Grant Business Partner

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI)

ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability. At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success.

Position Summary

Partners for Rural Impact (PRI) is seeking a strategic, systems-oriented professional to serve as a Grant Business Partner, a new role designed to lead and collaborate across teams on pre- and post-award grant management. This position plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s financial sustainability and compliance through expert oversight of grants and funding streams. Reporting to the Director of Grant Services, the Grant Business Partner will support grant strategy and acquisition, ensure compliance with federal regulations, and lead financial management, reporting, and monitoring across a diverse portfolio of awards. As a subject matter expert in grant compliance, the role will guide internal teams, coordinate with funders, and foster cross-departmental collaboration to align financial resources with program goals.

Responsibilities include preparing and managing budgets, reconciling expenditures, monitoring programmatic and financial performance, submitting financial reports and drawdowns, and supporting annual audits. The Grant Business Partner will also ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), track regulatory changes, and develop risk mitigation strategies to safeguard funding continuity. In addition, the role will facilitate handoffs for new awards and provide training and tools to strengthen staff capacity in grants management.

Through effective documentation, data analysis, and clear communication, the Grant Business Partner will enhance PRI’s organizational infrastructure, ensure all grant activities are audit-ready, and contribute to long-term financial planning—ultimately advancing PRI’s mission and impact.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Grant Strategy & Acquisition

• Assist in preparing, reviewing, and submitting grant proposals, ensuring accuracy and completeness of financial documentation
• Identify opportunities to braid and leverage funds across programs to support organizational financial goals
• Analyze potential funding sources and contribute to long-term financial planning

Compliance & Federal Regulations

• Ensure compliance with all federal grant regulations, particularly 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance)
• Monitor and interpret regulatory updates from federal and other funding sources to maintain ongoing compliance
• Provide subject matter expertise to guide internal teams through regulatory requirements

Financial Management & Reporting

• Develop and manage detailed grant budgets using advanced Excel functions and financial modeling tools
• Track and reconcile expenditures to ensure alignment with allowable costs, maintaining complete documentation for audits
• Prepare and submit
• timely and accurate financial reports, invoices, and drawdowns in coordination with AP/AR teams
• Collaborate with program and finance teams on scenario planning, spending forecasts, and funding utilization reports
• Monitor and report on matching funds and grant balances to leadership
• Manage drawdowns, track project revenue, and complete indirect cost calculations
• Support year-end closing and the Single Audit process by tracking prepaids, determining accruals and receivables, calculating subrecipient amounts, and preparing expenditure reports for testing
• Assist grant, finance, and program teams with budget and scope revisions

Monitoring, Evaluation & Risk Management

• Monitor a portfolio of active grants to ensure performance milestones and financial targets are achieved
• Partner with department leads to prepare compliance documentation and progress reports
• Anticipate risks related to grant funding and develop mitigation strategies to safeguard funding continuity
• Support internal and external audits of grant-funded programs
• Research and analyze data, providing leadership with regular reports on grant goals, objectives, and spending plans

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a primary point of contact for government agencies, grant officers, and funding partners
• Build strong cross-departmental relationships to align program goals with funding requirements
• Ensure transparent communication regarding funding status, timelines, and compliance expectations
• Facilitate smooth handoffs of new awards to team members responsible for managing new funding streams

Training & Capacity Building

• Provide training and guidance to staff on grant management best practices, reporting standards, and compliance
• Develop user-friendly templates, tools, and guides to strengthen decentralized grant management capacity

Documentation & Record-Keeping

• Maintain a centralized, audit-ready archive of all grant documents, agreements, communications, and reports
• Ensure all contracts, subawards, and agreements charged to grants are executed in compliance with funding terms
• Track entries in Salesforce and provide training to ensure grant-related relationships are documented and reviewed to support proposal development

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed.

Position Location & Schedule

The position will be considered for remote work with local, state, and sometimes national travel required.

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET with in-office, hybrid and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and to the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours.

Minimum Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Minimum 3-5 years of direct experience managing federal grants, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance
• Experience working in or with nonprofit, public sector, or mission-driven organizations is preferred

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• In-depth understanding of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and federal grant lifecycle management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, conditional formatting, macros preferred) and experience with financial tools such as QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or similar
• Advanced understanding of grant financial management regulations and requirements
• Sophisticated financial modeling and scenario analysis capabilities
• Strong strategic planning and systems thinking orientation
• Expert knowledge of integrated financial systems, analytics tools, and financial technologies
• Exceptional leadership skills with ability to inspire and develop teams
• Outstanding communication skills with ability to translate complex financial concepts for non-financial audiences
• Demonstrated commitment to education and rural communities
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational excellence
• Deep understanding of risk management and compliance frameworks
• Exceptional analytical and critical thinking abilities
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-paced environments
• Demonstrated commitment to innovation and continuous improvement
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license
• Successfully complete pre-employment background check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work in a high energy office
• Ability to accurately communicate and exchange information with partners, stakeholders, and/or meeting participants
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs
• Ability to travel independently by car and plane regionally and nationally
• Ability to operate standard office equipment
• Ability to operate motor vehicle

Environmental conditions:

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities
• Periodic travel to meetings and events