Manager, Operations and Grants

Council of Foundations; Newark (NJ); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Commuter stipend

Job summary

IntermediaryEd in Newark, NJ is seeking its first Manager, Operations and Grants to build the foundation's funding processes and internal systems with a technology-first approach. The role evolves from building grant administration to overseeing knowledge management, KPI dashboards, SOPs, and cross‑functional projects.

In a startup‑minded setting, you will partner with Finance, Legal, and Program teams, shape AI integration, and help scale the operation as IntermediaryEd grows, all while

Qualifications

• Past work experience with grants management and 5+ years in admin or project management in a foundation/nonprofit.
• Comfortable in a startup environment and adaptable to evolving priorities.
• Strong knowledge of GenAI and familiarity with grants management software.

Responsibilities

• Design and build processes for administering grants from due diligence to reporting.
• Incorporate AI into the implementation strategy to streamline workflows.
• Establish knowledge management approach and capture institutional knowledge.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and Program teams to ensure rigor and compliance.
• Manage ongoing administration of grants and funding commitments.
• Oversee IT infrastructure and HR administrative workflows.
• Document SOPs and workflows for cross-functional handoffs.
• Develop analytics program with timely reporting to stakeholders.
• Lead or support project management of cross-functional initiatives.
• Take on evolving operational responsibilities including technology, talent, contracts, vendors, and finance.

Skills

Grants management

Project management

GenAI

Data analysis

Tools

Grants databases

Knowledge management tools

Job description

About IntermediaryEd

More than a third of employed Americans struggle to make ends meet, and millions of young people never get the chance to realize their talent because our education, training, and employment systems don't meet their needs — even as employers struggle to fill open roles and AI reshapes the world of work. Philanthropy has a critical role to play in closing that gap, but it's rare for a new, major philanthropic institution to enter the field. That's exactly what IntermediaryEd is doing: a newly created foundation with a nearly half-billion-dollar endowment, built to help young people — especially those born into low-income households — prepare for and thrive in uplifting careers.

Led by founding CEO Rachel Korberg, IntermediaryEd is recruiting a founding team to build strategy, operations, and staff ahead of a public launch in early 2027. This is a rare chance to build a lasting institution from the ground up — to shape its culture, brand, systems, and impact, with emerging technology woven into its DNA from the start. We're looking for people energized by that kind of builder's work: comfortable with ambiguity and able to balance strategic and hands‑on leadership. Our team is driven by the chance to make a real difference — and to do it grounded in the values that define how we work: Care. Act. Learn.

The Opportunity

IntermediaryEd is hiring its first Manager, Operations and Grants (“Manager”), a key hire who will help build the systems to deploy grant funds and support the foundation’s operations with rigor from day one. This role is intentionally shaped in two phases, and candidates should be excited by both.

Phase 1: Building the infrastructure. The Manager will help stand up the systems and processes for managing and administering IntermediaryEd’s funding commitments. With a technology‑first framework, AI will be treated as a core part of how the work gets done, not as a tool added on afterward. Alongside the funding infrastructure, the Manager will also help design and implement IntermediaryEd’s approach to knowledge management and take on project management for collaborative, cross‑functional initiatives as they arise.

Phase 2: Once infrastructure is in place, the role evolves. This position is designed with the idea that grants management at a foundation of IntermediaryEd’s size will likely not require a dedicated, full‑time role. Over time, we expect grants management to become one part of a broader portfolio that encompasses the management of the day‑to‑day administrative infrastructure and internal workflows of the foundation. Projects may include knowledge management, development of KPI and impact dashboards, development and documentation of SOPs, and leadership on priority initiatives — a portfolio of projects that suits someone who wants variety and impact rather than a narrowly scoped, single‑function job.

This is a chance to help build a foundation's operational core from the ground up, and then grow with it, taking on a role that changes shape as IntermediarEd does.

Responsibilities

• Help design and build the processes and systems for administering grants and other funding commitments, from due diligence through disbursement and reporting.
• Incorporate AI into the implementation strategy, looking for intentional opportunities to build efficient, modern workflows.
• Help establish IntermediaryEd’s approach to knowledge management, ensuring institutional knowledge is captured and accessible as the organization grows.
• Partner closely with Finance, Legal, and the Program team to keep funding processes rigorous and compliant, supporting our financial and legal due diligence.
• Manage the ongoing administration of grants and funding commitments once core systems are in place.
• Manage IntermediaryEd’s operational functions including our IT infrastructure and HR administrative workflows.
• Develop and maintain the documentation of IntermediaryEd’s internal SOPs and workflows, ensuring strong collaboration and smooth handoffs across the organization.
• Collaborate across the organization to build and maintain a robust data and analytics program that delivers timely, relevant reporting to internal stakeholders.
• Lead or support the project management of cross‑functional initiatives.
• Take on a growing, evolving portfolio of operational responsibilities as IntermediaryEd’s needs shift over time, including technology, talent, contracts, vendors, and finance.

Location

This is a hybrid role that requires in‑person presence at IntermediaryEd's office in Newark, NJ every other Monday and two full days for quarterly planning meetings. Staff are also expected to attend additional in‑person meetings, events, or team gatherings, in Newark or elsewhere, including a multi‑day all‑staff retreat. IntermediaryEd provides all employees with a commuter stipend based on distance from Newark, NJ to help offset travel costs.

Qualifications

• Past work experience with grants management, and at least 5 years of experience in a related administrative or project management role in a foundation, nonprofit, or similar setting.
• Thrives in a startup environment, bringing sound judgment to situations where processes and priorities are still taking shape.
• Significant proficiency with emerging technology (GenAI) as well as with traditional technology and software tools including grants management database systems.
• Proven ability to develop and manage systems and processes, as well as organize and prioritize multiple complex projects and tasks.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; demonstrated experience inputting and analyzing data; able to synthesize and present complex information.
• A willingness to experiment, learn quickly, and build new approaches to evolve the foundation.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively with and across IntermediaryEd’s small teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfort collaborating with leadership.
• Commitment to IntermediaryEd’s mission and values.

Location

This is a hybrid role that requires in‑person presence at IntermediaryEd's office in Newark, NJ every other Monday and two full days for quarterly planning meetings. Staff are also expected to attend additional in‑person meetings, events, or team gatherings, in Newark or elsewhere, including a multi‑day all‑staff retreat. IntermediaryEd provides all employees with a commuter stipend based on distance from Newark, NJ to help offset travel costs.