Senior Grants Manager, 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 14 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 adolescent girls and young women (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 (GM): Operationalizing AJWS’s values of and commitment to flexible, responsive and trust‐ based grantmaking practices
AJWS oversees all grants management functions for AJWS’s core grantmaking portfolio, as well as 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 Salesforce-based grants management platform.

Position Summary

The Senior Grants Manager is responsible for administering a substantial portfolio of complex, high-risk grants and supporting AJWS’s core grantmaking portfolio. They are exceptionally systems-oriented, with strong attention to detail, organizational abilities, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Working closely with the Associate Vice President of Programs and the Associate Director of Global Grants Management, they will help monitor evolving risks in sensitive operating environments and ensure that grantmaking practices reflect legal and regulatory requirements, organizational policies, and changing country contexts. They will coordinate with program teams, intermediaries, grantees, Finance, and payment providers to support compliance, due diligence, secure payments, and risk mitigation. The Senior Grants Manager will also serve as the Grants Management team’s primary point of contact for the Salesforce-based grants management system, supporting users, maintaining data integrity, and partnering with IT and other stakeholders on system improvements and transitions. This position reports to the Associate Director, Global Grants Management.

Job Description:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Administer a substantial portfolio of complex, high-risk grants, including high-touch coordination with intermediaries, Program Officers, and grantees; processing and delivering grant agreements through appropriate channels; and closely monitoring sensitive grant payments and reporting requirements.
Partner closely with the Associate Vice President of Programs and the Associate Director of Global Grants Management to monitor evolving risks in highly sensitive operating environments; ensure that changes in the risk landscape are reflected in grantmaking practices and coordination; and provide grantmaking insights that inform organizational policy and high-level risk-management initiatives led by the Associate Vice President.
Ensure grants comply with applicable U.S. laws and regulations, AJWS policies and procedures, and country-specific legal and regulatory requirements affecting grantmaking in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Uganda, India, and Burma/Myanmar. Maintain complete and accurate grant records to support organizational compliance, ongoing monitoring, and annual audits.
Conduct and document sanction-screening and other required due diligence, with particular attention to high-risk grants, intermediaries, and payment arrangements. Promptly escalate potential concerns to the Associate Director of Global Grants Management and support appropriate follow-up and risk-mitigation measures.
Process twice‐weekly grant payments, working closely with the Finance Department as well as Convera to troubleshoot complicated payment situations;
Create and run ongoing reports and searches in the grants management system to support internal and external stakeholders in accessing grant data needed for their work;
Assist in creating and streamlining systems and processes related to program departments and Finance;
Work collaboratively with GM colleagues to process grant approvals and payments – focusing on proactive problem‐solving to address compliance, risk mitigation, and data integrity issues;
Stay informed of changing international regulations and laws that affect grantmaking and make policy and process recommendations as needed;
Assist Associate Director with policy and process recommendations to improve grantmaking in line with best practices in the field;
With support from the Grants Management Associate, lead the creation of grant dockets by consolidating grants data in partnership with program departments;
Serve as the Grants Management team’s primary point of contact for the Salesforce-based grants management system (GMS), coordinating with IT, consultants, and Salesforce administrators responsible for backend maintenance and technical support. Provide training and user support to staff and in-country colleagues.
Partner with the Associate Director, IT, and other stakeholders to maintain the integrity of grants management data and processes and to lead the assessment, testing, and implementation of system transitions, upgrades, enhancements, and third-party solutions.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with program staff to strengthen your day-to-day work and to coordinate division‐wide projects;
Participate in department‐ and organization‐wide initiatives such as task forces and working groups when appropriate;
Actively participate in peer‐learning and networking through PEAK Grantmaking and other professional organizations;
Respond to department inquiries including communication with grantees and in‐country colleagues;
Manage interns and consultants on special projects as needed.

Required qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts/Science or equivalent degree;
At least three years of grants management experience working at a grantmaking institution;
Experience working in the global south, ideally with countries considered high-risk.
Strong experience working with Salesforce-based grants management systems; familiarity with Nonprofit Cloud preferred.
Strong knowledge of grantmaking operations, practices, and regulations;
Energized by working in a fast‐paced, evolving environment with multiple demands; flexible; adaptive, and proactive in managing changing priorities.
Strong interest and experience in administrative systems creation, process development, and continuous process improvement;
Highly skilled in Microsoft Office applications, particularly strong Excel and proficient in virtual collaboration and communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Detail‐oriented with strong organizational and project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines;
Strong relationship management, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills;
Experience working effectively with geographical dispersed and international teams across multiple time zones.
Commitment to AJWS’s mission and values of advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion across the organization;
Supportive team player.

Preferred qualifications:

Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking Spanish, Haitian Kreyol, and/or French

Additional Information:

Salary range: P3/$77,000 – $100,250
This role is full time (40 HRS), Exempt
This is a union position

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): 4.75% 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 U.S. is required.

How to Apply:

For immediate consideration, apply below.

Applications submitted without a resume and personalized cover letter will not be considered.