Senior Grant Compliance Specialist (USG and EU Focus)October 2023 | Location flexible, prefer Minneapolis, Nairobi, or Washington, D.C. | Full timeHello Hello! So you’re interested in joining us? Welcome, we’re happy you’re here.We are a bo...
Senior Grant Compliance Specialist (USG and EU Focus)
October 2023 | Location flexible, prefer Minneapolis, Nairobi, or Washington, D.C. | Full time
Hello Hello! So you’re interested in joining us? Welcome, we’re happy you’re here.
We are a borderless global team relentless in our pursuit to co-design meaningful, human-worthy services. Our team is full of all ages, tribes, gender identities, abilities, and beliefs. We are community activists, accountants, engineers, social workers, designers, connectors, and more.
Our diversity is our strength, yet we hold many things in common. You’ll be at home here if you have…
Open heart and open mind. You start by listening. You believe another person’s truth and it changes you. It unlocks your way of thinking in that moment, it opens your world.
Curiosity. You are always learning. You ask why and why again. You know that change (big and small) is constant, which means your curiosity to learn is matched with adaptability to evolve.
Trust. You believe that people do their best, are disciplined, and care about this as much as you do. You take responsibility for your part and know how to step back and give others the space to shine.
The Role
Alight’s grant portfolio is growing in size and complexity with a $60M portfolio of USG, UN and other government and private grants across 5 entities and we are adding grants from the European Union. At the same time, Government funding continues to change and grow in complexity.
We are evolving our grant management and compliance systems to accommodate for this growth and this includes building a networked global team managing grant risk and compliance.
Alight is integrating private funding and grant funding to increase program quality. Grant risk and compliance must also operate in service to this outcome.
In response to these changes and strategic initiatives, we are looking for a senior level specialist who can lead the evolution of Alight’s global grant risk and compliance functions as we grow, evolve and usher in a new strategic vision as regards to private and institutional funding.
Your focus will be to provide company-wide grant compliance support and oversight, with a focus on US Government compliance, to Alight and its affiliates. You will also support with EU, UN and other donor compliance. You will serve as an internal expert responsible for leading and managing Alight’s compliance to US Government and other donor award rules and regulations. You will provide support to proposals and awards from inception to closeout, providing training and guidance to country teams, serving an advisory role for proposals and ensuring compliance with award terms and conditions. You will also be responsible for maintaining relevant registrations with US Government, EU and other relevant entities, keeping up with changing requirements and communicating new areas of focus. You’ll be guided by and receive support from the Director of Grants Administration and Alight’s CFO but you will work closely with many US and Global colleagues in all areas including Grants Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Program Development and Supply Chain/Logistics. Simply put, your scope/purpose/goal will be to ensure compliance to donor requirements, with a focus on US Government and EU funders, contribute to Alight’s overall financial and programmatic health by providing technical support, training and guidance and by monitoring Alight’s processes against key areas of risk, ensuring staff have tools and information needed comply with award terms and conditions. You will work to minimize organizational risk while lifting and supporting country teams to deliver quality programming to our customers.
You’ll know you’re doing well if:
You’re raising the right flags, to the right people, at the right time.
You’re also always thinking about how your job impacts people, not just numbers.
You’re Global Colleagues and our partners trust to come to you to help them face their challenges
The Team
The Platform Services team provides integrated Finance/Accounting, Human Resources/Administration and Grant Support services to the Alight Family. The Grants Administration Unit within Platform Services provides grant and other related support services including processing grants in the Alight grant tracking database, grant balance sheet and income statement reconciliation and tracking, general compliance support as well as financial monitoring and risk management support to country programs, the Minneapolis office and Alight affiliates.
Building a shared organization takes time and intention. We will always be becoming Alight, which means your work will evolve and shift as well. For now, here’s how you could anticipate spending your time:
General
- Serve as general administrative and compliance point of contact with US Government entities, peer agencies and various relevant forums/groups.
- Maintain a broad and deep understanding of relevant US Government, EU and other donor policies, regulations, and procedures.
- Maintain/Develop understanding EU policies, regulations and procedures.
- Keep up to date on and inform relevant staff on changing and evolving US Government, EU and other award requirements.
- Conduct organizational USG government and EU award compliance assessment(s) to determine largest areas of risk and recommend areas of focus for enhancing adherence to USG award rules and regulations.
- Proactively identify compliance risks throughout the portfolio and advise programs, support teams and senior management on necessary actions.
- Develop tools, guidance and training to assist staff with award compliance.
- Provide regular training to Alight and Affiliate staff in US Government, EU and other donors, award rules & regulations with a focus on building technical capacity of relevant staff to understand and comply with US Government requirements.
- Work collaboratively with relevant departments to ensure processes involve support compliance requirements.
- Support prompt and successful resolution of audits and investigations of potential or identified noncompliance.
- Serve as a general compliance resource to provide ongoing support, troubleshoot problems for staff etc.
- Continuously work to foster a culture of trust and collaboration; working to encourage a shared ownership amongst all staff to enhance Alight’s ability minimize organizational risk as relates to grant compliance.
Award-Specific Compliance
- When necessary support in negotiation of terms of US Government and EU awards;
- At project start-up, review entirety of the agreements, proposed activities and explain terms and conditions to project stakeholders.
- Provide on-going review and technical support to ensure implementation compliance with applicable U.S. Government and EU regulations.
- Provide advice to Alight country programs on processes and procedures that can enhance award compliance.
- Navigate compliance issues with and between technical, operational, finance and management personnel.
- Coordinate with and Support relevant department/staff to ensure accurate and timely submission of project reports and deliverables.
- Coordinate with and Support relevant department/staff to ensure complete and accurate grant file.
- Provide guidance, if needed to relevant staff in processing modification requests, NCEs, cost extensions, budget realignments, and other amendments as required.
- Assist as needed in final closeout activities.
Program Development Support
- Serve advisory role in review of USG funding opportunities as relates to award compliance requirements.
- Provide technical support as needed in US Government and EU applications.
New or Interesting Projects/Progressive Responsibilities –
Lean into the things you love and spark your interest, within or outside your team. We need you to honor the work that you’ve committed to doing, but also know that when you are unleashed, so are we.
Qualifications
These are the things we’re aiming to find. However, we’re open to being surprised. If you embody the spirt of Alight, care deeply about the cause, and if you bring something else that’s special, then please reach out.
You have….
•Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
•5+ years’ experience in non-profit sector preferred
- 3-5 years’ experience in US Government funding compliance required
- Experience with European funding compliance preferred
•Experience with and general knowledge of non-profit grants cycle processes and procedures preferred
•General Knowledge of donor financial and administrative rules and regulations, in addition to US Government and European Union funding preferred
- Experience developing and conducting internal trainings and training materials preferred
•Strong computer skills, particularly with Excel and online content collaboration and management platforms preferred
•Experience working with an automated grant tracking and online systems preferred.
•Strong logistical attention to detail and ability to multi-task while meeting deadlines.
•Ability to travel internationally (estimated 5-15%)
You strive for...
- Humility. You learn from others with an open heart and open mind.
- Inclusivity. Our diversity is our strength. You value diversity of opinion and thought. You invite all voices to the table regardless of gender, ethnicity/tribe, sexual orientation, or physical/mental ability.
- Empathy. You know how to really hear other people and understand their meaning.
- Joy. Seriously! We believe that play and joy are core to co-creating value with customers.
- Reliability. In your data, for your colleagues and with our donors.
- Flexibility. We’re constantly designing and iterating. You’ll be working in ambiguity always – embrace it and see the possibility that it allows. The ability to roll with it will make that easier.
- Creativity. You have the ability to apply sound judgment and innovative ideas to meet challenges presented.
Benefits
Borderless Team of 2,500 staff worldwide that sees possibility, celebrates moments of abundance, shares new ideas, and strives to do a better thing every day.
Family Friendly— We know that you are a whole person with a life and a family. We honor this. In return, we fully expect that you will take ownership of your work and follow-through on your responsibilities and your commitments; sometimes that might mean flexing your schedule and we’re ok with that.
Learning & Development – Access thousands of free online learning courses to take at your own pace and tailor to your professional goals.
Health, dental, and MedEvac Insurance – We strive to offer the best-in-class healthcare plans to our staff each year. We cover 100% of the cost for your health premium and 75% of the cost for coverage for your spouse/dependents.
Retirement – We contribute 6% of your salary regardless of your contribution amount, after one year of service.
Generous Leave Time – Between vacation days, personal leave days, and holidays, you have ample opportunity to take time off when you need it.
Alight
We are on a journey to build Alight, a new platform of amazing people and organizations providing lifesaving services and creating breakthrough solutions for and with the displaced. WeAreAlight.org
Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Alight complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
