Grants & Opertions Manager

THE ROLE AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The Grants and Operations Manager (GOM) is a cross-functional leader who advances NCF’s grantmaking operations and supports the operational infrastructure that keeps NCF running smoothly strategically aligned, and in compliance. Reporting to the Managing Director of Operations and Asset Management, the GOM works at the intersection of grants integrity, compliance, systems stewardship, and operational continuity. This is a role for someone who brings both technical command of grantmaking systems and a genuine instinct for how their work serves the people and mission around them.

As the primary steward of NCF’s Asset Management System (AMS), the GOM maintains data and information integrity across grants and program related investments (PRIs), ensuring the system serves as a reliable source for compliance monitoring, institutional decision-making, reporting, and learning. The GOM drives end-to-end grants administration, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, expenditure responsibility standards, reporting obligations, payment tracking, and ongoing compliance while also developing workflows that strengthen efficiency, consistency, and alignment with NCF’s strategic priorities and operational standards.

Beyond grants and compliance functions, the GOM holds direct responsibility for day-to-day operational functions across a remote-first environment, working closely with the Managing Director of Operations and Asset Management. This includes managing vendor relationships and facilities coordination, as well as leading the logistical planning of office-related events. This cross-functional role calls for someone equally comfortable navigating complex grant compliance requirements, managing operational systems and workflows, and sustaining operational continuity with care and precision. The role requires regular in-person presence in the New York office, including one day per week on average and participation in organizational gatherings, to support collaboration and shared organizational culture.

HOW WE WORK AT NCF

Collaboration is foundational to how NCF operates. We cultivate an environment of deep cross-departmental partnership, where staff engage through organization-wide committees, working groups, and task forces. We value leaders who are open, curious, and innovative, who bring both rigor and creativity to their work and invest in the growth and trust of those around them.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Grants and PRI Management

• Manage the full grants lifecycle, from intake and review through approval, payment, monitoring, and closeout, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance at each stage.
• Oversee due diligence and documentation for all grantee partners, including international partners, in accordance with IRS regulations and Foundation policies.
• Guide grantee partners and internal staff through application and reporting cycles, ensuring all pre- and post-grant requirements are met on time.
• Lead the development and management of the annual docket calendar, ensuring seamless alignment across grant cycles, board meetings, application deadlines, review processes, and reporting timelines.
• Manage grants and PRI payment processing in partnership with Finance & Accounting, ensuring payment requests, supporting documentation, approvals, and system records are accurate, timely, and aligned with institutional policies and procedures.
• Manage grantmaking activity into actionable insights through dashboards, reports, and visualizations that inform strategy and stakeholder decisions.
• Continuously assess the effectiveness of grants management strategies and processes, bringing forward solutions that drive improvement and organizational learning.
• Manage PRI compliance tracking and reporting within the AMS, ensuring records, documentation, reporting requirements, and key deadlines are maintained accurately.
• Serve as an informed point of contact for grantmaking-related inquiries from staff, partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring clear and timely communication.

Grants Administration

• Partner with the Knowledge and Asset Management Associate to coordinate team workflows, ensure knowledge continuity, and maintain coverage across responsibilities.
• Monitor and track the grants budget in collaboration with the Managing Director of Operations and Asset Management, maintaining alignment across commitments, disbursements, and projections.
• Serve as the primary administrator of the AMS, overseeing system management, user support, and information integrity.
• Maintain grantmaking policies, procedures, and the grants management manual, identifying opportunities to strengthen processes and cross-departmental coordination.
• Lead preparation of board meeting materials, presentations, and board book documents.

Operations

• Partner across teams to support day-to-day office operations and organizational logistics within a remote-first work environment.
• Manage vendor and service provider relationships, ensuring quality service, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for facilities-related matters, including coordination with building management, security, maintenance, and office supply partners as needed.
• Partner with staff leads to manage the logistical planning and execution of office meetings, staff gatherings, and organizational events, including vendor coordination, COI requirements, and onsite setup needs.
• Maintain and implement office-related policies, safety protocols, and emergency procedures to support a safe and well-functioning work environment.
• Support AV and IT coordination for in-person and hybrid meetings and gatherings in partnership with internal teams and external vendors.

Project Management and Administration

• Plan, execute, and track projects to ensure alignment with Foundation goals and timelines, maintaining clear records and timely communication with stakeholders.
• Participate in cross-department solution teams and working groups; perform other duties or special projects as needed.
• Stay current with trends in philanthropy, grantmaking, and REEJ-aligned practice, sharing learnings from conferences, affinity groups, and peer communities to strengthen the foundation's work.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Five or more years of experience in grants management or a related field, with a strong understanding of the full grantmaking lifecycle; experience with PRIs is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of IRS regulations and compliance requirements related to grantmaking; experience with budget tracking, reconciliations, and reporting; familiarity with private foundation operations is a plus.
• Experience with grants management, AMS, or CRM platforms; ability to translate grantmaking activity into actionable insights through dashboards, reports, and visualizations.
• Excellent project management, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across staff, board members, vendors, and external partners.
• Knowledge of philanthropy and social justice, with a demonstrated commitment to racial equity and justice in alignment with NCF’s pursuit of REEJ; highly adaptable, collaborative, and committed to continuous learning.

SALARY RANGE

$118,000 to $140,000. At NCF, fairness and transparency shape our compensation. Salaries for all positions are evaluated by applicable qualifications and experience, leveraging insights obtained through third-party benchmarking, aiming to fall close to the median salary range.

LOCATION

This is a primarily remote position open to candidates in the greater New York metropolitan region or within two hours of New York City, with operating hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm Eastern Time. The role includes a weekly in-person presence in the New York office on average, as well as participation in organization-wide gatherings (Org Days), typically two consecutive days per month.

AS AN NCF TEAM MEMBER, YOU WILL ENJOY

Health Care Plans: We provide health care plans (medical, dental, and vision) for you and your dependents, effective on the first day following your first full month of employment.

Employer Retirement Plan: We contribute 15% of your salary to your retirement plan, regardless if you participate in our employee-contributed 403b plan with targeted fund options.

Parental Leave: We provide 12 weeks of paid leave for new, birth, and non-birth parents.

Professional Growth: After one year of employment with the foundation, we offer up to the IRS maximum allowance towards eligible tuition reimbursement and other professional development opportunities.

Paid Time Off: We offer a competitive PTO package, in support of a healthy work-life balance, inclusive of 12-13 paid holidays, 10 Summer Fridays off, and the last week in December off.

Travel Stipend: We provide a travel stipend to support your regular in-office presence.

COMMITMENT TO RACE EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT: As a foundation focused on racial, economic, and environmental justice (REEJ) in our work and investments, we’re deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This commitment is reflected in how we work together internally and with our external partners. It’s also reflected in how we hire. Regardless of how you identify, we encourage you to apply for this role if you meet most of the qualifications outlined above.

NCF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, caste, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression (including the use of preferred pronouns), sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health decisions or decision making (of employees or their dependents), height, weight, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, caregiving circumstances, gender-based violence survivor status, credit or salary history, age, disability, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, pre-employment arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT

This is an exempt position.

HOW TO APPLY

Please visit NCF’s Career Page.

AS AN NCF TEAM MEMBER, YOU WILL ENJOY

Health Care Plans: We provide health care plans (medical, dental, and vision) for you and your dependents, effective on the first day following your first full month of employment.

Employer Retirement Plan: We contribute 15% of your salary to your retirement plan, regardless if you participate in our employee-contributed 403b plan with targeted fund options.

Parental Leave: We provide 12 weeks of paid leave for new, birth, and non-birth parents.

Professional Growth: After one year of employment with the foundation, we offer up to the IRS maximum allowance towards eligible tuition reimbursement and other professional development opportunities.

Paid Time Off: We offer a competitive PTO package, in support of a healthy work-life balance, inclusive of 12-13 paid holidays, 10 Summer Fridays off, and the last week in December off.

Travel Stipend: We provide a travel stipend to support your regular in-office presence.