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 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: Operationalizing AJWS’s values of and commitment to flexible, responsive and trust‐ based grantmaking practices: AJWS 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 Senior Grants Manager is responsible for supporting the grants management team in implementing AJWS’s core grantmaking portfolio, and for supporting the Associate Director of International Operations with oversight of the donor-advised fund (DAF) portfolio as needed. They are exceptionally systems‐oriented with strong attention to detail and organizational abilities. The Grants Manager will support the Associate Director of International Operations (in partnership with IT) in ensuring the integrity and maintenance of the grants management system, in leading special projects, and in refining systems to improve the efficiency of AJWS’s grantmaking. They will also recommend policies and process changes to the Associate Director of International Operations to improve grantmaking compliance and mitigate risk. In collaboration with other IOPS colleagues, the Senior Grants Manager will work closely with program teams to administer hundreds of grants and liaise with the Finance Department to ensure that payments are made in a timely and secure manner. This position reports to the Associate Director of International Operations.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work collaboratively with IOPS colleagues to process grant approvals and payments – focusing on proactive problem‐solving to address compliance, risk mitigation, and data integrity issues;
• Serve as the primary contact for grants management system administration, including training staff, in‐country colleagues and grantees on the system; troubleshooting system issues; and coordinating backend maintenance of the system;
• Support the Associate Director (and Program Associates) in managing spend‐down and monitoring of restricted funds and budgets, including monthly and annual reconciliation processes with Finance and Development;
• Provide timely feedback to the Associate Director regarding integrity of database information and processes;
• Liaise with IT to lead special projects and identify, implement, and test updates, upgrades and other database enhancements, as well as third‐party solutions;
• Assist Associate Director with policy and process recommendations to improve grantmaking in line with best practices in the field;
• Support the Associate Director with the ongoing administration of donor‐advised funds (DAFs), including compiling DAF grant write‐ups, sending grant agreements, and processing payments and coding;
• Stay informed of changing international regulations and laws that affect grantmaking and make policy and process recommendations as needed;
• Administer hundreds of active grants per year, including regular communication with grantees, sending grant agreements and tracking grant reporting;
• Ensure grants comply with U.S. and applicable international laws, rules and regulations (including IRS and FCRA compliance), as well as AJWS internal policy requirements, and maintain proper records of all grants to ensure smooth annual audit process;
• Process twice‐weekly grant payments, working closely with the Finance Department as well as Amex 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;
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with program staff for day‐to‐day activities and to coordinate division‐wide projects;
• With support from the Grants Management Associate, lead the creation of grant dockets by consolidating grants data in partnership with program departments;
• 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:

• Minimum of three years’ grants management experience working at a grantmaking organization;
• Bachelor of Arts/Science or equivalent degree;
• Experience working in the global south, ideally with countries considered high-risk.
• Strong experience working with Salesforce grants management systems, familiarity of foundation Connect is preferred.
• General knowledge of grantmaking operations, practices, and regulations;
• Energized by working in a fast‐paced environment with multiple demands;
• Strong interest and expertise in administrative systems creation and processes;
• Highly skilled in Microsoft Office tools with particularly strong Excel skills;
• Detail‐oriented with strong organizational/project management skills and able to meet deadlines;
• Strong relationship management, communication and inter-personal skills;
• Flexible, adaptive work style with a proactive approach;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Interest in being a part of a dynamic and evolving team and organization;
• 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: $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): 4.25% 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, apply below. Applications submitted without a resume and personalized cover letter will not be considered. We thank you for your interest in career opportunities with AJWS. Due to high volume, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.