Grants Lead

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities 

Revenue Management 

• Support development of budgets for new funding proposals across philanthropic, multilateral, bilateral, and US government funding opportunities; manage all budget revisions, serve as first finance reviewer of funding proposal budgets, and manage the budget approval process when further finance approval is needed  

• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on multilateral and bilateral grant requirements, regulations, and compliance considerations while supporting grants and contracts from a broad range of funders  

• Provide instruction, guidance, and resources to program and development teams during the proposal process to ensure compliance with funder guidelines and regulations as well as RMI’s organizational policies and procedures  

• Advise teams on institutional donor regulations and compliance requirements, including cost principles, allowable expenses, reporting obligations, procurement standards, and audit readiness associated with multilateral, bilateral, and government funding  

• Conduct regular internal monitoring of grant and contract activity and work in partnership with development, programs, and project management staff to troubleshoot and resolve any issues as necessary, including amendments and no-cost extensions, budget revisions, spend down questions, and other compliance activities  

• Maintain effective record-keeping and documentation for each funding source to be used for tracking and reporting purposes; create funding sources, update correct balances for funding source rules, and ensure funding sources are linked correctly with projects in Workday  

• Review monthly budget-to-actuals reports and produce analysis to inform development and program staff regarding the pace of spending; identify issues of over or underspending; ensure direct expenses are properly coded to funding source 

• Conduct monthly revenue forecasts in Adaptive for multilateral, bilateral, and other applicable funding 

• Work with program, development, and operations staff on grant and contract close-out; prepare timely and accurate external financial reports that comply with all funder regulations and requirements  

• Meet monthly with Program Operations Leads (and ad hoc as needed) to monitor grant and contract expenditures, identify unfunded expenditures allocable to funding sources, track variances between actuals and budget, and determine action needed  

• Monitor and manage institutional overhead and indirect cost recovery requirements across funding types  

• Collect and communicate reclassification information to accounting team  

• Schedule and lead kickoff meetings with program teams to review grant and contract obligations, terms, project setup, compliance expectations, and reporting requirements  

• Maintain records and accounting details within Workday and Salesforce 

Other/Miscellaneous 

• Assist RMI staff with additional funding requests, institutional donor inquiries, and interpretation of funder regulations and compliance requirements  

• Assist with the creation and implementation of process, policy, and procedural changes to improve efficiency and strengthen internal controls  

• Continuously improve funding processes and procedures to streamline workflows and support effective management of grant funding  

• Plan for and lead with preparation and execution of reviews, audits, and evaluations, particularly those associated with multilateral and bilateral funding; review findings and negotiate with auditors and funders on the implications and final reports 

• Serve as back-up within team as needed  

• Additional responsibilities, as required

Minimum Qualifications    

• Bachelor's degree required    

• Minimum of 3 years of work experience with grant and contract management  

• Experience working with complex budgets and funders, particularly multilateral and bilateral funders 

• Possess quantitative skills and experience in the preparation of budgets 

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team 

• Exceptional organizational skills and demonstrated ability to multitask in a dynamic, fast-paced environment   

• Positive, collaborative, and flexible with changing deadlines and workloads   

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and rapport building   

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel     

Additional Qualifications     

• Working knowledge of nonprofit business operations and grant and contract funding mechanisms  

• Proficiency in financial software and reporting tools 

• Workday and Salesforce experience preferred  

Visa Sponsorship

Please note: At this time, RMI is not able to sponsor employment visas or hire candidates who require visa sponsorship to work in the United States. All candidates must have current, independent authorization to work in the U.S. without present or future sponsorship from RMI. We will update our hiring pages if this status changes.

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado. This role can be located from anywhere in the continental United States.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Compensation

At RMI, we prioritize fairness in our pay practices. Salaries are determined based on a mix of experience, market benchmarks, and internal equity across similar roles. The salary range of this position is $65,167-$80,318. New hires typically start toward the lower end of the range, depending on experience and alignment with the role’s scope. In addition to base salary, this position includes an annual bonus target of 5% and eligibility for merit-based increases, which are tied to both individual and organizational performance.

Benefits

We offer an array of benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance

• 403b retirement match with immediate vesting

• Group life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability

• Optional voluntary life, AD&D and accident plans

• Health savings or flexible spending accounts

• Fertility and hormonal health support

• Mental health and wellness support

• Comprehensive leaves of absence (including generous parental leave)

• Generous paid time off and sick leave

• Paid sabbatical leave

• Regional holidays with at least one extended break in each geography

• Work from home and home technology allowances

• Learning & development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning and an annual individual professional development budget)

• Potential for bonuses and merit increases

• Discount marketplace (gym memberships, pet insurance, etc.)

• Hybrid / remote work options

• Team retreats and geographic meetups

• Rewards and recognition programs

Diversity

We know that the diversity of our teams makes us stronger as an organization, and RMI is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity as outlined in U.S. federal law. We prohibit discrimination against applicants, interns, and employees on the basis of any legally recognized basis, including but not limited to: age (40 and over), race, color, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, uniformed service member status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other applicable status protected by applicable law.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.