and consistently models these behaviors
• Consistently operates with a “service orientation” mindset when working with internal staff and external stakeholders

    Leadership

• Routinely considers both the internal and external implications of decisions
• Comfortably operates in nuanced situations or potentially ambiguous or uncertain situations
•  Is inquisitive and responsive to questions; fosters an environment where curiosity and asking questions are rewarded

    Communications

• Maintains a positive, receptive, and approachable demeanor; is viewed by all colleagues and stakeholders as professionally accessible and willing to help
• Confidently and respectfully communicates with colleagues at all levels of SFI, ensuring that interactions are consistently viewed as positive, professional, and meaningful exchanges
• Proactively communicates status/keeps stakeholders (including pillar head) apprised of key information
• Clearly articulates their subject matter through written communications in a clear and concise manner with little to no edits by supervisor

    Administrative and Financial Responsibilities

• Consistently completes operational responsibilities (timesheets, expenses) on a timely basis
•  Effectively uses organizational technologies, such as Salesforce, Zoom, MS 365, SecuriSync, and software specific to position, and continuously seeks opportunities improve technological proficiency
• Firmly comprehends a financial budget and understands and interprets a profit and loss statement to facilitate current and future decisions (i.e., exhibits firm evidence of future forecasting) within the framework of a program (i.e., multiple projects) to oversee applicable revenue and expense management

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

We are committed to equity in our salary practices. The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $125,000; the successful candidate’s actual salary will depend on a number of factors, including geography, education/training, experience, time-in-role, management qualifications (as applicable), and skillset.

We are proud to provide our employees with a collaborative, dynamic, and rewarding professional experience, with a competitive compensation and benefits package and growth opportunities. Our benefits include (but are not limited to):

•  Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Retirement plan with generous employer contribution and additional matching contribution up to 11% of your salary, provided you also contribute 4%.
• Paid Time Off – generous vacation policy ranging from 2 weeks to 5 weeks, increasing with experience, all federal holidays, plus 4 floating holidays annually that may be used to observe additional religious, cultural, or traditional occasions that are meaningful to you, and 12 sick days annually.
• Educational assistance and investment in professional development.

APPLY:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate. If you are interested, apply promptly—early applicants will be prioritized.

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OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

SFI is proud to provide our employees with a collaborative, dynamic, and rewarding professional experience, with a competitive compensation and benefits package and growth opportunities. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and being an equal opportunity employer. Our team represents a broad range of cultures, education, disciplines, and work and life experiences, and we strive to leverage these differences in our daily work. We will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We believe in creating an empowered and supportive team that is committed to advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations.

Learn more about SFI Staff Culture, read our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, and review our Indigenous Relations Commitment.

Salary : $95,000 - $125,000