Grants Manager – Arcus Foundation

Arcus Foundation Founded in 2000 by Jon Stryker, the Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking institution dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Arcus’ work is based on the belief that respect for diversity among people and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet and all its inhabitants. For more than 20 years, the Social Justice Program at Arcus has been a driving force behind groundbreaking work to ensure equality for LGBTQ people, and the Great Apes & Gibbons Program has provided visionary conservation leadership to protect and enhance the lives of great apes and gibbons. The foundation works globally and has offices in New York City and Cambridge, UK.

At the Arcus Foundation, we aim to foster a work culture that is rooted in our values:

• Demonstrating organizational and individual authenticity rooted in integrity and honesty,
• Approaching our work with humility,
• Seeking and valuing opportunities for collaboration inside and outside of the foundation,
• Ensuring the foundation’s work is strategic and rational, and
• Remaining focused on advancing equity for those who are pushed to the margins.

To learn more, visit www.arcusfoundation.org.

What It’s Like to Work at Arcus Foundation
Arcus’ passionate and diverse staff is comprised of dedicated individuals of varying gender identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities, and we aim to prioritize equity and inclusion throughout the organization and encourage meaningful interactions between colleagues.

We promote a flexible working environment that allows for work-life balance, with opportunities for hybrid and flexible work schedules. Our newly built NYC office, located in Midtown Manhattan, was designed to be a place we can feel safe, and work effectively and collaboratively, bringing energy, inspiration, commitment,
and deep learning to our mission.

Position Description
The Grants Manager (GM) is part of the Grants Management and Effectiveness (GME) department, led by the
Senior Director, Grantmaking Effectiveness (Senior Director). The department, which also includes two other managers, focuses on grant-related compliance, impact, and learning at the Arcus Foundation. The department has a unique vantage point across the organization: It partners with program teams and collaborates closely with the finance and communications teams to facilitate grantmaking processes and achieve foundation goals.

The GME department is responsible for implementing the legal, technical, and operational components of all grantmaking portfolios, including international and U.S. domestic portfolios. The team engages across the foundation by leading cross-organization trainings and collaborations and designing systems to interact with grantees, manage the grant lifecycle, aggregate information, analyze data, and share learning and best practices.

Working on every grant, the team is a critical partner and respected resource in supporting the management
and implementation of program strategies, serving as thought partners and catalysts for innovation.

The GM position manages grantmaking processes, ensuring a high level of due diligence and legal, technical, and operational management for select programmatic grant portfolios, including international and U.S. grants.

It also provides deep engagement in grantmaking cyclical activities and planning. The GM role also involves providing technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders, particularly program staff and grantees, on matters pertaining to compliance with Arcus’ grantmaking policies and implementation of related processes and protocols. This role is a key partner and advisor within the foundation to ensure high quality user experiences and effective processes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The GM is responsible for implementing the legal, technical, and operational components of select grantmaking portfolios representative of strategic grants across the foundation’s two programs: Social Justice (to advance legal rights, safety, and cultural acceptance for LGBTQ people) and Great Apes & Gibbons (to ensure the conservation and well-being of the world’s great apes and gibbons). These portfolios include international and U.S. grants. Managing grant compliance and related operations is the core function of the GM role.

Responsibilities of the role to select grantmaking portfolios are:

• Ensuring grants are compliant with IRS and institutional regulations and requirements, including requirements for international grants.
• Providing ongoing technical assistance and training related to both technical and policy aspects of Arcus grantmaking to grantees.
• Providing input on resources for internal staff and grantseekers to understand the foundation’s grantmaking policies and practices
• Maintaining electronic grant file documentation.
• Preparing grant information for the foundation’s annual audit.
• Generating and overseeing the execution of grant agreement letters.
• Conducting legal compliance reviews of LOIs, proposals, and grantee reports; and
• Ensuring grantmaking policies and procedures are consistently applied.

Meeting these responsibilities requires:

• Providing active support to program staff by providing input and guidance on structuring grants and attending program team meetings and site visits to deepen competency in program areas.
• Providing active support to grantees through ongoing technical assistance and updating resources for grantseekers as requested by the Senior Director.
• Ongoing analysis of grant records and reports, including grant financial reports, and working with program staff and/or grantees if there is a problem or compliance issue; and conducting analysis of grant structure and budgets and recommending action to program staff.
• Active engagement in the philanthropic sector to keep current on new regulations and best practices.

Qualifications and Competencies

Technical Expertise

• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience required, Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Significant experience in philanthropy or the nonprofit sector with a minimum of 7-10 years of grants management involvement required, ideally in positions of increasing responsibility and with cross functional exposure.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. private foundation IRS regulations governing grantmaking in a nonprofit and/or private foundation environment, including experience managing international and U.S. domestic grant portfolios.
• Mastery of grants management system programs, preferably Fluxx, and in using grant systems and processes.
• Data, information, and knowledge management understanding, and ability to follow related processes.
• Understanding of and commitment to the foundation’s program areas, mission, and values, including knowledge or experience in conservation or social justice, demonstrated through prior work or volunteer experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be extremely well organized with great attention to detail. Must enjoy the challenges of taking an ambiguous project vision or goal and translating it into concrete objectives and steps.
• Experience managing project budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities, while remaining flexible and proactive.
• Must possess solid decision-making ability, independence, and initiative, and strong ability to take
  guidance and direction.

Professional Integrity

• Exceptional reliability and always exhibits a high degree of professionalism.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and operate with maximum discretion.
• Effective stewardship of foundation staff and financial resources.

Cultural Competence

• Demonstrates sensitivity and respect for cultural values, practices, beliefs, and social experiences of diverse communities; effectively and comfortably engages in a variety of cultural settings.
• Ability to be effective in a global, multi-cultural, multi-location organization.

Positive Partnerships

• Positively and professionally strengthens the capacity of Arcus’ teams and external partners.
• A confident and team-oriented relationship-builder who can communicate and work with people at all levels and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and collaboration across departments and teams.
• Able to represent the foundation to external stakeholders upon request and as authorized.
• Exceptional team orientation and possession of a facilitative and collaborative style of engaging others in
  projects.

Location and Travel
The Grants Manager position may be based out of either our New York City OR our Cambridge, UK office. Arcus staff work on a hybrid schedule of three days in-office (Tuesday–Thursday), with the option of working two days remotely. Based on circumstances, special consideration may be made for a fully remote schedule.

The general office hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

On occasion, you may be asked to travel domestically for conferences and/or foundation gatherings and events
approximately 5-10% of the time.

Compensation
The Grants Manager role is a 40-hour week/full-time, exempt position with an annual salary that ranges from $100,000-$120,000 In addition to salary, Arcus Foundation offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• Employer contributed Medical, Vision, and Dental health insurance, which includes trans-inclusive
  healthcare coverage.
• Non-elective retirement plan with generous employer contribution and matches.
• 20 days Paid Time Off (PTO) each calendar year, which increases to 25 days after your third year and to 30 days after your fourth year; 7 sick days, 12 holidays, and 1 floating holiday.
• 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave.
• Hybrid work schedule and flexible working practices.

How to Apply
At this link, please submit a résumé and a cover letter telling us about what you hope to bring to this role and how your background and experience respond to the desired skills and qualities we seek. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will begin in January 2024. If you have any questions about the role, please send an email to contact@arcusfoundation.org.

The Arcus Foundation is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws. The Arcus Foundation prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, immigrant,
citizenship or non-citizen status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intersex status, sexual and reproductive health decisions or decision making (of employees or their dependents), disability, marital status, familial status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, pre- employment arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Arcus Foundation also considers for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state, and local law.