Director, Procurement and Grants

Job Title: Director, Procurement and Grants

Team: (People & Operations)

Location: In-Person in Atlanta (GA), Chicago (IL), Newark (NJ), or New York City (NYC) 

Employment Type: Full-time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Start Date: ASAP

About Braven

Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares promising young people—many of whom are people of color, from low-income backgrounds, and the first in their families to attend college—to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career-accelerating program.

We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students followed by support that lasts through graduation.  

Together, we are helping to open up access to the American Promise, empowering a generation of leaders who mirror the diversity of our country.

To learn more, take a look at Braven’s Impact Report and Jobs Report.

About the Role

In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000-100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring a Director, Procurement and Grant Compliance who will develop and implement comprehensive purchasing systems, policies, and procedures aligned with federal grant requirements. By optimizing our financial processes and maintaining strict compliance, you'll play a vital role in maximizing the impact of every dollar invested in our Fellows' futures. Your work will directly contribute to Braven's ability to scale its programs efficiently and effectively, ultimately helping more underrepresented students transition from college to strong first jobs and fulfilling careers. As a leader within the Finance team, you will collaborate across departments to centralize purchasing, improve vendor processes, and ensure compliance with federal grant requirements, including the Uniform Guidance.

This role is on the Finance team and reports directly to the Controller.

What You’ll Do

Procurement Systems and Policy Development - 40%

• Design and implement procurement systems, policies, and procedures aligned with federal grant requirements and Uniform Guidance
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive procurement manual that ensures compliance with federal regulations
• Create and implement internal controls to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse in procurement processes
• Establish and oversee a system for tracking and reporting on grant-related purchases
• Continuously evaluate and improve procurement processes to enhance efficiency and compliance
• Build out and manage a Purchase Order system

Grant Compliance and Management - 30%

• Collaborate with the grants management team to ensure all procurement activities meet federal grant regulations
• Oversee the preparation and submission of procurement-related reports required by federal grantors
• Stay current on changes in federal grant requirements and update procurement policies accordingly
• Provide training and guidance to staff on procurement processes and federal grant compliance
• Conduct internal audits of procurement practices to ensure ongoing compliance

Vendor Management and Strategic Sourcing - 20%

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize cost savings and value 
• Oversee RFP processes, ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements 
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts, ensuring favorable terms and compliance with federal regulations
• Implement vendor performance metrics and conduct regular evaluations 
• Manage ContractSafe, including conducting trainings and processing contracts

Strategic Planning and Team Leadership - 10%

• Develop and implement long-term procurement strategies aligned with Braven's growth plans and grant funding objectives
• Collaborate with leadership to align procurement strategies with organizational goals
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or related field
• At least 5 years of experience in procurement, with at least 2 years focusing on federal grant compliance
• Demonstrated expertise in federal grant management and in-depth knowledge of Uniform Guidance
• Experience developing and implementing procurement systems and policies

Preferred Qualifications 

• Certified Federal Grants Management Specialist (CFMS) or similar certification
• Experience with procurement in the non-profit sector
• Strong listening skills, empathy, patience, and the ability to lead through influence and by example
• Strong project management skills
• Excellent cross-functional team collaboration abilities
• Proven track record of process improvement implementation
• Experience with financial management software and procurement systems
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
• Exemplification of Braven's core values
• Experience that has informed your belief in Braven's mission and prepared you to work with, or for, Braven's student Fellow population

Work Demands

• Ability to work in-person in Atlanta (GA), Chicago (IL), Newark (NJ), or New York City (NYC) at least 3 days per week

• Travel up to 4 times per year
• Travel may be required for training or conferences related to federal grant management

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such by the date of hire. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.

Application & Interview Process

While the interview process may vary slightly, the general process will be:

• Phone screen with Talent Team member
• Performance Task
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Panel Interview with Key Partners
• Reference Checks

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position, which depends on prior work experience and our assessment of your demonstrated fit for the role, will likely be between $86,800-$108,400 in Atlanta, $91,300-$114,100 in Chicago, $100,500-$125,600 in New York, NY & Newark, NJ. This is a full-time regular, exempt, and benefits eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity. Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.

Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include: 

• Unlimited vacation time in addition to org-wide holidays and week-long shutdowns in July and the end of the calendar year (this is a minimum of 19 days per year)
• Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

Location

We gather in the office at least 3 days per week (on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and often work remotely 2 days per week (although certain commitments might adjust that from time to time). Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of one of our hubs: Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, or New York City. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face-to-face and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

At Braven, we are committed to attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining a diverse team. Braven operates in the context of our American culture, against the backdrop of systemic racism and oppression of marginalized people since our country’s founding. We are committed to assembling leaders at our organization who have emerged from everywhere, with a particular emphasis on those who share the racial and income backgrounds of our Fellows, and creating an inclusive culture that allows all teammates, of all experiences and identities, to thrive.  

Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.  We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.