Manager of Grants and Operations

The Manager of Grants & Operations will be a key member of the Foundation team, responsible for overseeing the full grant lifecycle — from application intake through award, reporting, and closeout. This role serves as the primary point of contact for grantees, ensuring accessible, responsive, and relationship-centered engagement throughout each grantmaking cycle.

This role is responsible for maintaining data integrity and driving continuous improvement in our grantmaking systems, including Smartsheet and our grants management system (GMS). This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong operational judgment, attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to the foundation's mission.

Grantmaking Cycle Management:

• Provide oversight for the entire grantmaking lifecycle, from application and due diligence to award, reporting, and closeout.


• Develop and implement long-term strategies to enhance grantmaking effectiveness, efficiency, and equity.


• Collaborate with leadership and program directors to forecast grantmaking activity, manage portfolio budgets, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities.

Grantee Engagement & Support

• Cultivate and manage trust-based relationships with key grantee partners, funding agencies, and other external stakeholders.

Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare comprehensive portfolio analyses, financial reports, and strategic recommendations to leadership.


• Implement and oversee the foundation's compliance and reporting framework, ensuring adherence to all IRS regulations and foundation policies.


• Oversee the review of grantee financial reports, budgets, and due diligence materials, flagging and resolving potential compliance or risk issues.

Grants Management Systems & Data

• Optimize the foundation's grants management systems (GMS) and workflow tools (e.g., Smartsheet).

Required: 

• 3+ years of experience in public health or non-profit grants management, philanthropy, or nonprofit operations


• Proficiency with grants management software, project tracking tools (i.e., SmartSheet) and AI


• Strong attention to detail with a track record of managing multiple concurrent deadlines

Preferred: 

• 5+ Experience in public health or a non-profit health-focused grantmaking environment


• Experience in administering of configuring grants management systems at the administrative level

Specific Knowledge: 

• Understanding of population health and public health concepts


• Knowledge of IRS regulations for private foundations


• High-level proficiency with grants management software (GMS) and data analysis/workflow tools

Skills: 

• Ability to manage through ambiguity, strategic thinking and business acumen


• Advanced problem-solving


• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with capacity to engage diverse grantees with professionalism, clarity and empathy


• Self-directed learner who proactively identifies opportunities to improve systems, content, and processes

Work Environment:

• Remote, CST/EST time zone preferred


• Travel required

Education:

• Bachelor Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Non-Profit Management, or similar field (Required)


• Master Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Non-Profit management, or similar field (Preferred)


• Certifications in project management (PMP/CAPM/CompTIA) (Preferred)