Director, Grants Compliance

National Geographic Society

Director of Grants Compliance overseeing financial management and compliance for external grants at National Geographic Society. Collaborating with finance, legal, and partnerships for comprehensive grant oversight.

Posted 5/22/2026full-timeWashington • Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $156,750 - $165,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Oversee the full grant lifecycle, serving as the agency liaison for comprehending and implementing all official guidelines
Assist with the drafting and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and ensure subaward objectives align with Donor Grant Agreements
Oversee the subaward application evaluation process, screening applications for completeness and managing the Advisory Committee review process
Draft subaward documents and addendums, negotiate final subaward budgets, and confirm final legal review
Ensure proper closeout procedures for all awards and subawards, coordinating final reporting, equipment disposition, and verifying appropriate document retention
Conduct rigorous pre-award vetting and risk assessments for Explorer applicants
Prepare and document Subaward Negotiation Memorandums and Risk Assessment Surveys to justify award decisions
Manage instances of subawardee noncompliance by developing corrective action plans
Review and approve Explorer subawardee invoices prior to payment to ensure expenses are documented, eligible, and allowable per the grant budget
Ensure that subawardee procurement practices meet competition requirements, appropriate thresholds, and procurement integrity standards
Develop and conduct training tutorials for Explorer subawardees on compliance matters
Maintain open communication with internal departments (Finance, Legal, Audit) to inform business decisions and enforce proper data management and third-party risk assessment systems
Ensure subrecipients maintain accurate inventory and financial records
Provide ongoing monitoring, coordinate with internal and external auditors, and respond to audits involving external awards

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required
At least 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit or higher education grants compliance, financial planning, and internal audit
Minimum of 3 years of management experience is highly preferred
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with Workday or similar integrated general ledger systems
Experience with international grants, particularly compliance and subaward monitoring

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical, dental, and vision insurance
engaging and comprehensive wellness program
401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment
flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year)
10 days of sick leave
12 paid holidays
paid winter break between December 25 and 31
paid parental leave
adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
fertility benefits
learning and development opportunities
Lifestyle Spending Account
pet adoption assistance and insurance
pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy
employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit
variety of National Geographic discounts and perks

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

grant lifecycle managementRequests for Proposals (RFPs)subaward application evaluationsubaward document draftingbudget negotiationpre-award vettingrisk assessmentcompliance monitoringfinancial record managementaudit response

Soft Skills

communicationorganizational skillsleadershiptraining developmentproblem-solvingcollaborationattention to detailnegotiationanalytical thinkingadaptability