ECMC Foundation is a nationally focused foundation whose mission is to improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments to remove barriers to postsecondary completion; build the capacity of organizations, institutions and systems; and transform the postsecondary ecosystem using a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grantmaking and program-related investments, to support both nonprofit and for-profit ventures.
Job Summary
The Senior Associate, Grants Management Data & Systems serves as the Foundation's subject matter expert for grants management systems, data governance, reporting, and business process optimization, partnering closely with Grants Management leadership, Finance, IT, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop and implement technology, reporting, and data solutions that support operational excellence and the Foundation's grantmaking strategy. This role provides oversight of grants management systems and data assets, ensuring strong governance, scalable processes, meaningful reporting, and continuous improvement. The senior associate leads system enhancements and process improvement efforts that enhance efficiency, reduce risk, improve user adoption, and strengthen organizational effectiveness while identifying opportunities to leverage systems, data, and technology to support business objectives and the Foundation's evolving needs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Serves as the Foundation's primary administrator and subject matter expert for grants management systems, executing day-to-day system configuration, user roles and permissions, workflow and form administration, validation rules, reporting structures, routine maintenance, and system optimization.
- Leads data governance, quality management, and reconciliation practices to ensure accurate, reliable, and audit-ready grantmaking data.
- Develops and enhances reporting, dashboards, analytics, and key performance metrics that support strategic decision-making, financial reporting, and operational effectiveness.
- Leads the assessment and resolution of complex system and data challenges, identifying opportunities for enhancements that improve efficiency, scalability, reliability, and user experience.
- Supports grants management operations through execution-level quality assurance, including grant-processing reviews, reporting validation, and resolution of data-related inquiries.
- Designs, configures, tests, and implements system enhancements, data structures, and automated workflows, including coordinating user acceptance testing, regression testing, and validation of new functionality prior to deployment.
- Partners with Grants Management leadership, Finance, IT, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders to translate business needs into effective technology, reporting, and process solutions.
- Identifies opportunities to improve business processes, data management practices, and system utilization through analysis, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Establishes and maintains governance standards, documentation, training resources, and best practices that support compliance, operational continuity, and effective system adoption.
- Advises leadership on system capabilities, data trends, operational risks, and opportunities to strengthen grants management operations and reporting.
- Executes system, data, reporting, and operational activities under Grants Management leadership governance, providing analysis and recommendations while partnering on prioritization, policy, and long-term system strategy.
- Ensures appropriate system security, confidentiality, and user access controls in alignment with organizational policies and data governance standards.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience in finance, data analytics, business intelligence, information systems, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
- Experience serving as an administrator for grants management systems, CRM platforms, or other enterprise business applications.
- Advanced experience developing and maintaining reports, dashboards, data visualizations, and performance metrics using tools such as Power BI, Excel, SQL, or similar reporting platforms.
- Strong knowledge of data governance, data quality management, relational databases, reporting structures, and data reconciliation practices.
- Strong understanding of grants management processes, grant lifecycles, payment administration, financial controls, and compliance requirements.
- Experience designing, implementing, and optimizing systems, workflows, reporting solutions, and technology-enabled business processes within a cross-functional environment.
- Experience translating business requirements into system configurations, reporting solutions, workflow enhancements, and process improvements.
- Experience developing and maintaining data standards, system documentation, reporting structures, operational procedures, and training materials.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to travel domestically up to 15% and work effectively within the Foundation's hybrid work environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in philanthropy, nonprofit, foundation, or grantmaking environments.
- Experience with Fluxx or similar grants management platforms.
The pay range for this position is $105,000 - $130,000. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, peer and market benchmarks, and geographic location.
This position is classified as hybrid Monday - Wednesday and requires attendance in Minneapolis, MN.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above 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.
ECMC Foundation also provides a comprehensive benefits package:
- Health & wellness benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plan options, with a generous employer subsidy. Company paid life & disability insurance, pre-tax flexible spending accounts and robust wellness programs.
- Financial benefits: Generous 401(k) plan with a company match up to 6% and additional discretionary contribution potential, paid time off starting at 20 days/year and commuter subsidy.
- Education benefits: Tuition reimbursement up to $10,500/year for approved programs and student loan payment reimbursement up to $4,800/year. Up to $5,250 of qualifying education benefits can be reimbursed pre-tax.
