Director, Grants Management

HDT Bio is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director/Head of Grants Management to join our innovative biotechnology company. The successful candidate will oversee our grants team and will ensure the seamless integration of federal grants/contracts throughout their lifecycle with scientists, project management, human resources and financial operations. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership, organization and communication skills, who will mentor and develop members of the grants team, drive professional growth and ensure the highest standards of grants/contract management.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Oversee all grants and contracts operations and associated functions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment with the company’s strategic goals
• Serve as a subject matter expert in the life cycle of grants/contracts management, development and implementation of processes and best practices
• Ensure government compliance (NIH, DoD, and BARDA amongst others) and reporting requirements while keeping principal investigators informed and aware of relevant deadlines, financial program status, and responsibilities
• Lead indirect cost rate submissions and negotiations
• Lead, prompt, and correct classifications and recording of procured goods and services and produce in-depth financial analyses to provide principal investigators with accurate, timely data on budget allocations, spending projections, and personnel resources, enabling informed decision-making throughout the grant’s lifecycle
• Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with scientists and research teams, providing strategic guidance and support from proposal development through post-award management
• Ensure collaboration between finance and program management during the pre-award and post-award processes for government grants and contracts
• Directly mentor and develop team members in grants management, and indirectly mentor and develop team members in both finance/accounting and program management
• Build relationships with internal and external (federal government and industry) stakeholders to keep abreast of potential grant funding opportunities
• Provide strategic insights, projections, and recommendations to senior management, supporting decision-making processes
• Liaise with, monitor, and audit sub-contracted activities to assess performance and logistics, including reporting and invoicing
• Communicate throughout the granting or contracting process with principal investigators and key team members
• Provide transparency and education to company leadership, current and prospective principal investigators, and other relevant stakeholders as to complexities and nuances of grant administration

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and willingness for continuous education about the legal, compliance, and transparency requirements associated with federal grants and contracts
• Ability to multitask and continually evaluate priorities with a sense of urgency
• Familiarity with financial management software and systems
• In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of government grant and contract processes, including the regulations associated with federal agencies such as NIH, DoD, CDC, BARDA, and NSF
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and implement best practices
• Proven track record of supervising, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization
• High level of integrity, responsibility, and reliability with a strong sense of urgency
• Ability to work in a clear and conscientious way and manage difficult conversations though direct and constructive dialogue
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
• Master’s degree or CPA/CFA designation preferred
• Minimum 8 years’ experience working in Grant Management, with consideration of tangential experience in Operations, Program Management, Finance, or Compliance in Research Administration