Grants Administrator

Inside Philanthropy; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) seeks a Grants Administrator to manage the federal grants portfolio, including pre-award solicitations and post-award monitoring, within established compliance frameworks under the Director of Conservation Programs.

This role supports 2 CFR 200 compliance, audits, and closeouts; maintains audit-ready files; and serves as a primary contact for subrecipients, coordinating with NACD staff to ensure timely reports and responsible budgeting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• 4+ years of federal grants experience requested.
• Strong familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
• Experience supporting or monitoring subrecipients or pass‑through entities.
• Proficient budgeting, reporting, and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Ensure NACD and subrecipients comply with 2 CFR 200 and award terms.
• Monitor grant performance, budgets, and expenditures for proper use.
• Maintain audit-ready grant files and support audits and closeouts.
• Review subrecipient budgets, reports, and documentation for accuracy.
• Coordinate pre-award activities: solicitations, scopes of work, and award packages.
• Coordinate post-award activities: reporting, compliance, and actions.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written & verbal comms

Project coordination

Analytical thinking

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

Excel

Grant Vantage

Job description

Position Description

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) seeks a Grants Administrator to support the day-to-day monitoring and financial oversight of NACD’s federal grants and subaward portfolio., working within established compliance frameworks under the guidance of the Director of Conservation Programs This position also provides administrative support for the full lifecycle of pass-through grants, including pre-award solicitation activities and post-award monitoring and closeout.

The Grants Administrator plays a key role in supporting compliance with 2 CFR 200 and federal grant requirements, helping subrecipients meet their performance and financial obligations, and maintaining strong, proactive relationships with NACD members and partners. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, process-driven, and service-minded, with the ability to communicate clearly with grantees.

Responsibilities

Federal Grant Compliance & Risk Management

• Help ensure that NACD and subrecipient budgets and activities are in compliance with all applicable federal regulations and requirements, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), agency-specific rules, and award terms and conditions
• Monitor grant performance, budgets, and expenditures to ensure funds are used appropriately and within approved scopes
• Maintain complete, accurate, and audit-ready grant files
• Support audits, monitoring reviews, and close-out activities
• Flag potential compliance risks support resolution in coordination with the Directorli>
• Review financial and programmatic reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance

Serve as a point of contact for routine compliance questions, escalating complex issues to the Director Financial Oversight

• Review subrecipient budgets for allowability, allocability, realism, and reasonableness
• Help subrecipients forecast cash flow needs and time requests for advances or reimbursements
• Review subrecipients’ and contractors’ financial reports, invoices, and supporting documentation
• Monitor subrecipient financial reports and expenditures to ensure alignment with
• approved budgets and award terms; flag potential compliance or budgetary concerns Coordinate with NACD finance staff to request, process, reconcile, and track payments
• Assist with budget revisions, amendments, and no-cost extensions as needed

Pass-Through Grant Administration (Pre-Award)

• Support the design and administration of pass-through grant awards using competitive procedures and, when justified, non-competitive procedures in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and other requirements
• Support the development and administration of grant solicitations and award packages, including scopes of work, performance outcomes and metrics, application guidelines, timelines, and required forms
• Coordinate application intake, including eligibility screening, applicant risk assessments, and verification that proposal packages comply with the RFP requirements
• Assist with reviewer coordination and evaluation procedures, including documentation and justification of award decisions
• Prepare award recommendation materials and draft pass-through grant agreements in accordance with federal and organizational requirements

Pass-Through Grant Administration (Post-Award)

• Support orientation and assist subrecipients with understanding grant requirements, such as reporting, compliance, and addressing corrective actions (as needed).
• Review and assess subrecipient programmatic progress reports, deliverables, and progress toward outcomes
• Manage grant amendments, extensions, and closeout activities, ensuring all deliverables and reports are received and approved
• Track subrecipient obligations, expenditures, milestones, amendments, and closeouts
• Conduct desk reviews/desk audits to verify performance, documentation, and compliance

Administrative & Program Support

• Learn and use grants management systems (e.g., Grant Vantage or similar platforms)
• Maintain accurate and complete grant files and documentation systems
• Track deadlines and ensure timely submission of all required reports and deliverables
• Contribute to the development and refinement of internal grant policies, procedures, and tools
• Provide training and assistance to NACD staff and external partners as needed

Member & Grantee Support (Service-Oriented Role)

• Serve as point of contact for grant and subrecipient questions
• Provide proactive, clear, and responsive communication to subrecipients
• Support grantees beyond minimum requirements to help them succeed and remain compliant

Coordination & Internal Collaboration

• Collaborate with Operations, Finance, and Communication teams
• Coordinate with NACD staff and grantees to compile and submit required performance and financial reports
• Track deadlines, reporting status, and partner deliverables
• Provide limited input on funding opportunities, solicitations, and proposal development as needed
• Perform duties as assigned in coordination with the Director of Conservation
• Programs that advance the mission and purpose of NACD

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• At least four (4) years of experience managing or supporting federal grants, including compliance and financial oversight
• Demonstrated understanding of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)
• Experience supporting or monitoring subrecipients or pass-through entities
• Strong fiscal management skills, such as budget development and management, using
• Excel and other tools, and maintaining internal controls
• Ability to manage multiple grants and deadlines simultaneously
• Strong organizational, analytical, and attention-to-detail skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong leadership skills and ability to coordinate large-scale projects
• Travel required (up to 10%)

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with conservation districts or state government programs
• Experience with grants management systems (e.g., Grant Vantage)