Director, Federal Grants

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, seeks a Director of Federal Grants reporting to the Deputy CFO in the Finance Department. This senior role provides institution-wide oversight of the federal grants portfolio, guiding strategy, compliance, and performance across departments and with federal agencies.

The position emphasizes leadership of a federal grants team, development of policies and controls, and collaboration with Finance, Budget,

Qualifications

• Executive leadership of the federal grants portfolio with strategic alignment.
• Development and enforcement of internal controls and risk-management practices for federal funding.
• Oversight of high-risk, institutionally significant awards and audits.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for identifying, pursuing, administering, and sustaining federal funding.
• Establish policies, procedures, internal controls, and governance for grant development and administration.
• Oversee portfolio performance, compliance, and coordination with Finance, Legal, Budget, Procurement, and program leadership.

Job description

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) seeks a Director of Federal Grants reporting to the Deputy CFO in the Finance Department. The Director works with multiple Departments within the organization such as the Department of Unemployment Assistance, Department of Career Services, and other EOLWD agencies. The Director of Federal Grants provides strategic leadership and institution-wide oversight of the federal grants portfolio, ensuring federal funding activities align with organizational priorities and comply with applicable federal regulations, award requirements, and institutional policies. The Director establishes the policies, internal controls, risk-management practices, and operational standards that govern federal grant development and administration. Serving as the institution's senior resource for federal grants, the Director advises executive leadership on funding opportunities, portfolio performance, compliance risks, and emerging federal requirements. The position provides oversight of complex, high-risk, and institutionally significant awards; leads responses to significant audits and compliance matters; and collaborates with Finance, Budget, Procurement, Legal, and program leadership to strengthen grant management and organizational accountability. The Director leads and develops the federal grants team, including oversight of the Federal Grants Manager, and builds institutional capacity through training, technical assistance, process improvement, and effective grant management systems. The position also represents the institution with federal agencies and external partners on strategic grant matters and promotes the effective pursuit, administration, and stewardship of federal resources.

Note: This position would be expected to follow a hybrid model of reporting to work that combines in-office workdays and work from home days, as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all-inclusive):

Federal Grants Strategy, Policy and Leadership

Provide strategic leadership and direction for the institution's federal grants portfolio, aligning federal funding opportunities with institutional priorities and long-term goals. Develop and implement an institution-wide strategy for identifying, pursuing, administering, and sustaining federal funding. Advise executive leadership on federal funding opportunities, grant portfolio performance, emerging requirements, compliance risks, and other matters affecting federal grants. Evaluate federal funding opportunities in collaboration with institutional leadership and departments to determine strategic alignment, organizational capacity, financial implications, and potential risks. Establish priorities, goals, and performance expectations for the federal grants function and evaluate progress toward those objectives. Represent the institution with federal agencies, governmental partners, and other external stakeholders on strategic or significant grant matters.

Federal Grants Compliance, Risk, and Governance

Provide institution-wide leadership and oversight for compliance with federal grant requirements, including applicable Uniform Guidance requirements, award terms and conditions, and institutional policies. Develop, implement, and periodically evaluate policies, procedures, internal controls, and governance practices for federal grant development and administration. Establish a risk-based framework for monitoring federal awards and, where applicable, subrecipients to identify and address financial, programmatic, operational, and compliance risks. Provide guidance on complex or significant federal grant compliance matters and coordinate resolution with Finance, Legal, Procurement, Budget, program leadership, and other institutional offices. Oversee institutional responses to significant federal monitoring activities, audits, findings, questioned costs, corrective action plans, and other compliance matters. Monitor changes in federal grant regulations, policies, and agency requirements and ensure institutional policies, procedures, training, and practices are updated accordingly. Establish standards for grant documentation, records retention, reporting, monitoring, and closeout to support institutional accountability and audit readiness.

Federal Grants Portfolio and Organizational Oversight

Provide executive-level oversight of the federal grant portfolio, including award performance, compliance status, financial and programmatic risks, reporting obligations, and significant grant-related issues. Establish performance measures, dashboards, and reporting standards to assess the institution's federal grant activity, portfolio health, and compliance performance. Partner with Finance, Budget, Procurement, Legal, and program leadership to ensure appropriate coordination of financial management, procurement, contracting, indirect costs, matching requirements, and other grant-related activities. Review and provid