Compliance Director

Work for a first-class institution that is innovative, multi-dimensional, and dynamic by joining AIR as a Compliance Director.

 

We hire talented and forward-thinking professionals to build our cross-functional teams and support our clients in solving complex problems. Our people—problem-solvers, changemakers, and creative thinkers—are experts in their craft who rise to meet today’s challenges.

 

The Compliance Director will play an integral role in delivering on some of the most meaningful projects in communities across the United States and the world. You’ll collaborate with our teams of motivated and passionate visionaries, where your input will be valued and your contributions vital to our success.

 

We value the experiences of every member of our institution, from entry level to executive. As part of our collaborative, learning-oriented team, you’ll be encouraged to grow in your career, develop additional skills, and progress professionally.

 

AIR’s Contracts and Grants Office (CGO) is seeking a Compliance Director to join its innovative team. CGO provides support to program staff throughout the entire contract lifecycle, from pre-award capture and proposal development through post-award contract administration and closeout. This position reports to the Vice President, Contracts, Grants, and Procurement.

 

The Compliance Director is responsible for ensuring that all contract, subcontract, procurement, and grant activities adhere to Federal, State, International, Commercial, and Institutional regulations, as well as any other applicable policies. This role oversees compliance functions from pre-award through close-out within prime and subcontracts and grants management, collaborates with internal departments and external entities, and provides leadership on regulatory adherence, risk management, and ethical practices. This role is also responsible for managing the grants compliance program for AIR-awarded grants, to include evaluating potential grant recipients, and monitoring awarded grants to ensure effective and responsible fund use. As a senior leader of AIR, the Compliance Director collaborates with executive leadership, the legal team, finance, business development, human resources, and program offices to establish and maintain a robust compliance framework for grants, contracts and procurement.

 

This role demands strategic and tactical thinking, along with exceptional analytical, communication, and leadership skills. If you are ready to make a significant impact and excel in a fast-paced environment, this role is for you.

 

This position is hybrid within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our AIR’s Crystal City/North Bethesda/Rockville office. This does not include U.S. territories. 

 

About AIR:

 

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

 

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here.

 

Essential job functions include but are not limited to-

• Compliance Management:
• Develop, implement, coordinate and monitor compliance programs for contracts, grants, and procurement activities when AIR is performing in both prime and sub roles.
• Ensure all activities are in accordance with relevant federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to funding requirements and reporting standards.
• Maintain extensive knowledge of applicable regulations, guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Funding Agreement Awarding and Compliance Management:
• Develop, implement, and oversee the compliance framework for awarding agreements.
• Evaluate proposals to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, legal requirements, and compliance standards.
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and compliance standards to ensure that agreements are prepared and executed in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Policy Development and Enforcement:
• Develop and update policies and procedures related to prime and sub agreement management to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.
• Ensure that policies are communicated effectively across departments and facilitate adherence to these standards.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of compliance policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation:
• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential compliance issues including personal and organizational conflicts of interest at pre-award through closeout.
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks associated with agreement activities.
• Lead internal audits and prepare responses to external audits.
• Lead thorough due diligence on potential contract and grant recipients, including financial and operational assessments.
• Assess risk factors associated with contract and grant awards and develop strategies to mitigate these risks.
• Identify and resolve compliance issues or areas of concern with contract and grant recipients before funds are disbursed.
• Collaboration and Consultation:
• Provide training sessions on compliance policies, procedures, and ethical guidelines for prime contracts, subcontracts and grant personnel.
• Guide and mentor team members, fostering a collaborative and compliant work environment to strengthen a culture of compliance where everyone is committed to maintaining high standards and working together towards common goals.
• Educate all internal collaborators on regulatory updates and compliance requirements to promote awareness and adherence.
• Provide training and support to internal staff and grant recipients on compliance requirements, reporting protocols, and ethical guidelines.
• Keep staff and contract and grant recipients informed of any regulatory changes that impact awards and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with other departments, such as legal, business development, finance, human resources, and program management to support contract and grant compliance.
• Serve as a liaison between the Contracts and Grants Office and regulatory bodies or funding agencies.
• Serve as the main point of contact for compliance-related inquiries from grantees, offering guidance and support as needed.
• Provide expert advice on AIR policy, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and other pertinent federal, state, commercial or foreign donor regulations and guidelines.
• Participate in industry work groups/associations and other industry events that facilitate networking and serve as sources of market information and intelligence.
• Foster positive relationships with contracts and grant recipients to support effective communication and compliance adherence.
• Reporting and Documentation:
• Oversee the timely and accurate preparation and submission of required compliance reports.
• Ensure thorough documentation of compliance activities and any findings or corrective actions.
• Prepare for and coordinate audits or evaluations of the organization’s prime and subcontract and grant awarding processes and compliance programs. Analyze audit findings and implement related corrective action plans.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Regularly assess and report on the effectiveness of the compliance program, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Recommend and implement improvements to processes, policies, and procedures to align with best practices.
• Gather and analyze relevant information from various sources to fully understand the problem, ensuring that all aspects are considered, and solutions are thorough and accurate.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree (e.g., JD, MBA, or Master’s in a related field).
• At least 12 years of experience in contracts, grants, compliance, or a related area, with supervisory experience preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and specifically Uniform Grants Guidance (UGG), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and other U.S. and international donor and grantor regulations and laws.

 Skills:

• Effective and persuasive communicator continually demonstrating sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion with cultural and linguistic competence.
• Proven excellence in functional, critical thinking, organizational, problem-solving and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively collaborate as both a team member and leader.
• Ability to consistently meet established timelines while managing multiple objectives and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Leverage extensive experience, sound judgment, and a commanding professional presence to interact effectively with internal and external customers, identifying and resolving risk and performance issues.
• Exhibit accurate judgment in leading initiatives, engaging others and prioritizing tasks effectively.
• Proficient in utilizing standard Microsoft 365 tools, including OneDrive, SharePoint, Excel, Word, and Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment

Disclosures:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

 

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

 

AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to recruitment@air.org.

 

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

 

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