Deputy Director, Grants, Contracts and Compliance, Office of Finance and Operations

We are seeking a Deputy Director of Grants, Contracts, and Compliance, who will be curious, driven, organized, program-minded, and entrepreneurial. The Deputy Director will report to the Vice President of Finance and Administration. The Deputy Director’s mission is to oversee grant and contractual agreements secured from large foundations, institutions, and the public sector, in close collaboration with the Development team and Office of Finance and Operations. Preference will be given to candidates with an understanding of the Atlantic Council’s work and a belief in our mission.

This position is based in our Washington, DC, headquarters, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in office. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers from $125,000 to $155,000. Applications submitted by July 18, 2025, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job responsibilities

Award Administration

• Partner effectively with staff from Office of Finance and Operations, Development, and across the Council’s 16 Programs and Centers to effectively steward foundation, institution, and public sector relationships.
• Review and sign off on all award reporting (narrative and financial) for foundations, institutions, US government, and non-US government funding streams, primarily ensuring consistency and quality based on award criteria and submission and funder precedents.
• Serve as subject matter expert on compliance with funder requirements including 2 CFR 200, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and OMB guidance.
• Oversee utilization of CRM (Salesforce) to track and meet administrative reporting requirements.
• Oversee foundation reporting requirements managed by outsourced revenue operations team.
• Oversee development of trainings and resource materials on award management and compliance. Manage related policies and procedures.
• Strengthen the oversight of subaward processes, including due diligence and risk reviews, agreements, narrative and financial report review, and VendorRisk tracking of subagreements.
• Supervise Associate Director, Finance and Administration.

Award Financial Management

• Oversee award financial reporting, with an emphasis on external reporting, conducted by outsourced grants finance team. Whereas the outsourced Grants Finance Team will manage the accounting, the Deputy Director, Grants, Contracts, & Compliance will oversee financial reporting correctness, analysis, and reporting.
• Provide strategic support to ensure award funding is fully utilized and achievement of optimum cost recovery while seeking opportunities to leverage current implementation to enhance business development efforts.
• Lead quarterly program grant/contract reviews in conjunction with outsourced Grants Finance Team and Associate Director, Finance and Administration.
• Ensure US government grant payment requests are processed on a timely basis, including grant drawdowns in Payment Management System.

Audit

• Oversee annual Office of Management and Budget (OMB) single audit, if expenditure thresholds are met. Coordinate with outsourced Finance Team to gather supporting documentation requests.
• Oversee program/project audits, spot checks, and desk reviews in coordination with outsourced Finance Team and Program and Center teams.
• Coordinate submission of annual negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) proposal, liaising with outsourced Finance Team and contracted incurred cost preparer. Lead subsequent negotiations with cognizant agency.

Proposal Support

• Provide strategic advice and support to the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and the Associate Director of Public Sector Partnerships on key business development activities, including US government and foreign government funding
• Related responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
  • Reviewing solicitations and supporting strategic bid/no-bid decisions
  • Supporting the identification and internal alignment of organizational capabilities to help focus AC business development efforts and enhance AC competitiveness.
  • Offering input and review on proposal development
  • Advising on financial structuring and cost allocation
  • Other tasks as needed
• Review proposal budgets for public sector, foundations, and institutional partnerships.

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 5-7 years of relevant experience.
• 2-4 years of experience supervising employees.
• Experience with 2 CFR 200 and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

Required Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• Ability to work in a cross-cutting role across program, finance, and development teams.
• Familiarity with navigating financial and accounting systems to retrieve data.
• Experience with developing and managing budgets.
• Ability to understand, communicate, and apply financial policies and processes.
• Familiarity with foundation and government agreement mechanisms, including contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to assess operational needs, prioritize among competing needs, and align and move others toward agreed-upon goals.
• Understanding of public sector compliance and regulations including 2 CFR 200 and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Highly organized, with ability to work in a fast-paced environment and on multiple projects simultaneously.

To produce quality work and to successfully achieve our mission, we recognize the need for our staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a work/life balance. Our comprehensive benefits package helps to keep costs low for our staff and their families. Benefits include, but are not limited to comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, 403(b) plan, FSA options, pet insurance, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and wellness benefits.