Grants Manager (Job ID: 2024-3554) - The Brookings Institution

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!  

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.  

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy. 

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors. 

The Governance Studies program at Brookings is dedicated to analyzing policy issues, political institutions and processes, and contemporary governance challenges. Our scholarship identifies areas in need of reform and proposes specific solutions with the goals of: improving the performance of the national government; informing debate; and providing policymakers with expert analysis and ideas to ensure better institutional governance.

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.

Ready to contribute to Brookings success? 

The Grants Manager within the Governance Studies (GS) program, reporting to the Assistant Director of Finance, serves as a key member of the GS operations team and is responsible for a broad range of day-to-day and long-term grant management activities across the grant lifecycle for a portfolio of assigned grants and/or departments. This includes developing budgets for grant proposals; setting up new grant awards and maintaining appropriate documentation; reviewing financial transactions to ensure grant and policy compliance; working with PIs to develop forecasts and monitor spending against budgets; tracking grant deliverables and milestones; preparing financial reports; and assisting the Assistant Director of Finance with incorporating grants into the overall GS budget and forecasts. She/he identifies areas for improvement and suggests and implements ideas to improve upon existing procedures and structures based on knowledge of financial concepts, best practices, and Brookings processes.

Grant Management (80%)

• Updates and prepares monthly budget-to-actual (BTA) reports and trackers; reviews grant expenditures against approved budgets; proactively identifies and takes needed action based on financial results; works with PIs to create and update forecasts and cost allocations as needed; communicates updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Reviews and monitors grant expenditures monthly to ensure expenses are coded accurately and in accordance with donor guidelines and Brooking’s policies; proactively identifies and makes needed corrections.
• Works with development team to monitor grant deliverables to ensure timely submission to funder; identifies need for extension or budget realignment based on forecasts; coordinates needed modifications with program development and grants staff.
• Serves as liaison with Grants Administration to prepare and review funder financial reports for approval; Serves as GS point of contact for questions on donor financial reporting and other grant requirements.
• In collaboration with relevant GS staff, understands proposal content and researches donor guidelines and preferences to prepare proposal budgets and modifications for internal review; uploads relevant information to proposal site.
• Processes incoming grant revenue; maintains and ensures grant files are organized and up to date with proper documentation; identifies the need for and prepares pre-award spending requests; monitors and maintains outstanding accounts receivable for grant revenue.
• Works with Assistant Director of Finance to support the Institutional annual budget and quarterly forecast submissions for their portfolio of grants.

Budget and Financial Administration (20%)

• Serves as liaison with program, procurement, and accounting for travel and expense reimbursements (TER)s and related questions; Reviews TER submissions for accuracy and ensures expenses follow Brookings’ and donor policies and are accounted for appropriately; troubleshoots issues with relevant staff; trains staff on travel processes, policies, and procedures.
• Provides training to and serves as primary point of contact for GS staff on timesheets and timesheet-related issues.
• Maintains electronic finance files, reviewing regularly for organization and archiving as necessary; Develops and updates processes and procedures related to finance functions.
• Problem-solves payment and accounting issues as they arise; Monitors accounts payables and invoicing, ensures timely and accurate payment of invoices and contract payments, following up with central accounting as necessary.

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications.

Education/Experience Requirements

Minimum bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in grants management or financial planning required. Experience in developing and monitoring budgets and working with Excel required.  Degree in business administration, finance, or accounting preferred.  Experience working in a non-profit preferred.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements

Intermediate excel knowledge as well as comfort with, and interest in, learning new software/tools required. Knowledge of budgeting and accounting principles required. Strong attention to detail; excellent organizational and creative problem-solving abilities; strong customer-service orientation; ability to work independently and complete tasks with minimal supervision; ability to plan for and foresee obstacles, handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, and manage multiple tasks, set priorities, and adjust to shifting priorities is required.  Must be a mature, self-motivated team player with a customer service orientation.  Must be flexible and capable of working in a fast-paced environment with shifting and competing priorities. Extreme honesty and discretion required, with the ability to appropriately handle confidential information.

Additional Information   

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous time off, and workplace flexibility. For more information, please visit Brookings Benefits.   

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: if you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment. 

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings. 

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.