NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Position Overview

The Rockefeller Foundation (RF) is hiring a Senior Associate for Award Management within its RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC) team, which partners with funders and investors to pool resources and drive innovative financing solutions that create large-scale social impact and improve lives globally. The Award Management team ensures compliance and oversees all aspects of RFCC’s award-making process, including grant and contract budgeting, financial reviews, payments, and reporting. It also supports RF and RFCC programs and senior leadership with planning and insights on award portfolios.

The Senior Associate will work closely with program teams and report to the Director of RFCC Operations and Award Management, sharing responsibility for managing awards from intake through closeout. Key duties include reviewing grant and contract materials for compliance and collaborating with teams to award and monitor funding agreements.

Hiring Range: $103,000 – $110,000. This represents the present low and high ends of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.

Work Schedule: This role is based in New York, NY, and required to be in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of grants and contracts, including drafting, execution, monitoring, and compliance.
• Maintain accurate, organized records and documentation across platforms to ensure audit readiness.
• Review and process payments, agreements, and reports in CRM systems like Salesforce.
• Collaborate with Program, Finance, and Legal teams to ensure compliance with RFCC policies and IRS regulations.
• Provide training and guidance on award management practices for staff as needed.
• Communicate proactively with grantees and internal stakeholders, offering clear guidance and exceptional service.
• Support policy development, special projects, and continuous improvement of award management systems.
• Prioritize multiple deadlines while adapting to shifting priorities and maintaining confidentiality and integrity.

Education, Experience, and Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in award or grants/contracts management within nonprofit, philanthropic, or educational settings.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong knowledge of grants and contract management, compliance, IRS rules, and public charity regulations.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar award management systems and advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with attention to detail and a strong service orientation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing demands, and maintain accuracy and integrity.
• Commitment to learning and improving award-making processes and systems.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Data Oriented: Consistently achieves results by approaching work informed by data.
• Decision Quality: Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Strategic Learning: Actively learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives, commits to being self-aware and respectful, and seeks to learn from new and different voices.