Contracts & Grants Manager (Hybrid)

Who we are: Sierra Health Foundation is a private philanthropy with a mission to invest in and serve as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, and programs that improve health and quality of life for all Californians. The foundation is committed to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities through convening, educating, and strategic grant-making. Sierra Health Foundation is an equal opportunity employer; we value employees with diverse backgrounds, expressions, and experiences. The more diverse our team is, the stronger we’ll become. With the common goal of forging a new path to promote health, racial equity, and racial justice in our communities, we want and need a team that can bring their unique perspectives and stories to the table to best support our communities. Sierra Health Foundation currently operates on a hybrid work schedule with core in-office days of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and optional telework days on Mondays and Fridays. Please attach both a resume and cover letter with your application. Final candidates will be asked to provide two professional references. Personal references are not accepted, as our goal is to speak with individuals who can directly comment on the candidate’s past job performance.

SUMMARY

The Contracts & Grants Manager plays an important role in advancing Sierra Health Foundation’s (Foundation) mission by ensuring that contracting and grantmaking practices are equitable, compliant, and effective. The Contracts & Grants Manager is responsible for overseeing the Foundation's contract administration function, including the drafting, negotiation, execution, monitoring, amendment, and closeout of subawards, contracts, grant agreements, and vendor agreements. This position ensures compliance with organizational policies, funder requirements, and applicable laws and regulations while providing leadership, guidance, and support to contract administration staff and internal stakeholders. The Contracts & Grants Manager serves as a strategic partner to Foundation leadership and staff to identify contractual risks, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen compliance infrastructure. The Contracts & Grants Manager will strengthen contract systems and processes to improve efficiency, clarity, and compliance. Build trusted partnerships with program staff and community-based organizations through transparent and accessible contracting practices. Ensure full compliance with applicable regulations including federal and state requirements while maintaining a community-centered approach. Provide clear, actionable guidance on risk, compliance, and contracting strategy. Develop and support a high-performing team aligned around equity, accountability, and continuous learning.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Contract/Grant Lifecycle Management

• Manage the full lifecycle of organizational agreements, including intake, drafting, negotiation, approval, execution, amendment, renewal, and closeout.
• Develop and administer a wide range of agreements including third-party funder agreements, subrecipient and subcontractor subaward agreements, amendment agreements, independent contractor agreements, and vendor agreements.
• Ensure agreements are processed accurately, timely, and consistent with organizational standards.
• Oversee contract requirements including deliverables, reporting, acceptance criteria, and documentation to ensure compliance and audit readiness.
• Manage and interpret funding agreements with federal, state, local government, philanthropic, and private funders to ensure contractual obligations are effectively incorporated into downstream agreements, policies, procedures, and operational practices.
• Serve as the primary contracts subject matter expert and provide guidance to staff and leadership regarding contract interpretation, risk allocation, regulatory requirements, and contracting strategies.

Subaward Contract/Grant Management

• Maintain standard contract templates and ensure required funder and organizational provisions are incorporated into agreements.
• Partner with Compliance to ensure required flow-down provisions are included in contract templates and agreements.
• Support due diligence activities by collecting and maintaining required contracting documentation.

Contract/Grant Risk Management

• Identify contractual, operational, insurance, and financial risks within agreements.
• Partner with Program, Finance, and Compliance teams to identify and mitigate contractual risk.
• Recommend risk mitigation strategies in contract language.
• Establish appropriate payment, reporting, and performance protections.
• Escalate significant contractual risks and proposed exceptions to the Managing Director.
• Collaborate with Compliance and Finance regarding high-risk agreements.
• Identify agreements requiring corrective action, amendment, suspension, or termination.
• Ensure agreements align with applicable federal, state, local, and funder requirements.
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and organizational regulations including 2 CFR 200 to contracting processes.
• Ensure the required provisions are included in the contract templates and executed agreements.
• Support internal and external audits, monitoring reviews, and regulatory examinations by maintaining complete contract files and providing documentation related to contractual compliance.
• Develop and maintain internal controls related to contracting activities, including approval authorities, segregation of duties, documentation standards, and contract retention requirements.

Contract/Grant Operations and Administration

• Develop and maintain contract templates, procedures, workflows, and standard contract language.
• Monitor contract status and ensure timely follow-up on outstanding actions.
• Develop and monitor contract performance metrics and reporting to support operational effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Monitor changes in applicable laws, regulations, and funder requirements and recommend updates to contract templates, procedures, and organizational practices.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position supervises and mentors contract staff Contract Administrator I and II staff and is responsible for their day-to-day management, performance development, and coaching ensuring high-quality contract administration practices.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Legal Studies, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Seven (7) or more years in contract administration, grants management, procurement, legal operations, compliance, or related field.
• Experience managing large and complex portfolios of contracts, grants, subawards, or government-funded agreements.
• Experience working within a nonprofit intermediary, fiscal sponsor, community foundation, public health organization, or government-funded pass-through entity preferred.
• Demonstrated contract negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple agreements and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, negotiating, and managing complex contracts or agreements.
• Experience working with federal, state, local government, or nonprofit-funded programs.
• Strong understanding of contract lifecycle management principles and practices.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and provide clear, sound recommendations in complex situations.
• Experience supervising or leading staff or projects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a nonprofit, grant-funded, philanthropy, public sector, public health, or nonprofit environments.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200, federal and state grant compliance, and subrecipient management.
• Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) platforms. Conga experience is highly desirable.
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms. Salesforce experience is highly desirable.
• Professional certification in contracts management such as Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) or Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM).

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking, presentation, and group facilitation skills.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret contracts, policies, laws, and regulations.
• Ability to read and interpret standard financial reports and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries from contractors and subcontractors.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or Board of Directors.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Must be proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office, Outlook, database software, online meeting software and internet use. Experience with CRM Salesforce and CLM Conga are highly desirable.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Passion for the Foundation’s mission is essential.
• Apply an equity lens to contracting practices, ensuring processes are accessible, transparent, and supportive of community-based partners.
• Demonstrates the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Team orientation and skilled at working collaboratively with co-workers and organizational partners (i.e., effectively applying active listening, diplomacy, and consensus-building skills, negotiating roles and responsibilities with internal and external colleagues).
• Detailed attention to quality controls for creating and distributing contract agreements. This requires a firm understanding of processes and procedures for contractual compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of internal controls for contract authorizations and amendments.
• Demonstrates flexibility and ability to perform in a fast-paced organization.
• Demonstrates effective leadership and relationship building skills.
• Ability to multitask and to meet deadlines, as well as demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, strong organizational skills, and exceptional attention to detail.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

Sierra Health Foundation offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The hiring range for this position is $119,000 to $130,000 annually. As part of the Foundation’s commitment to compensation, equality and transparency, our practice is not to consider salary counters above this hiring range. Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, as well as an Employee Assistance Program, Student Loan support, and discount program. Employees receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Retirement benefits are provided through our 401(k), which includes employer matching up to 6%. Additionally, we prioritize employee wellness by offering a Wellness Reimbursement program and wellness-paid time off throughout the year. Further details can be shared during the hiring process.