Director, Grants & Contracts

Our Mission in Action

Trees play a vital role in solving some of the most pressing issues facing our communities, our society, and our world today. For 150 years, American Forests has stood boldly at the forefront of the conservation movement, working collaboratively and innovatively to ensure that all people have access to the benefits of trees. As we look ahead to the next 150, continued collective action will be essential to securing a healthy, climate-resilient future for all. 

What You’ll Do 

The Grants & Contracts team, part of the Finance and Operations department at American Forests, serves as the organization’s regulatory compliance and external reporting arm. The team plays a critical role in supporting the programs departments by delivering a wide range of financial, accounting, and grants management services. The team's mission is to ensure the accurate, consistent, and compliant administration of grant funding in alignment with American Forests' internal policies and procedures, sponsor and funder guidelines, and applicable federal and state regulations.

The Director, Grants & Contracts provides strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s grants and contracts portfolio. This role is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal and non-federal awards, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations-including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), state laws, and individual grant requirements. The Director plays a key role in strengthening systems, policies, and procedures that promote accountability, transparency, and operational efficiency. The Director also leads a team responsible for both pre-award and post-award functions, including proposal development, contract negotiation, budget oversight, invoicing/reporting, and audit readiness.

Leadership & Oversight:

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and systems that support effective grants and contracts administration.
• Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on grants and contracts management.
• Supervise and support a team of grants and contracts professionals.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Grants, Contracts, and Systems Management:

• Oversee the full lifecycle of federal awards - from proposal development through closeout.
• Provide post-award support for non-federal grants and contracts managed by the Philanthropy team.
• Lead contract administration, ensuring compliance with internal policies, federal procurement regulations, and other applicable requirements.
• Act as liaison between internal teams, sponsors, vendors, and legal counsel to review and negotiate contract terms.
• Work closely with, and provide direction to, Directors of Program Administration to ensure consistent application of policies and procedures across all grant programs.
• Provide oversight of the financial system as it relates to grants and contracts, including project code maintenance and purchase order management.
• Lead the selection, design, and implementation of grants and contracts management systems and workflows - from award intake and setup through compliance monitoring, reporting, and closeout - partnering with Finance, Programs, and IT to drive adoption across the organization.
• Establish award intake and setup procedures, including bid/no-bid review, award risk assessment, subrecipient vs. contractor determinations under 2 CFR 200.331, and subrecipient monitoring.
• Support the Controller with the annual financial statement audit and Single Audit (2 CFR 200 Subpart F),and lead corrective action plans for any findings related to grants and contracts.
• Partner with the Controller to ensure the financial system, project structure, and close processes support accurate tracking, billing, and reporting of grants and contracts.
• Lead the development and upkeep of AI-enabled tools that help program staff navigate award terms, 2 CFR 200, the FAR, and internal policies and SOPs.

What We’re Looking For

We don’t expect you to check every single box. If this role excites you, we want to hear from you! We’re interested in your ability to learn, collaborate, and bring fresh perspectives.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred; relevant experience may be substituted for education. Master’s degree a plus.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in federal grants and/or contracts administration, including at least 3 years supervising staff; nonprofit experience preferred.
• In-depth working knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), including cost principles, subrecipient monitoring, Single Audit requirements, and indirect cost rate agreements.
• Proficiency with ERP/financial systems and grants or contract management tools, and experience with federal award systems such as SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and ASAP.
• Demonstrated experience leading the implementation or redesign of a grants and contracts management system or workflow, including requirements gathering, process mapping, configuration, data migration, and staff training.
• Strong problem-solving skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
• High standard for excellence and attention to detail and ability to manage time and meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Experience using AI tools to support compliance work (e.g., regulatory research, document review), or a strong interest in building that capability.
• Professional certification such as Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS), Certified Research Administrator (CRA), or an NCMA contract management certification (CFCM or CPCM) is a plus.

Reporting and Supervision

The Director, Grants & Contracts reports to the Chief Financial Officer. This position will work closely with Finance, Operations, and Programs teams. This position has two full-time direct reports.

Compensation & Working Conditions

This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. The budgeted salary range is between $100,000 - 115,000.

The individual must be comfortable with prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and conducting computer-based work, including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, contract administration, attending meetings, writing reports, and emailing. In the field, the Senior Manager will be expected to stand, walk, or sit for long periods of time and requires lifting materials weighing up to 40 lbs. Field work includes exposure to various risks, including, but not limited to: varying terrain, dense vegetation, and wildlife risks (exposure to bears, mountain lions, snakes, ticks, poison oak/ivy, mosquitos, etc.), hot, wet, and cold conditions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

About Us

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restore urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years. 

American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.

American Forests is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

 In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.