US Government Grant Specialist

Job Description:

U.S. Government Grant Specialist 

RMI is seeking a U.S. Government (USG) Grant Specialist who will serve a key oversight and support role through the lifetime of USG funded awards at RMI. This team member will report to the Sr. Grant Manager on the finance team and work closely with RMI’s USG Grant Lead, in addition to other RMI staff in operations and programs. The USG Grant Specialist will provide day-to-day oversight of all incoming USG Fee-for-Service (FFS) contracts; these USG FFS contracts are when RMI is engaged as a contractor/vendor to a USG entity or prime organization receiving USG funds. You will assist RMI staff from USG FFS pre-award process through award close-out. This will include activities such as proposal budget reviews, ensuring completion of funder/client forms, financial reporting, invoicing, ensuring compliance with other monitoring requirements, support during audits, and more.

This position requires a cover letter. Only applicants who submit a cover letter will be considered for the role. Cover letters should be submitted along with resumes when applying.

Key Responsibilities  

Pre-award Activities  

• Assist RMI program teams in selecting appropriate rates and budget templates for USG FFS proposals 

• Serve as the first finance reviewer of all USG FFS proposal budgets, and manage the budget approval process when further finance approval is needed 

• Once a USG FFS proposal budget is approved by finance, assist program teams with translating the budget into any external budget templates 

• Help to complete any required pre-award forms, which may involve collaborating with RMI’s operational departments as needed 

• Review incoming draft USG FFS contracts to ensure rates and budget categories are correct, and financial reporting/invoicing requirements are reasonable 

• Assist RMI staff with any additional USG FFS requests or inquiries 

Award Implementation 

• Lead USG FFS contract kickoff meetings with the program team to review contract obligations, terms, invoicing, reporting requirements and project setup in RMI’s project management software 

• Provide training and capacity building activities to RMI staff (as necessary) on USG FFS contract management 

• Manage USG FFS contract requirements as negotiated, this includes but is not limited to financial reporting, invoicing, review of amendments and no-cost extensions, budget revisions, and other compliance activities, liaising with program and/or finance staff when needed 

• Track all invoicing and financial reporting schedules and lead the creation of invoices and financial reports in close collaboration with accounts receivable 

• Maintain file retention for USG FFS contracts (budgets, agreements, forms, reporting, invoicing, etc.) in RMI’s internal systems, such as, Monday.com, Finance Drive, and SharePoint 

• Support accounts receivable with the collection of relevant information in Salesforce from the USG FFS contracts for customer account creation in Workday 

• As needed, in parallel with RMI’s legal team, be a reviewer for outgoing supplier contracts if they are funded from any of RMI’s USG FFS contracts to ensure proper USG compliance is flowed to suppliers 

• Work with program and operations staff on award close-out, e.g., documentation, reporting, disposal of procured goods, retention of intellectual property, audit, etc.  

 Other / miscellaneous  

• As needed, assist USG Grant Lead with maintaining and reviewing all USG annual registrations, as well as keeping track of all portal logins and access 

• In RMI’s budgeting system, assist RMI staff as they go through the annual USG revenue budgeting process, and the budget reforecasts during the fiscal year 

• Additional responsibilities, as required   

Minimum Qualifications  

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience  

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience with USG award management (especially state and federal government awards), from pre-award to award close-out 

• Experience with and knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. Part 200), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and other rules and regulations related to USG awards 

• Experience with project budget creation, budget management, financial reporting, and invoicing 

• Exceptional organization skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks on several projects simultaneously  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and rapport building 

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, especially Microsoft Excel 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Knowledge of current and legally binding contractual language and terminology 

• Experience managing NYSERDA contracts 

• Experience managing Department of Energy (DOE) contracts 

• Proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM software 

• Experience using an ERP system (financial and project management) 

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado.  

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies. 

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Compensation    

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary for this role is in between $55,000 to $67,788. You would also have an additional 5% bonus target!

Benefits     

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:     

Medical, dental, vision insurance    
403b retirement options (5% match immediately)    
Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability    
Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)    
Generous paid time off   
Parental leave    
Commuter and wellness benefits    
Casual work environment     
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion       

At RMI, our mission is to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future for all. For this to happen, every single person needs to be a stakeholder in the energy transition. Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve is critical to our success. We need the widest range of perspectives to understand the systems we are trying to change. That doesn’t just mean bringing a diverse team to the table; it also means working proactively to give all job seekers and employees equitable experiences. Visit our DEI page for more information on our DEI initiatives and commitments. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

About RMI  

RMI is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of experts across disciplines working to accelerate the clean energy transition and improve lives. Since our founding in 1982 by Amory Lovins, RMI’s chairman emeritus, we continue to grow and have a global reach and reputation.

For 40 years, RMI has utilized our unique techno-economic expertise and whole-systems thinking to publish groundbreaking research and analysis. We bring together collaborations of rare reach, range, and expertise—creating unconventional partnerships and mobilizing action to drive change on the massive scale needed to combat the climate crisis. 

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.