Specialist, Global Youth and Education: Grant Management and Operations

Special Olympics Brand•Washington, DC

22d•$25 - $26•Hybrid

About The Position

Special Olympics advances inclusive education and youth leadership worldwide through the Global Youth and Education (GYE) department, supporting programs that promote belonging, equity, and leadership for young people with and without intellectual disabilities. To deliver this work effectively at scale, GYE is strengthening its grant management and operational infrastructure. The Specialist, Grant Management and Operations will serve as a centralized grant and operations specialist supporting all GYE initiatives. Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance, this role will oversee the full lifecycle management, administration, and tracking of departmental grants, including youth, schools, and other grant-specific funding streams. The Specialist will ensure strong financial compliance, accurate reporting, and efficient grant operations across multiple funding sources. In addition to grant oversight, the Specialist will support department-wide operations, including finance operations, budgeting coordination, internal systems, and process improvement efforts. This role will work closely with GYE leadership, program teams, regional staff, and the Finance team to ensure grants and operational processes are aligned, well-managed, and positioned to support sustainable growth and impact.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience plus One to Three years of relevant work experience.
Experience and/or coursework in the area of grant management is a plus.
Background in data collection, management and analysis
Strong organization skills and high level of attention to detail
Self-motivation with ability to work well independently
Strong personal time management and prioritization skills
Ability to work as a team player and manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
Excellent computer and remote collaboration skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Microsoft Teams)
Ability to represent the organization in a professional manner
Demonstrated global awareness and ability to work cross-culturally

Nice To Haves

Experience as a Special Olympics youth leader and/or Unified Sports participant
Experience working internationally or collaborating cross-culturally, especially in a disability-related field
Grant management experience
Experience with Smartsheets
Strong project management skills

Responsibilities

Assist with full lifecycle management of GYE grants across youth, schools, and other grant-specific funding streams, including application, award, payments, monitoring, reporting, and close-out phases
Manage and track grant budgets in coordination with the Senior Director of Finance, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with approved funding agreements
Maintain and oversee grant management and tracking systems, including Smartsheet and other internal tools, conducting regular audits to ensure data integrity and completeness
Serve as a primary point of coordination with Regional staff on grant status, timelines, and financial requirements
Collaborate closely with GYE leadership and Finance to ensure consistent application of financial protocols, grant policies, and internal controls
Develop and manage standardized processes for grant reporting, documentation, and data collection from Regions and Programs
Prepare regular internal reports and analysis on grant performance, spending, and compliance for GYE leadership and Finance
Support donor-required reporting, financial documentation, and audits, as applicable
Manage and support grant management interns or temporary staff, as applicable
Support GYE department operations with a focus on finance coordination, budget tracking, and operational process improvement
Assist with departmental budgeting cycles, financial reconciliations, and coordination between program teams and Finance
Support operational systems and tools used across GYE, including documentation, tracking, and workflow management
Coordinate with internal teams and external vendors to support contracts, invoices, and payment processing related to GYE grants and operations
Liaise with translation, learning, and other shared service teams to support department-wide operational needs, as applicable
Support onboarding of new GYE staff, interns, and fellows related to grant processes, systems, and operational workflows
Perform other related duties as assigned in support of GYE priorities and operational needs