Director Grant Administration Services

About the role

The Director of Grant Administration Services leads the financial and compliance side of a portfolio of roughly $50 million in federal, state, local, philanthropic, and fee-for-service grants and contracts. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this role makes sure awards are managed responsibly, stay compliant (including Davis-Bacon and Build America, Buy America), and are audit-ready from start to finish. The Director is a go-to expert on federal grant requirements and works closely with funders, clients, contractors, and sub-recipients. The role also grows our fee-based grant administration services, making it a great fit for someone who enjoys both compliance work and client relationships.

Work location

This is a remote position; however, the candidate must currently reside in one of the seven states where Communities Unlimited operates: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana. The role requires about 40% travel.

Pay

$80,000 – $84,000 annually

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Company-paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance
• Employer 401k Match
• Paid holiday, vacation and sick time

Requirements

Education and experience (one of the following):

• Option A: Master’s degree (preferred fields: public administration, accounting, business administration, finance) with a minimum of five (5) years of experience administering, monitoring, or managing Davis-Bacon and/or Build America, Buy America (BABA) in relation to federal or state grant programs.
• Option B: Bachelor’s degree (preferred fields: public administration, accounting, business administration, finance) with a minimum of seven (7) years of experience administering, monitoring, or managing Davis-Bacon and/or BABA in relation to federal or state grant programs.
• Option C: High school diploma or equivalent with 11 years of relevant experience in public administration, accounting, or business administration, including seven (7) years of experience with Davis-Bacon and/or BABA.

Additional qualifications:

• Senior-level oversight of a grant and contract portfolio of approximately $50 million or more, ideally within a nonprofit, public-sector, community development, or consulting environment.
• Advanced knowledge of 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance), including cost principles, procurement, subrecipient monitoring, and audit requirements.
• Experience managing federally funded infrastructure or capital projects, including Build America, Buy America (BABA) and Davis-Bacon compliance.
• Strong financial and risk management skills, including budgeting, reimbursement reviews, forecasting, reconciliations, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams or consultants and developing scalable processes.
• Strong client-facing, communication, and writing skills, including preparing proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and reports.
• A related professional certification is preferred, such as CGMS, GPC, or CGFM.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, an acceptable driving record, and at least the state-required minimum personal auto liability insurance coverage.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Manage grants awarded to subrecipients such as municipalities, nonprofits, and contractors, guiding them through requirements, budget changes, reimbursements, and closeout.
• BABA and Davis-Bacon Compliance: Verify domestic content and prevailing wage compliance on infrastructure and construction projects by reviewing sourcing records and certified payroll, coordinating corrective actions, and training partners on requirements.
• Financial Oversight: Monitor budgets, expenditures, and financial risk, and partner with finance staff on reconciliations, funding reports, and audits, with major financial matters approved by the CFO.
• Client Contract Management: Serve as the main contact for grant administration clients, leading fee-for-service engagements from contract to closeout and offering strategic guidance.
• Business Development: Grow fee-based services by building relationships with local governments, nonprofits, and other organizations, developing proposals, and meeting revenue and retention goals.