Director, Grants & Contracts

American Forests• US,

4d•$100,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Grants & Contracts team, part of the Finance and Operations department at American Forests, serves as the organization’s regulatory compliance and external reporting arm. The team plays a critical role in supporting the programs departments by delivering a wide range of financial, accounting, and grants management services. The team's mission is to ensure the accurate, consistent, and compliant administration of grant funding in alignment with American Forests' internal policies and procedures, sponsor and funder guidelines, and applicable federal and state regulations. The Director, Grants & Contracts provides strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s grants and contracts portfolio. This role is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal and non-federal awards, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations-including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), state laws, and individual grant requirements. The Director plays a key role in strengthening systems, policies, and procedures that promote accountability, transparency, and operational efficiency. The Director also leads a team responsible for both pre-award and post-award functions, including proposal development, contract negotiation, budget oversight, invoicing/reporting, and audit readiness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred; relevant experience may be substituted for education.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in federal grants and/or contracts administration, including at least 3 years supervising staff; nonprofit experience preferred.
In-depth working knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), including cost principles, subrecipient monitoring, Single Audit requirements, and indirect cost rate agreements.
Proficiency with ERP/financial systems and grants or contract management tools, and experience with federal award systems such as SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and ASAP.
Demonstrated experience leading the implementation or redesign of a grants and contracts management system or workflow, including requirements gathering, process mapping, configuration, data migration, and staff training.
Strong problem-solving skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
High standard for excellence and attention to detail and ability to manage time and meet deadlines.
Excellent oral and written communication.
Experience using AI tools to support compliance work (e.g., regulatory research, document review), or a strong interest in building that capability.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree a plus.
Professional certification such as Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS), Certified Research Administrator (CRA), or an NCMA contract management certification (CFCM or CPCM) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and systems that support effective grants and contracts administration.
Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on grants and contracts management.
Supervise and support a team of grants and contracts professionals.
Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Oversee the full lifecycle of federal awards - from proposal development through closeout.
Provide post-award support for non-federal grants and contracts managed by the Philanthropy team.
Lead contract administration, ensuring compliance with internal policies, federal procurement regulations, and other applicable requirements.
Act as liaison between internal teams, sponsors, vendors, and legal counsel to review and negotiate contract terms.
Work closely with, and provide direction to, Directors of Program Administration to ensure consistent application of policies and procedures across all grant programs.
Provide oversight of the financial system as it relates to grants and contracts, including project code maintenance and purchase order management.
Lead the selection, design, and implementation of grants and contracts management systems and workflows - from award intake and setup through compliance monitoring, reporting, and closeout - partnering with Finance, Programs, and IT to drive adoption across the organization.
Establish award intake and setup procedures, including bid/no-bid review, award risk assessment, subrecipient vs. contractor determinations under 2 CFR 200.331, and subrecipient monitoring.
Support the Controller with the annual financial statement audit and Single Audit (2 CFR 200 Subpart F),and lead corrective action plans for any findings related to grants and contracts.
Partner with the Controller to ensure the financial system, project structure, and close processes support accurate tracking, billing, and reporting of grants and contracts.
Lead the development and upkeep of AI-enabled tools that help program staff navigate award terms, 2 CFR 200, the FAR, and internal policies and SOPs.