Senior Director of Sponsored Programs at American Indian Higher Education Consortium AIHEC – Alexandria, Virginia

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Sponsored Programs serves as a senior leader responsible for the management, coordination, and performance of all sponsored initiatives across AIHEC, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic plan and membership priorities. By successfully proposing and directing funds to support the mission and strategic priorities of AIHEC, the Senior Director ensures the continued growth, value, and stability of the organization.

The incumbent will manage activities related to grants and contracts funding; establish and oversee processes to ensure compliance with funders, federal, state, and accepted industry standards; and provide resources and training to support a culture of effective sponsored program management. The ideal candidate will have proven experience providing leadership and strategic direction for all sponsored programs administration.

This position reports to AIHEC’s Chief of Staff.

Responsibilities

· Leadership & Supervision: Provides effective leadership, direction, supervision, and mentorship to the Sponsored Programs team in support of the AIHEC mission. Establishes clear performance metrics, accountability structures, and cross-team coordination. Compliance Oversight: Serves as a liaison with a variety of agencies and professional groups to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and sponsor requirements, including OMB Circulars and Federal Acquisition Regulations.

· Infrastructure Management: Manages the necessary infrastructure to maximize successful proposal preparation, including technical writing, graphics, budgeting, and building coalitions for multi-disciplinary submissions.

· Fiscal Coordination: Works closely with Finance to manage budgeting and compliance issues related to grants and contract accounts.

· Process Improvement: Promotes the constant review and improvement of administrative procedures governing sponsored programs to ensure high-quality service to all funders. Implements systems and tools to increase operational efficiency, transparency, and cross-departmental integration.

· Strategic Reporting: Gathers and reports on meaningful metrics to assist in reaching strategic goals for program management. Budgetary Responsibility: Responsible for setting annual budgets and collaborating with Finance to ensure they remain on track.

Qualifications

· Education: Bachelor's or master's degree.

· Experience: 8+ years of relevant experience, including 5 years of leadership experience.

· Supervisory Skills: Strong experience managing a team of 10+ reports (this role oversees a remote team).

· Program Management: Proven ability managing multi-year, multi-million dollar grant-funded programs.

· Financial Acumen: Strong skills in developing and managing complex, multi-year budgets, including ability to interpret financial statements and align programmatic decision-making with organizational financial strategy.

· Cultural Competency: Deep understanding of American Indian and Alaska Native higher education issues and Tribal Nations.

· Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated ability to translate organization’s strategic priorities into fundable initiatives and sustainable program models.

· Collaboration: Experience as a member of a senior leadership team and fostering collaboration across different program areas.

· Communication: Strong skills in communicating with the AIHEC Board, staff, funders, and other external officials when required.

Preferred Qualifications

· Policy Knowledge: Familiarity with the AIHEC policy environment, including interest groups and public funding agencies.

· Experience working with Tribal Colleges and Universities, or other Tribally controlled institutions strongly preferred.

Physical Job Requirements

· Ability to communicate information and ideas, detect, determine, perceive, and observe details, particularly on a screen or on paper.

· Ability to spend more than half the time viewing computer monitors.

· This position may require remaining in a stationary position 50% or more.

· Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and in writing.

· Ability to travel independently and attend off-site meetings and events as required by business needs.

· Candidate must be able to complete all essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Job Location and Travel

· Job Location: Alexandria, VA.

· Sporadic travel (up to 25%) for meetings and conferences.

· Schedule: Hybrid remote schedule with three (3) scheduled days in the office.

Compensation and Benefits

· $150,000 – 160,000 per annum

· 401(k) with 6% matching

· Premium medical insurance for employees and dependents paid for by the organization

· Dental, vision, life, accident, hospital indemnity, and disability insurances offered at low cost

· Holidays and Paid time off

AIHEC’s personnel policies, procedures, and practices prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, or sex. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require accommodation during the application process or in performing essential functions of the role, please contact Human Resources.