Awards Manager

Chatham County

Position Summary: RAFI is responsible for distributing funds to subawardees and grantees from a variety of programs and projects. The Awards Manager is responsible for ensuring clear and consistent processes for regranting across programs, including application, grant review, awarding, payment, compliance, and grantee reporting.

 

Primary Position Responsibilities

  • Federal Grant Subawardee Management
    • Serves as main point of contact and primary manager of all subawards supported through federal funding. This involves ensuring that subaward recipients have active and federally compliant contracts, overseeing subaward budgets, processing invoicing requests, and reviewing subaward financial reports to ensure they meet federal reporting requirements, in coordination with Federal Grants Manager. 
    • Onboard new subawardees to RAFI’s federal grants management process. Collect federally compliant subaward payment processing documents; track and collect performance and financial reports from partners; use reports to update related budget or data tracking processes.
    • Collect federally compliant farmer regranting contracts and payment processing documents; track and collect performance and financial reports from partners and grantees; use reports to update related budget or data tracking processes.
    • Work with advisory committee to determine the annual structure and selection criteria of regranting programming. Attend review committee meetings, participate in the selection of committee members, facilitate decision-making process, and review application screenings and final grantee selection.
  • Regranting Programs Management
    • In coordination with supervisor and other staff, facilitate all aspects of RAFI’s Farmer Grants, Come to the Table Mini-grants, Climate and Equity Grants, and Emergency Grants processes: 
      • Develop grant application process, selection rubrics, funder requirements, coordinate with communications for grant outreach, field grantee inquiries
      • Recruit, convene, and guide grant review committees, including decision making process, honoraria, and final grantee selection
      • Working with program directors, determine budget for grantmaking activities annually
      • Lead and conduct due diligence for awardees
      • Ensures that grantee reports and final payments are completed and processed on time
    • In coordination with the Farm Services Director, contribute to the development of effective, equitable, and strategic regranting programs.
      • Manage annual strategy-setting process for all RAFI regranting programs
      • Coordinate regularly with direct service staff to ensure regranting programs are informed by barriers to other types of capital
      • Lead standardization of all RAFI regranting programs related to technology, selection process, due diligence, and reporting
    • Manage grantee capacity building opportunities and programming
  • Development
    • Work with development staff to find and apply for additional funding sources for regranting programming, especially farmer emergency grants

 

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

  • Interest and passion for being a part of a team of committed individuals contributing to a just and equitable food system
  • Strong critical thinking skills, reading comprehension skills, and written and oral communication skills. 
  • Must be a strong project manager and able to manage timelines and activities across projects.
  • Self-starter who takes initiative on projects and can work independently 
  • Team player who works well with staff across the organization

 

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

  • Experience with managing regranting activities
  • Familiarity with federal grants
  • Experience working in Salesforce
  • Leading group decision making processes
  • Budget management experience

 

Compensation: Full-time, exempt position. Annual salary of $65,058 based on 40 hours/week. Generous benefits package includes paid time off, 401k, medical, dental, life insurance, and long/short term disability insurance plans.

 

Location: Triangle region of North Carolina preferred. Local employees are expected to spend 1 day in our Pittsboro office weekly. Open to remote candidates based in NC, MS, PR, or VA.

 

How to Apply: Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and professional references. We will accept applications until the position is filled. In your cover letter, please state why you are interested in working for RAFI and share any skills or experiences you have that make you an ideal candidate for this position. Please no calls or emails. We plan to start first round interviews the week of October 14.

About RAFI:  Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI) challenges the root causes of unjust food systems, supporting and advocating for economically, racially, and ecologically just farm communities. We envision a thriving, sustainable, and equitable food system where farmers and farmworkers have dignity and agency; where they are supported by just agricultural policies; and where corporations and institutions are accountable to their community.

RAFI’s Salary Rates: RAFI’s salary policy is implemented based on the goals of fair, clear and transparent criteria for salary rates with clear standards that minimize the effect of negotiation skills or preference. RAFI’s salary policy sets salary rates for positions based on the responsibility level that the position holds. Given this, RAFI does not negotiate salary rates. 

COVID: RAFI’s workplace policies require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless medical or religious exemptions are present.

Equal Opportunity Employer: RAFI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental handicap, matriculation, or political affiliation.

Work Authorization: RAFI does not sponsor work visas; this position requires authorization to work in the United States.

Inclusive Workplace: RAFI values an equitable and inclusive workplace. We are deeply committed to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, LGBTQ persons, and other individuals from diverse backgrounds. Research shows that often women and people from underrepresented groups only apply to jobs for which they meet 100% of the qualifications. RAFI is interested in attracting a diverse pool of candidates who want to contribute as a part of a dedicated, hard-working, collaborative team, driven by equity. You need not check every box. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.