The Senior Manager of Grantmaking is primarily responsible for building and managing a team of grants management professionals that deliver operational excellence, strengthen the applicant experience, and advance the Foundation's mission.
About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.
Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.
We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Senior Manager of Grantmaking position. This position is focused on supporting the Grant Operations function within the Research Operations department. The department occupies a uniquely interconnected position within the organization, partnering with programmatic teams and collaborating across departments to facilitate grantmaking, grants administration and program operations management in support of the Foundation’s mission.
This role is primarily responsible for building and managing a team of grants management professionals that deliver operational excellence, strengthen the applicant experience, and advance the Foundation's mission. This position includes continuously monitoring and refining internal processes to reduce burden, enhance usability and ensure efficient grantmaking operations. This role is also focused on ensuring compliance with grantmaking policies, developing comprehensive documentation and procedures and maintaining effective communication with grantees and researchers.
This is a hybrid-flex position that may require in-person attendance at the Foundation’s office in New York City.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Grantmaking Policy & Compliance:
Ensure team adherence to grantmaking policies and contribute to policy development that will position the Foundation as state-of-the-field based on operational insights
Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of the Foundation’s grantmaking policies and procedures to guide and enhance grantee awareness & compliance
Maintain and expand existing knowledge library of templates, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other internal guidance documents in support of efficient staff onboarding and ongoing training
Conduct regular compliance reviews and implement corrective actions as needed
Leverage learnings from communication with the Foundation’s researcher community to drive continuous process improvement; support special projects to enhance the Foundation’s grantmaking processes as required
Manage day-to-day grantmaking operations and make decisions regarding workflow prioritization and resource allocation; escalate complex issues to manager or senior leadership as appropriate
Oversee communication with the Foundation’s researcher community related to application guidelines, grantmaking policies and procedures and general troubleshooting
Monitor & periodically evaluate key metrics related to grants administration team customer service
People Management:
Manage a team of frontline grants management professionals at the Foundation; support team growth and development through effective coaching, feedback and performance monitoring
Monitor staff workloads, ensure effective handoffs and periodically report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to compliance and team performance
Routinely train & upskill staff in core competencies for effective grants management; lead trainings and/or contribute to development of resources for grants management team in support of operational excellence
Qualifications and Skills:
Foundational knowledge and experience in grants administration
Foundational experience managing a team, developing talent and leading through change or challenge
Committed to delivering and receiving actionable feedback; coaching others to receive feedback
Proficient with grants management systems; experience with SmartSimple highly preferred
Sound judgement, critical thinking and decision-making skills; ability to make informed recommendations using data and experience
Navigates conflict and differences with empathy, clarity and courage; eagerness to create a strong, collaborative team culture
Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines; able to think big picture while maintaining excellent attention to detail
Willingness to be adaptable, stay curious and optimistic in the face of changing business dynamics and priorities
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $110,000. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
Competitive dental and vision plans
401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
Flexible spending accounts
Employer paid life and disability insurance
18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) and a summer holiday week over July 4
Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.
MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.