Grants Officer, Core Strategy and Engagement (CSE)

NED; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Job summary

The National Endowment for Democracy is hiring a Grants Officer, Core Strategy and Engagement (CSE) in Washington, DC. The role combines grants administration, relationship management, and financial oversight to support effective program implementation and compliance with policy and regulatory requirements.

You will manage a portfolio of Core institute grants, guide grantees through due diligence, reporting, and closeout, and collaborate across departments to enhance grantmaking processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (international studies, nonprofit administration, etc.).
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in grants and/or contract administration in a nonprofit organization or foundation.
• Familiarity with federal grant regulations and international activities/issues relevant to NED's operational environment, including experience with or an interest in the work of NED's Core institutes.
• Demonstrated commitment to grantee-centered grantmaking, with the ability to build strong relationships, engage diverse stakeholders, and apply compliance requirements in a respectful and proportionate manner that supports grantee success.
• Strong attention to detail and conscientiousness about accuracy and timeliness in recordkeeping and follow-through.
• Experience working in an evolving environment, supporting a new team as structures and processes take shape.
• Strong operational judgment and ability to understand how tasks affect broader workflows, deadlines, stakeholders, and institutional processes.
• Sound critical thinking, including the ability to notice errors, inconsistencies, or missing information before moving forward.
• Ability to work with discretion.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with SharePoint, Teams, or similar platforms.
• Ability to travel internationally on an occasional basis.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned portfolio of grants throughout the full grant lifecycle, from due diligence and award processing through reporting and closeout.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for grantees, providing guidance on grant requirements, policies, procedures, and reporting expectations.
• Coordinate grant modifications, amendments, and other administrative actions in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate grant records and documentation to support effective portfolio management, decision-making, and institutional accountability.
• Perform timely closeouts; review grant and financial documentation and ensure all documentation and requirements are complete.
• Review proposal budgets, modification requests, financial reports, and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy, allowability, and compliance with grant terms and organizational requirements.
• Monitor grant expenditures and financial performance throughout the grant lifecycle, identifying issues and recommending appropriate solutions or mitigation measures.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and grant requirements while balancing accountability with a commitment to minimizing unnecessary administrative burden.
• Participate in monitoring activities and risk assessments to support responsible stewardship of grant funds and informed decision making.
• Handle sensitive financial, organizational, and grantee information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Coordinate and work collaboratively with colleagues across the CSE team and grantmaking programs.
• Assist with improving grants administration processes by maintaining updated policies and procedures as they evolve.
• Contribute to department- and organization-wide initiatives that promote collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in grant administration.

Skills

Grants management

Relationship building

Regulatory compliance

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint/Teams

Job description

Grants Officer, Core Strategy and Engagement (CSE)

Washington, DC, US

Salary Range: $51,750.00 To $80,250.00 Annually

Position Title: Grants Officer, Core Strategy and Engagement (CSE)
Grade Level: 4 / Exempt
Reports to: Senior Manager | Core Strategy and Engagement (CSE)

About NED

The National Endowment for Democracy supports freedom around the world.

At NED, we deliver on the belief that freedom is a universal aspiration. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NED is a private, nonprofit foundation, mandated by Congress, dedicated to strengthening democratic institutions worldwide.

NED reflects an enduring American commitment to stand with those striving for dignity, justice, and opportunity. In 2025, NED made 1,552 grants totaling $271 million to support the work of nongovernmental organizations advancing democratic goals in more than 90 countries, including some of the world's most challenging and repressive environments.

We seek talented, entrepreneurial professionals motivated by purpose and committed to excellence. At NED, you will join a dynamic team of experts who bring their skills, curiosity, and judgment to a consequential mission at a critical moment for democracy around the world. Our work is guided by our shared values: excellence, respect, empathy, accountability, and adaptability.

Position Summary

NED partners with four Core institutes—CIPE, IRI, NDI, and The Solidarity Center to advance democracy support around the world. The Core Strategy & Engagement (CSE) team strengthens NED's engagement with the four Core institutes to better support strategic coordination and facilitation of effective engagement, through strengthening shared systems and practices and helping connect priorities across our organizations. This work helps NED to advance common goals and to better draw on the experiences, networks, and expertise of each institution. The CSE team manages the grant administration of the Core institutes' annual allocation of NED's grantmaking budget.

The Grants Officer manages an assigned portfolio of Core institute grants and serves as the primary resource for the Core institutes throughout the grant lifecycle. The position combines relationship management, grants administration, and financial oversight to support effective project implementation, responsible stewardship of grant funds, and compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.

Working collaboratively across departments, the Grants Officer guides grantees through due diligence, award administration, reporting, and closeout processes while fostering a responsive and grantee-centered grantmaking experience. The role contributes to the integrity, effectiveness, and impact of the organization’s grantmaking programs.

This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC, and is part of the bargaining unit.

Primary Responsibilities

Manage an assigned portfolio of grants throughout the full grant lifecycle, from due diligence and award processing through reporting and closeout.

Serve as a primary point of contact for grantees, providing guidance on grant requirements, policies, procedures, and reporting expectations.

Coordinate grant modifications, amendments, and other administrative actions in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

Maintain accurate grant records and documentation to support effective portfolio management, decision-making, and institutional accountability.

Perform timely closeouts; review grant and financial documentation and ensure all documentation and requirements are complete.

Financial Stewardship, Compliance & Risk Management

Review proposal budgets, modification requests, financial reports, and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy, allowability, and compliance with grant terms and organizational requirements.

Monitor grant expenditures and financial performance throughout the grant lifecycle, identifying issues and recommending appropriate solutions or mitigation measures.

Ensure compliance with organizational policies, grant requirements, and applicable regulations while balancing accountability with a commitment to minimizing unnecessary administrative burden.

Participate in monitoring activities and risk assessments to support responsible stewardship of grant funds and informed decision making.

Handle sensitive financial, organizational, and grantee information with discretion and confidentiality.

Collaboration and Coordination

Coordinate and work collaboratively with colleagues across the CSE team and grantmaking programs.

Assist with improving grants administration processes by maintaining updated policies and procedures as they evolve.

Contribute to department- and organization-wide initiatives that promote collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in grant administration.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (international studies, nonprofit administration, etc.).

Minimum of 2 years of experience in grants and/or contract administration in a nonprofit organization or foundation.

Familiarity with federal grant regulations and international activities/issues relevant to NED's operational environment, including experience with or an interest in the work of NED's Core institutes.

Demonstrated commitment to grantee-centered grantmaking, with the ability to build strong relationships, engage diverse stakeholders, and apply compliance requirements in a respectful and proportionate manner that supports grantee success.

Strong attention to detail and conscientiousness about accuracy and timeliness in recordkeeping and follow-through.

Experience working in an evolving environment, supporting a new team as structures and processes take shape.

Strong operational judgment and ability to understand how tasks affect broader workflows, deadlines, stakeholders, and institutional processes.

Sound critical thinking, including the ability to notice errors, inconsistencies, or missing information before moving forward.

Ability to work with discretion.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with SharePoint, Teams, or similar platforms.

Ability to travel internationally on an occasional basis.

Authorization to work in the United States.

Alignment with NED's Core Values, cited above.

Talent in Action

Consistent with NED's talent statement, and grounded in our values, the successful individual in this role will demonstrate the following competencies in the delivery of their work while supporting NED's efforts to advance democratic change:

Purpose-Driven

Reliable

Expertise

Results-Oriented

NED Total Compensation

The anticipated compensation range for this position is $51,750 to $80,250.

The salary for this position is determined based on a wide variety of factors, including but not limited to an individual's professional experience, qualifications, education, and other business needs along with internal equity considerations. Employees are not typically hired at the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are based on the aforementioned circumstances.

• NED also offers a generous benefits package that demonstrates its commitment to employee health and well-being.