Grant Contracts Administrator

PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship

Position – Grant Contracts Administrator

Organization Overview

The PA Wilds Center is a regional nonprofit whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development to strengthen and inspire communities in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The Pennsylvania Wilds, a 13-county region of rural Pennsylvania, has seen decades of population decline, and the PA Wilds Center works with stakeholders to lead a landscape-level strategy to use the region’s vast public lands, unique community character, and vibrant maker culture to grow the outdoor recreation economy as a way to diversify local economies, attract new investments, improve quality of life, inspire stewardship, and attract and retain the region’s working age population.  

PA Wilds Center has responsibilities attracting visitors to the region; unifying diverse stakeholders around the Wilds’ landscape-level strategies; delivering high mission impact programs for communities, entrepreneurs and youth across a landscape the size of Massachusetts; and stewarding the region’s natural and cultural assets. The nonprofit is the state’s lead for the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape and raises $1M+ annually through grants, philanthropic giving, and entrepreneurial activities related to the Pennsylvania Wilds brand to support its mission in the landscape. PA Wilds Center is a virtual organization with senior staff working from home locations in several different counties. It also manages a business network known as the Wilds Cooperative of PA; a business accelerator space called the PA Wilds Media Lab; and nonprofit retail locations called PA Wilds Conservation Shops. 

Overview of Responsibilities

The Grant Contracts Administrator is a key position in the Finance Department that oversees the day-to-day fiscal administration of local, state, federal and philanthropic grant awards made to the PA Wilds Center. The Grant Contracts Administrator will report to the Center’s Chief Financial Officer. The Grant Contracts Administrator will be part of a finance team that also includes a bookkeeper, a finance manager of social enterprises, and the CFO. The position will also interface in structured ways with the program side of the nonprofit, which is tasked with implementing the grant work plans. 

This is a new position with exciting room for growth. We are looking for a problem solver with bookkeeping experience and incredible attention to detail who wants to learn the ropes and make a career at the PA Wilds Center. Bookkeeping experience is required; experience with public funds accounting from state and federal sources is desired but we will train the right candidate. Grant funders the Center regularly works with include the PA Dept of Community and Economic Development, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Arts Council, Appalachian Regional Commission, U.S. Economic Development Administration and USDA. The position’s salary has the opportunity to grow with stepped pay increases over the next two years as key training modules are completed and new responsibilities are assumed.  

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated individual with proven experience who wants to advance within the company. Our accounting team is based out of McKean and Potter counties; this position requires a mix of in-office and remote work. 

The major responsibilities of the Grant Contracts Administrator will include but are not limited to:

• Overseeing a master schedule of all grants received and reporting periods
• Opening bank accounts for new grants
• Managing individual grant-tracking workbooks
• Managing individual grant-matching workbooks
• Classing and approving A/P + A/R general
• Classing and approving credit card statements for reconciliation
• Assigning and reconciling timesheet grant allocations
• Completing drawdown forms for local, state, federal and philanthropic grants
• Assembling grant progress reports
• Submitting grant drawdown requests and progress reports through various online portals
• Assembling grant close-out documents
• Contributing to the grants development process as requested
• Developing training manuals for processes related to the position
• Submitting the Center’s annual Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) application
• Running grant reports for the executive team as needed

Compensation 

• Salary:  $40,000 - $45,000
• Benefits: Health insurance; Paid Time Off (PTO) as reflected in the Employee Manual
• The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship is a qualified employer in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program 

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Proven ability to calculate, post and manage accounting figures and financial records
• Data entry skills along with a knack for numbers and solving puzzles
• Hands on experience with spreadsheets and proprietary software
• Proficiency in English and competency in Microsoft applications including Word & Excel
• Proficiency in using Google Drive and documents
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Great interpersonal skills
• Able to contribute positively as part of a team, helping with various tasks as required
• Experience working with or for non-profit organizations and/or doing grant tracking
• Background checks will be run on qualified applicants

Other key qualifications

As a prerequisite, the successful candidate must believe in the core values of the PA Wilds Center and be driven by its mission. The candidate should be passionate about breaking new ground to lead social change. Beyond that, we are seeking a candidate who enjoys working with a driven, bright, diverse team. The successful candidate will most likely have had experience with a for-profit or nonprofit organization. Additional requirements are:

• Results—proven track record of exceeding goals and a bottom-line orientation; evidence of the ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; high level of business acumen; the ability to balance the delivery of programs against the realities of a budget; and problem solving, project management, and creative resourcefulness.
• Strategic Vision and Agility—ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan.
• Action Oriented—enjoys working hard and looks for challenges; able to act and react as necessary, even if limited information is available.
• General Management—basic understanding of finance, systems, and HR; basic experience with the larger range of business functions and systems, including strategic development and planning, budgeting, business analysis, finance, information systems, human resources, and marketing.
• Physical/Driving Requirements— Candidate must have a reliable vehicle and related insurance (budgeted mileage is reimbursed). Work is mainly performed indoors in an office or classroom environment but candidate must be able to: lift up to 30 pounds on occasion; bend, squat, and crawl on occasion; sit for extended periods of time at a computer. Minimal travel involved.
• Equipment & Facility—office space will be provided at the PA Wilds Media Lab in Kane, PA. The PA Wilds Center will provide the office equipment necessary for the job.
  

Timeline

Applications will be accepted through December 31, 2023. Interviews will be conducted in January and the goal is to start the position in February 2024.

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The official registration and financial information of PA Wilds Center may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.

Learn more: PAWilds.com | WildsCoPa.org | ShopThePaWilds.org