Associate Director, Global Grants Management

Overview of AJWS

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. By supporting hundreds of social change organizations in 17 countries, we respond to the most pressing issues of our time—from disasters, genocide and hunger to the persecution of women and minorities worldwide. With Jewish values and a global reach, AJWS is making a difference in millions of lives and bringing a more just and equitable world closer for all.

Overview of Team

Through grassrooted grantmaking and advocacy, the AJWS Programs Division provides financial support and builds strong partnerships with activists, organizations and social movements facing complex global challenges – from authoritarianism, to attacks on women, sex worker and LGBTQI+ rights, to the climate and humanitarian crises. The Programs Division works at the intersection of Jewish values and global issues. In a deep collaboration between our Advocacy and Jewish Engagement teams, we advocate for U.S. laws and policies that help overcome injustice and elevate support for grassrooted change in the Global South; and we also use strategic communications to amplify our grantees’ voices and those of our supporters to influence policymakers in the U.S. and around the globe. The Programs Division also houses our International Operations (IOPS) and Grants Management team, which oversees the execution of AJWS’s grantmaking policies, procedures and systems in alignment with the organization’s values of and commitment to flexible, responsive and trust-based practices. The work of the Programs Division is rooted in detailed strategies that each team designs and implements, and can be summarized as follows:

Civil and Political Rights: Supporting Democracy and Justice and Defending Against Authoritarianism: AJWS supports pro-democracy social movements seeking to push back against authoritarianism, promote democratic ideals and advance justice. We work to center the voices of those often marginalized in governance, including youth, women and ethnic, religious or other minority groups.
Humanitarian Response: Supporting Humanitarian Response led by Local Communities: AJWS prioritizes support for local, grassroots groups that work to meet the unique needs of historically marginalized communities in the wake of disasters so that they can recover fully and become more resilient to future crises.
Land, Water and Climate Justice: Defending the Rights to Land, Water, Forests, and Livelihoods and Advancing Climate Justice: AJWS supports social movements of rural, indigenous, and marginalized communities, especially women and youth, who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and advocate for their land, water, forest, and livelihood rights to address climate change. Through funding and accompaniment, we bolster their struggles for natural resource rights and amplify their solutions for climate justice.
Sexual Health and Rights: Advancing the Rights of Women, Girls, Sex Workers, and LGBTQI+: AJWS funding and accompaniment enables movements led by AGYW, sex workers, and LGBTQI+ to strengthen coalitions with allied communities to jointly advocate for rights-affirming laws, services and other empowering resources so that these focus communities have improved access to rights free from discrimination, violence and abuse and can enjoy the full spectrum of opportunities in society and live in health, safety, and dignity.
Advocacy Department: Advocating for U.S. laws and policies that help overcome injustice and elevate support for grassrooted change in the Global South: AJWS advocates domestically to ensure U.S. officials and policy stakeholders hear the human rights issues and priorities of our partners in all our grantmaking portfolios. Working with the U.S. Congress, Executive branch agencies, peer advocacy NGOs and the American Jewish community and clergy, the Advocacy and Jewish engagement teams work to create an enabling U.S. foreign policy environment globally and in the communities of our grantees and partners around the world.
International Operations Department (IOPS) and Grants Management: Operationalizing AJWS’s values of and commitment to flexible, responsive and trust-based grantmaking practices: The IOPS team oversees all grants management functions for AJWS’s $19 million core grantmaking portfolio, as well as $3 million donor-advised funds (DAFs). Executes strategic and values-based grantmaking policies, procedures and systems that operationalize AJWS’s commitment to flexible, responsive, and trust-based practices. Ensures the integrity and efficiency of AJWS’s grantmaking systems, including its foundationConnect/Salesforce grants management database.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Global Grants Management manages the legal, financial and operational components of all grantmaking portfolios administered by Grants Managers and Associates. They are responsible for developing systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness and lead a team responsible for training staff and in-country colleagues on grantmaking policies and procedures. The Associate Director works closely with the Finance & Administration Division to ensure that restricted funds are effectively tracked and with the Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation Division to analyze grants data trends to inform evaluation and organizational learning. They are a gifted manager, committed to the development and ongoing refinement of efficient and user-friendly systems, and are incredibly detail oriented. This position reports to the Associate Vice President of Programs, and may require some travel.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Supervise and provide leadership to the grants management team to further develop and enhance grants management policies, practices and technologies, including development of the team;
Support the Grants Manager in overseeing the relationship between AJWS and donor-advised funds’ representatives on all grants management issues;
Play a central role in ensuring compliance with grantmaking procedures required by law and AJWS’s established processes, working in increasingly risky and complex environments worldwide;
Act as the primary liaison with outside counsel for Programs Division legal needs and complex compliance issues;
Monitor U.S. federal and country specific grantmaking rules and regulations to keep abreast of changes that may be required in policies and procedures, and communicate any changes to relevant staff and in-country colleagues
Advise IT colleagues and team members on grantmaking requirements and best practices for implementing and maintaining the grants management database (Salesforce foundationConnect);
Oversee the grants database and prepare data analyses and reports that accurately represent AJWS’s work to internal and external audiences and develop innovative ways to present this data;
Recommend and implement streamlined and values-driven grantmaking policies and procedures;
Oversee the planning and execution of ongoing policies & procedures trainings and orientations for Programs Division team members;
Review and approve grant payments;
Work closely with Finance department to reconcile restricted revenue and grant expenses monthly, plan and monitor grantmaking budgets, and ensure budget compliance across the Programs Division;
Partner with the programmatic and development departments to assist in oversight and compliance of restricted funds;
Work closely with AJWS Board committees to ensure strategic and fiduciary oversight of grantmaking portfolios, and alignment with AJWS values and strategic goals;
Partner with Risk Management and Administrative Services (RMAS) department to identify and mitigate risk in grantmaking portfolios;
Provide grants management-related assistance to the Programs Leadership Team and maintain a strong working relationship with other AJWS divisions;
Partner with the Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation staff to develop and review grant metrics and data;
Provide timely feedback to the Associate VP of Programs on grant compliance and data integrity issues;
Actively participate in peer-learning and networking through PEAK Grantmaking, peer foundations and other professional organizations.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts/Science or equivalent degree, or relevant work experience required;
Minimum of 8-10 years of grants management experience working at a foundation, international development or human rights organization;
Deep expertise in international and/or human rights grants management;
Strong project management skills, including exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to drive and manage projects from conception to completion;
Proficiency in MS Office Suite, with particularly strong Excel skills, and deep knowledge of grants management systems required ( experience working withSalesforce/foundationConnect a plus)
Previous budgeting experience at a foundation or other non-profit or;
Capacity to handle complex and confidential information with discretion;
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse stakeholders;
Demonstrated capacity to take initiative and solve problems;
Commitment to social justice and human rights;
Commitment to knowledge sharing and a culture of learning;
Strong conceptual and critical thinking abilities;
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Willingness and ability to travel internationally and/or domestically at least once a year;
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Graduate degree preferred;
Experience with international grantmaking by US public charities;
Experience working with Salesforce/foundationConnect;
Experience training others in grants management systems;
Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking Spanish, Haitian Kreyol, and/or French; and
Proven excellence in staff management.

Additional Information:

Salary: $89,500-$125,500
This role is full time (40 HRS), Exempt

Location:

Remote – Contiguous US-Based
*This role is flexible in nature and can be performed from a home office in the contiguous United States.

Compensation and Benefits Information:

AJWS is committed to a salary framework that aligns with our culture and values. The compensation range reflected is in alignment with our framework and individual pay decisions will vary based on skills and experience while still allowing for growth.
Paid Time Off: 15-22 Federal and religious holidays off each year in addition to generous vacation and sick days;
Full health benefits coverage with minimal contribution by employees;
403(b): 4.25% company match (safe harbor);
Flexible Spending Account and Commuter Benefits; Workplace flexibility and generous leave policy.

Additional Considerations:

Black, Indigenous and People of Color; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Intersex, Trans and Gender non-conforming people; women; and differently abled people are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applications from people of diverse religious, spiritual and cultural backgrounds.

As an organization committed to promoting social justice around the world, it is essential that we incorporate a diverse, equitable and inclusive lens into all aspects of our work at AJWS. We encourage applicants with a global perspective and a commitment to values around diversity, equity, and inclusion to apply.

Authorization to work in the US is required.

How to Apply

For immediate consideration, click on the link to apply below. Applications submitted without a resume and personalized cover letter will not be considered.