Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator

Company Description

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

EDC’s approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion is grounded in EDC’s commitment to respect the dignity of each individual. EDC has a commitment to promoting equity and access to high quality education and health services that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. EDC expresses its commitment to increasing equity through its strategies, services and products, which contribute to building capacity and transforming lives.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Job Description

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) has primary responsibility for proposal review, processing of awards received by EDC and administering subawards and other agreements related to sponsored programs. In addition, OSP supports EDC’s fee-for-service business activities. The department has an opening for a Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator, reporting to the Vice President, OSP. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

All staff are expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop positive relationships with internal and external contacts; and to adhere to EDC policies and procedures. 

The Senior Grants and Contracts Administrator, US Division Programs:

• Acts as a primary liaison to designated Project Directors and other project staff in the administration of sponsored programs and/or fee-for-services lines of business within EDC. Serves as the business contact for sponsors, subrecipients, and subcontractors for an assigned portfolio of projects. This position will be focused on the timely review and negotiation of fee-for service contracts and will involve close coordination with program staff involved in the development and sales of services in the “EDC Solutions” group.
• Partners with the fee-for-service business units as a strategic advisor in order to streamline contract negotiations, understand and mitigate business risk, and ensure budget compliance. This will include engaging in the business development pipeline conversations to advise on overall proposal approach based on institutional experience and nuanced funder requirements.
• Operationally support business development workflows across knowledge management systems.
• With the support of the senior OSP staff and the Office of Legal Affairs, as appropriate, participates in and makes recommendations regarding award, subaward, and contract and subcontract negotiations, as required. 
• With the oversight of the OSP leadership, manages proposal review and routing and provides analysis of cost proposals, with a special focus on accuracy of budget preparation and calculations and consistency with technical documents. Collects and reviews proposal materials and forms to prepare them for OSP Director review and institutional sign-off. Effectively communicates potential problems, and working with OSP leadership, resolves accordingly.
• Collects and leads routine review of subaward and subcontract requests and participates in drafting subawards and subcontracts. Informs OSP Director or Senior Associate Director of any atypical circumstances, assigns risk evaluations, and recommends mitigation measures.
• Leads review and submission of routine compliance transactions such as sponsor approval requests; approves Professional Service Agreements.
• Develops and maintains up-to-date knowledge of Federal grant and contract regulations, with an emphasis on proposal and post-award guidelines and systems, and EDC’s policies and procedures. Responds to inquiries from project staff by providing information related to proposal requirements, award terms, and regulatory and compliance issues, with the oversight of OSP senior staff. 
• Responsible for quality control of EDC’s business databases, which supply critical business information to the financial systems and EDC community.
• Using OSP reporting tools, reviews reports on project, subaward, and subcontract status and spending; identifies and carries out administrative actions based on the reports

Qualifications

This position requires:

• 6-8 years contractual processes or related business experience and Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Substantial prior experience with federal grants and contracts including some experience interpreting contracts and grant regulations. (Experience with both government and nongovernment contracting and sales is desirable).
• Excellent attention to detail and the highest standards of accuracy;
• A desire to learn, and brings a collaborative and professional approach.
• Proficiency with budget development, review, and related software;
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment and ability to quickly adjust priorities in a deadline-driven environment; Ability to exercise sound judgment and to work well under pressure, take initiative, be flexible, be diplomatic, and handle highly confidential information appropriately

Additional Information

What we offer:

• A mission-driven work environment
• Health, dental, and vision insurance and employee assistance program
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous vacation benefits
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition and transportation reimbursement
• Retirement plan including robust employer contributions
• Paid sick time and up to 16 hours of personal time annually
• Parental leave

At EDC, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the increased transmissibility with recent variants, all US-based EDC employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, as a condition of employment. Accommodations due to medical or religious exemptions will be considered.