Director of Programs Administration at The Golden LEAF Foundation

The Director of Programs Administration leads process improvement efforts that support the standardized grant monitoring and related responsibilities of Program Officers. This role strengthens organizational excellence by developing training, providing resources, and managing internal operations related to Programs team workflows and processes.

The Director of Programs Administration also manages a portfolio of active projects and takes on new applications in areas including public infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and other projects aligned with Golden LEAF priority areas. The majority of projects are expected to be related to public infrastructure in the context of economic development.

This role reports to the Senior Vice President/General Counsel and collaborates closely with programs leadership. This role will have shared oversight of six program officers and direct oversight of the Program Associate. This role participates as a member of the President’s management team.

Primary Functions

Programs Administration

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of program guidelines for applicants, grantees, and staff.
• Provide training, guidance, and feedback to Program Officers, reinforcing established processes for communication and decision-making.
• Conduct workload reviews for Program Officers, including scheduling, analyzing reports, and identifying issues that need attention from leadership (in collaboration with other Program Leads).
• Maintain and update Program Officer desk review expectations and related materials to ensure alignment with Golden LEAF’s Grant Monitoring Policy.
• Review data regarding programs trends (project and reporting timelines and timeliness) and develop and implement processes to address bottlenecks or other challenges, including compliance issues.
• Ensure Programs team compliance with internal organizational requirements (leave tracking, professional development, etc.).

Grant Application Review and Monitoring Funded Projects

• Evaluate proposals for alignment with the Foundation’s funding priorities, and, with the Senior Vice President and other programs staff, develop recommendations to the Programs Committee and Board.
• Review and approve items completed by Program Officers, including reports, requests for payments, modifications, extensions, and budget revisions, and provide appropriate feedback to Program Officers.
• Respond to inquiries from potential applicants interested in applying for Golden LEAF funding.

Sample day-to-day activities

In this role, you may: 

• Pull a report of overdue reports and work with a Program Officer to prioritize and strategize follow up with grantees
• Update guidelines for grantees related to submitting payment requests to address frequently asked questions (in collaboration with the Director of Grant Systems and Data)
• Prepare for a site visit to conduct due diligence on an application ahead of a Board meeting
• Plan for and lead a training session with Program Officers regarding required components for financial review
• Meet with a grantee and Program Officer to discuss implementation of a grant
• Respond to an inquiry from a potential applicant 

Preferred Attributes

• Effective communication skills, including written communications, and the ability to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Strong research, analytical, investigative, and organizational capabilities as well as the ability to distill ideas and clarify issues 
• A strong work ethic, including ability to work independently, plan, set goals and objectives, organize, follow through, and meet deadlines
• Capacity to manage multiple responsibilities at once and to prioritize projects to align with organizational needs
• Knowledge of the nonprofit, educational, and/or governmental sectors
• Understanding and appreciation for economic challenges and opportunities of North Carolina’s rural communities
• Attraction to the mission of the Golden LEAF Foundation and a desire to be part of a mission-driven team are highly desired
• Exceptional standards of professionalism, integrity and honesty, and commitment to quality in all aspects of work

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of five years experience relevant to the Primary Functions of the Director of Programs Administration position listed above including experience with governmental, educational, and/or nonprofit sector entities and with grant reporting or grant management
• Interest in learning concepts regarding public infrastructure including water, sewer, and buildings, especially in the context of economic development, healthcare job creation, agriculture job creation, applied agricultural research, and strategies and programs to support rural economic development
• Project management experience, including developing necessary steps for implementation, assigning responsibility for activities, providing updates to team members, and setting and managing deadlines
• Experience supervising staff including evaluating performance, providing feedback, and managing or conducting staff training
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of common software programs including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, and the ability to learn to use a grants management system (Golden LEAF uses Fluxx)

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with concepts regarding public infrastructure, especially in the context of economic development, and with strategies and programs to support rural economic development
• Knowledge of purchasing, billing, and financial reporting practices in the not-for-profit and governmental sectors will be helpful
• Demonstrated experience developing project management strategies and implementing applications to track and manage tasks (Golden LEAF uses Asana and Airtable)
• Familiarity with strategies and processes for organizational improvement or development

Location and Work Schedule

This position will be based at the Golden LEAF offices in Rocky Mount, NC, with some travel within the state expected (approximate average of two days per month). Currently, most Golden LEAF staff work from the office Mondays and Thursdays, with most roles having the option to work remotely the remainder of the week unless otherwise requested by a manager. This role may need to be in the office more frequently than two days per week to collaborate with other Programs staff.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

Following are physical and mental requirements of the position as typically performed. Inability to meet one or more of these physical and mental requirements will not automatically disqualify a candidate or employee from the position. Upon request for a reasonable accommodation, the Foundation may be able to adjust or excuse one or more of these requirements, depending on the requirement, the essential functions to which it relates, and the proposed accommodation.

• Operates in a professional office environment and performs primarily sedentary work.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, and phones.
• Sits for prolonged periods at a desk. Frequent standing and walking. Occasional stooping, reaching, bending, climbing, pushing, pulling.
• Repetitive use of fingers and hands for typings and other tasks.
• Occasional lifting up to 35 lbs.
• Frequent listening, speaking, and use of visual acuity.
• Ability to use all senses to safely drive a vehicle, and ability to drive a vehicle.

Compensation and Benefits

The Director of Programs Administration is a full-time, salaried position with an anticipated hiring range of $105,000 – $125,000, based on experience and other considerations.

Golden LEAF provides the following benefits to employees:

• Golden LEAF paid contributions to a 403(b) retirement plan at the rate of ten percent (10%) of base salary with no required contribution by the employee. There is no waiting period for participation in the 403(b) retirement plan.
• Enrollment in Golden LEAF’s medical insurance plan for the employee and dependents. The plan pays a benefit of 90% of medical costs once the deductible has been met. Golden LEAF contributes to a Health Savings Account (HSA) in the employee’s name to help offset the cost of the deductible. Golden LEAF pays all medical plan premiums, provided that premiums plus HSA contribution total less than $23,000. Medical insurance begins after the 30th day of employment.
• Enrollment in Golden LEAF’s dental plan for the employee and dependents, maximum benefits are $1,000 per person in the plan year.
• Enrollment in a vision coverage plan for the employee and dependents, at no cost to the employee.
• Enrollment in a long-term disability insurance plan and a life insurance plan, at no cost to the employee.
• Supplemental insurance plans, including cancer, critical illness, and additional life insurance, are available with premiums deducted from payroll.
• Annual leave and sick leave. Golden LEAF has 13 official holidays per year.

Timeline

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the successful candidate is identified and the position is filled. 

Compliance

Golden LEAF will conduct a criminal background check and may conduct additional background checks. Golden LEAF is a drug-free workplace and may conduct drug tests of applicants as a condition of employment. Golden LEAF uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

How to Apply

A resume and cover letter must be submitted using the form on the Golden LEAF website at: https://goldenleaf.org/job-listings/directorprogramsadmin/

Applicants may be asked to complete a sample project or provide a writing sample.