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Specialist, Program Funding Operations

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How You’ll Contribute

The Strategic Operations and Initiatives division helps the organization achieve its strategic objectives and grow, scale, and operate efficiently and effectively. They realize successful outcomes for Society program initiatives and critical business priorities by leading and effectively engaging stakeholders in enterprise change and development projects.

The Program Funding Operations Specialist is a highly motivated self-starter with an exceptional work ethic. This position is integral to the operational foundation supporting grant-making at National Geographic and is responsible for designing and executing components of the grantmaking process. The Specialist works across teams, including the Science & Innovation, Storytelling, Education, Legal & Business Affairs, Technology, and Finance departments, to build and implement best practices around the execution of the Explorer-led funding portfolio.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Funding Operations, the Program Funding Operations Specialist supports the Program Funding Operations team in the strategic deployment of an international grants portfolio. The Specialist is responsible for providing constituent support in the areas of proposal submission, contract updates and negotiations, and reporting, ensuring positive interactions and relationships with one of National Geographic Society’s largest constituent groups. Additionally, the Specialist will provide operational support to internal stakeholders across the organization through process design and documentation, training, enhancement requests, and incident escalation. The Program Funding Operations Specialist recognizes how well-designed systems, rigorous attention to detail, and clear communication enhance the Society’s grant making and project management operations.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include

PROCESS SUPPORT/MAINTENANCE (30%):

Develop, recommend, communicate, and manage operational processes and key milestones around application and grant cycles, including proactive maintenance and forecasting of grant funding opportunity calendar
Collaborate with NG Technology to ensure controlled process in the delivery and testing of new GMS and CRM functionality and minimize disruption to business processes
Work with stakeholders to design, recommend, and manage the suite of External Review processes across the Explorer-led Funding portfolio
Establish and cultivate processes to analyze feedback from grantees and develop new instructions and/or product design to eliminate inefficiencies in the grantee submission process
Collaborate with Legal & Business Affairs during grant agreement negotiation process in collaboration with Legal Business Affairs
Design, recommend, and manage the grant closure process including final report and financial accounting

INTERNAL SUPPORT (25%):

Leverage organizational knowledge of grant-making practices and the Grants Management System (GMS) to provide subject matter expertise for stakeholders across the organization
Collect business requirements from internal stakeholders and develop and recommend streamlined technical and operational process solutions (e.g. reports and dashboards)
Work closely with Program Funding Operations Manager in the development of reports and dashboards for Program staff to ensure they have the required tools to provide insights to applicant and grantee trends allowing for a positive and efficient relationships with grantees and accurately describe their grant portfolios in real-time
Act as liaison to the Science & Innovation, Storytelling, Education, Impact Media, and Explorers teams by fielding their queries, offering proactive insights, and representing the general Grant/Operations collaborative effort
Analyze constituent data to proactively identify and assess troubleshooting trends to circumvent further process bottlenecks while working closely with NG Technology to deliver solutions and communicate key updates to stakeholders

EXTERNAL CONSTITUENT MANAGEMENT & SUPPORT (25%):

Resolve applicant and grantee questions about eligibility, process, timeline extensions, budget modifications, program adjustments, technical troubleshooting, and accessibility
Proactively identify and assess troubleshooting trends to circumvent further process bottlenecks
Forecast and proactively communicate constituent needs
Develop system tools and solutions for analysis of reported issues, to improve applicant and grantee experiences

DATABASE MAINTENANCE/ADMINISTRATION (20%)

Endeavor to improve, update and maintain the integrity of the GMS, CRM, and project management tools by ensuring data entry is timely, complete, and accurate
Serve as technical expert in grants and project management tools (e.g. Salesforce, Wrike, Jira, and Conga Composer)
Perform periodic data validation to maintain the integrity of the database

Educational Background

Bachelor's degree preferred.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

3+ years’ experience in grant-making, contract management, data analysis

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

Authoritative knowledge of grants programs and experience developing and maintaining well-designed processes to meet both day-to-day needs and overall strategy
Aptitude to analyze data and accurately maintain database
Ability to perform in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and work with individuals and groups at all levels
Ability to adapt to continuous change; demonstrated record of managing complex projects, meeting deadlines, and handling competing and changing priorities
Highly skilled in database management (Salesforce preferred)
Exceptional written and oral communication skills

Desired Qualifications

Strong desire to continuously learn and take on new challenges

Supervision

No direct reports.

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The salary range for this position is $60,800 - $64,000

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, 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) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a 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; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Tuesday and Wednesday. Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if preferred.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.

Average salary estimate

$62400 / YEARLY (est.)

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$60800K

$64000K

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What You Should Know About Specialist, Program Funding Operations, NGS

The National Geographic Society is on the lookout for a talented Specialist in Program Funding Operations to join our vibrant team in Washington, DC. This role is perfect for passionate self-starters eager to make a meaningful impact within the organization. As a Program Funding Operations Specialist, you will be pivotal in supporting our grant-making processes, allowing us to effectively fund innovative projects that align with our mission. Your day-to-day will involve collaborating across various teams, including Science & Innovation, Storytelling, and Education, ensuring that we maintain best practices throughout our grant processes. You'll manage operational tasks around grant applications, provide support to internal stakeholders, and build positive relationships with grantees. You'll thrive in our fast-paced environment, applying your strong analytical skills to enhance our systems, and your excellent communication skills will ensure our messages flow seamlessly. If you are detail-oriented and are looking to support an international grants portfolio while working with a diverse group of stakeholders, this position could be your perfect fit. Join us at the National Geographic Society and help us continue our mission to inspire people to care about the planet through the power of storytelling and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Specialist, Program Funding Operations Role at NGS

What are the key responsibilities of the Program Funding Operations Specialist at National Geographic Society?

The Program Funding Operations Specialist at National Geographic Society is responsible for various critical tasks including developing and managing operational processes around grant applications, providing constituent support regarding proposal submissions, and collaborating with internal teams to ensure seamless grant operations. Additionally, the Specialist will analyze feedback from grantees and optimize processes to improve their submission experience.