Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

 

The National Director, Government Funding in the Office of Funded Programs, serves as the OFP’s principal advisor and center of expertise on federal and other government funding. This role does not own pre-award proposal development or post-award grants administration. Instead, it functions as an internal consultant and governance leader—offering enterprise-level insight on the federal landscape, regulatory changes, risk/benefit considerations, and strategic options to support informed decision-making and compliance execution across the grant lifecycle.

 

Reporting to the National VP, Funded Programs, the National Director, Government Funding partners closely with Finance, Legal, Mission Advancement, Research, various implementation leadership, and the Sr. Director, Grants Administration. The role oversees institutional registrations and compliance infrastructure, including SAM.gov annual renewal, and develops policies, procedures, training, and tools that strengthen readiness for government funding. Critical responsibilities include reviewing grant budgets during the pre-award phase and enabling a seamless transition from pre-award to grants administration for government grants by ensuring strong alignment and documentation.

 

This position can be home-based.

 

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

 

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

Role Boundaries & Collaboration

• Pre-Award (Mission Advancement owns): This role advises on regulatory requirements and compliance. It does not write or submit proposals, own budgets, or lead negotiations.
• Post-Award (OFP Grants Administration owns): This role advises on federal requirements and institutional controls.
• Operations Management (supervises OFP Grants Analyst, Govt Grants): Provides oversight for award management including – budget planning, prior approval requests, compensation compliance, expense review, cost transfers, subrecipient & contract management, and reporting. The Grants Analyst provides operational support for a small portfolio of federal awards, typically 3-5 awards.
• OFP Integration: This role serves as a thought partner at the pre-award table to anticipate requirements and coordinates a complete, documented handoff to the Sr. Director, Grants Administration for post-award execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Compliance Coordination

• Coordinate education, documentation standards, and communication for federal compliance topics.
• Create standardized SOPs, templates, and checklists that support federal compliance.
• Develop and maintain a federal funding policy and procedures library.
• Establish education and communication programs to strengthen internal federal funding literacy.
• Identify and help resolve emerging compliance risks.
• Provide advisory support for critical issues including but not limited to human subjects research compliance.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with MA, Legal and implementation teams to help identify early issue-spotting to prevent downstream compliance challenges through a collaborative approach.
• Model collaboration and support organizational capacity-building in federal funding expertise.
• Review budgets for government funding applications during the pre-award phase.
• Support consistent interpretation of various government funding rules across Finance, Legal, Research, Programs, and Grants Administration.

Federal Landscape & Risk Advisory

• Serve as the OFP’s principal advisor on government funding standards, including 2 CFR 200, federal cost principles, federal acquisition regulations (FAR), other transactions (OTA) negotiations, and agency-specific regulations.
• Monitor, interpret, and communicate regulatory updates, OMB guidance, and federal policy changes.

Institutional Registrations & Infrastructure

• Oversee SAM.gov registration and annual renewal.
• Support documentation of internal controls and institutional compliance infrastructure.

Pre- to Post-Award Transition for Government Funding

• Lead the transition protocol for government funding, consolidating commitments and compliance terms into a transition dossier.
• Facilitate handoff meetings with the Sr. Director, Grants Administration to align on post-award execution.

Team Leadership

• Supervise the Government Grants Analyst, providing coaching and oversight.

 

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required; advanced degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Public Health, Business, Nonprofit Management, Law, or similar preferred.

Experience

• 8 years of experience in government grants policy, compliance, or advisory roles.
• Demonstrated fluency with Uniform Guidance, federal procurement standards, and agency-specific federal regulations.
• Experience developing policies, SOPs, training, or compliance frameworks.
• Experience supporting both pre-award and post-award stakeholders.
• Three (3) years of people leadership experience preferred.
• Experience in public health, nonprofit management or government strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Collaborative style that supports partner ownership while providing guidance.
• Demonstrated fluency with regulatory frameworks (especially 2 CFR 200/Uniform Guidance).
• Experience interacting with government program officers and grants management specialists.
• Expert ability to interpret and operationalize federal grant and contract regulations.
• Familiarity with federal funders such as CDC, HRSA, and NIH.
• High judgment and issue-spotting capability.
• Strong communication skills with ability to simplify complex requirements.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel overnight up to 10%.

Compensation & Benefits

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.  Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

 

• Compensation – The expected pay range is $84,400 to $124,000. Pay is commensurate with experience; geographic differentials to the pay range may apply. The American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range. Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.  That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position. 
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.  As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.  HeartU is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.  The number of days will increase based on seniority level.  You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.  This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

 

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.This position not a match with your skills?  Click here to see other opportunities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

 

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

 

 

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