Grants & Compliance Manager

Overview

This remote Grants and Compliance Manager role is based within the United States and reports to the Head of Operations. The position is full-time with an anticipated start date in December 2026 or January 2027, with occasional travel for team events and retreats.

The role owns grants compliance and record-keeping to ensure federal requirements are met. You will serve as the administrative lead for a newly awarded four-year National Science Foundation (NSF) agreement and also build and maintain grants compliance systems across current and future federal (and potentially state) funders.

Responsibilities

NSF award management (~45%)

• Serve as the administrative contact for NSF grants and program officers (alongside the Principal Investigator and co-Principal Investigator), maintaining timely communication and resolving compliance questions.
• Project manage grant compliance, tracking implementation, reporting, and financial requirements to ensure they are fulfilled.
• Own the award budget: track spending, forecast future quarters/years, and flag variances early.
• Support drawdowns through NSF’s payment system.
• Prepare federal financial reports on time.
• Track costs by grant workstream and advise on any updated classifications that require NSF approval.
• Ensure costs charged to the grant are allowable under 2 CFR and the specific terms of the award.
• Prepare prior approval requests, budget revisions, and no-cost extension requests.
• Support the PI on annual and final project reports in Research.gov.
• Keep SAM.gov, Research.gov, and related registrations and certifications current.
• Lead award closeout.

Grants compliance across the organization (~25%)

• Follow, reinforce with staff, and help revise written policies required by federal, state, and private awards (financial management, procurement, conflict of interest, travel, and record retention).
• Run a single grants calendar and database covering award deadlines, restrictions, and reporting requirements.
• Partner with the Finance team so restricted grant funds are coded and tracked correctly.
• Prepare grant documentation for the annual financial audit and, when required, a federal Single Audit.
• Track processes to ensure staff follow procedures that enable Finance to properly allot funds to grant(s).
• Track changes in federal and state grant rules and explain what they mean for operations.

New funding: pre-award (~20%)

• Monitor RFPs from agencies or organizations aligned with the organization’s strategy.
• Support preparation and submission of new grant proposals.
• Review proposals against funder requirements before submission.
• Build working relationships with program officers during pre-award work.

Reporting and improvement (~10%)

• Report quarterly to the Head of Operations and CEO on active awards and compliance risks.
• Simplify grant processes for program staff, including through automation where it saves real time.

Requirements

• 3+ years of grants management experience, including post-award management of at least one federal grant or cooperative agreement.
• Working knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), with emphasis on cost allowability, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to build grant budgets and read financial reports.
• Ability to explain complex rules simply to people who are not grants experts.
• Strong organization skills to manage many deadlines without missing them.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• NSF award experience (including PAPPG, Research.gov, and ACM$).
• Participant support cost management experience.
• CGMS or a similar credential.
• Fluency with Google Workspace and QuickBooks Online.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $75,000–$85,000.
• $1,500 one-time home office stipend.
• 5% non-elective contribution to 401K.
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance coverage with 100% employer contribution for employees and 70% coverage for dependents.
• Generous paid vacation & sick time off from day one.
• Paid parental leave.
• Free pie every Pi Day.

Location

• Remote position within the United States.
• Occasional travel for team events and retreats.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The organization values and encourages diversity and solicits applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.