Manager, Compliance & Finance (Government Climate Projects)

At San Diego Foundation, we value our diverse and experienced staff who are committed to our mission of improving the quality of life within all of San Diego’s communities. We strive to be an employer of choice, offering a competitive compensation package, and a professional and vibrant work environment for those who have a passion for our mission that is carried out every day by providing leadership for effective philanthropy and promoting community solutions.  

San Diego Foundation is seeking an experienced, mission driven Compliance & Finance Manager with a focus in Government Climate Projects to join the Environment Initiative Team. The Manager will commit to supporting RICCE specific task outlined in the essential responsibilities as they advance RICCE in alignment with EI’s priorities and SDF’s greater Strategic Plan. The ideal candidate will drive grant administration, financial reporting and payment processing and compliance for the RICCE project and community partners. This is a hybrid role with weekly onsite requirements at our San Diego Headquarter Office in Liberty Station. 

Note: This role is structured as a five-year term, contingent on the continuation of external funding.

About The RICCE Opportunity 

Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity (RICCE) is a set of 14 projects and plans, led by 14 community partners, in the central historic barrios of San Diego. In 2023, San Diego Foundation (SDF) along with all 14 partners applied for and was awarded $22 million in Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) funding from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council. In 2024, SDF and select RICCE partners applied for and were selected to receive an additional $20 million in Community Change Grant (CCG) funding from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Between both government grants, the RICCE projects will result in ~$42 million in grant investment in the project area plus additional leveraged dollars, totaling over $70 million in investment.  

The RICCE projects will transform the underinvested communities of San Diego’s central historic barrios. These projects will reduce emissions, improve public health and environment and expand economic opportunity for people in communities who have endured years of systematic racism through unfair land use policies and industrialization. RICCE has the potential to improve the quality of life in communities affected by years of injustice and change the way San Diego approaches community investment.  

Area of Focus:   
The 8 communities of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman, Southcrest and Shelltown are some of San Diego’s oldest communities and are included in California's 14 Cultural Districts. Residents in these communities have long suffered disproportionately from air pollution sources including surrounding port terminals, large shipyards, San Diego Naval Station, the I-5 and 1-15 freeways, the Coronado Bridge, the BNSF railyard, as well as smaller industries within the residential community itself. The neighborhoods are in the 95th percentile across California for housing burden (paying greater than 50% of their income for housing) and have high numbers of renters (over 70%) which limits the ability of residents to build equity.   

RICCE Project Description:  

For more information on the projects within the RICCE partnership, please visit:  Historic Barrios Application (environmentalhealth.org)  

Requirements

Essential Responsibilities: 

Grant Administration  

• Manage all operational and administrative aspects of government grants.  

• Manage government grant funds, supporting state and federal funding processes such as reimbursements and advanced pay requests, compliance and reporting.  

• Manage and coordinate with SDF internal financial, grants and compliance teams for government grants during the entirety of the grant term.  

• Develop and maintain electronic filing system for grant documents, including contracts, payment requests and supporting documentation, and communications.   

• Train partners on invoicing and reporting procedures and assist partners with preparation of invoices and supporting documentation for each invoicing period.  

Payment Requests  

• Manage all receivables and payables for government grants and associated tracking processes.  

• Collect all documentation and prepare and submit payment requests, including reimbursement requests and advance pay requests.   

• Ensure that all expenses charged to government grants are reasonable, allocable and allowable and meet all grant eligibility requirements.  

• Manage and verify all partner invoices and supporting documentation. Submit partner payments to accounts payable team for processing.  

Reporting  

• Manage all required reports, including partner check-ins, written reports and annual financial performance reports.  

• Track all reporting deadlines and ensure all partners meet all deadlines.  

• Monitor, collect and report on grant deliverables, outcomes and outputs.  

Compliance  

• Monitor and ensure all federal and state requirements are being met both internally and by subrecipients, including procurement, Build America Buy America, and Davis Bacon. This will include monthly check-ins and routine site visits.  

• Work closely with all RICCE partners and subrecipients to ensure that each grant is implemented in accordance with the grant requirements and the stated grant guidelines.  

• Maintain accurate, detailed records in preparation for annual audits and assist with annual audit preparation.  

• Ensure compliance with all SDF policies and procedures and grant agreement and sub-agreement terms and conditions.  

• Conduct annual inventory for all grant partners for items purchased with grant funds.  

• Assist SDF and partners in preparing for annual audits of grant funds.  

• Additional Responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Director 

Qualifications: 

• 3 years of experience administering government grants, including payment requests, compliance and reporting.  

• 5 years of relevant experience, preferably in a foundation or nonprofit organization.  

• Passion for the work and mission of San Diego Foundation to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.  

• Demonstrated track record in developing and utilizing administrative organizational systems with attention to detail, timeliness, finances, and record keeping.  

• Experience with budgeting, monitoring and reporting requirements of state and/or federal funding programs.  

• Demonstrated organization, time, and project management skills. Ability to “right size” projects to successfully prioritize multiple projects and meet deliverables and deadlines.  

• Communicate effectively and clearly with multiple diverse partners to meet deadlines and reporting requirements.  

• Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, forecasting and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  

• Advanced knowledge and proficiency with computer software applications: Microsoft Office Suite, database/contact management, software experience, and data visualization software experience preferred.  

• Broad knowledge of climate change concepts (such as transportation, clean energy, building electrification, air quality, etc.) and how they are relevant to local communities, particularly high risk, underserved, frontline communities.  

• Ability to analyze financial data and prepare financial reports, statements, and projections.  

• Interdisciplinary, analytical, and critical thinking skills with a problem-solving approach  

• Experience in a public-facing work environment.  

• Resiliency, dedication and commitment to the cause while working in a challenging political environment  

• Must live in San Diego County 

Language Skills: 

• Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently  

• Bilingual in Spanish a bonus  

Work Environment & Physical Demands: 

• Professional, hybrid work environment in San Diego 

• Fast-paced work with multi-level distractions 

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time at meetings, desk, computer, driving 

• Ability to sit at a desk and view a computer screen for up to two hours 

• Ability to type using a computer keyboard 

• Ability to speak into and use a telephone 

Benefits

• Salaried, Exempt $85,000.00 - $90,000.00  (San Diego Foundation is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will be reflective of qualifications, skills and experience, internal equity, alignment with market data, among other relevant factors. )
• Supportive, inclusive company culture; awarded Top Workplace by the San Diego Union Tribune 5 years in a row  

• Flexible 9/80 Alternative workweek schedule, with every other Friday off  

• Hybrid work environment with support for at home office setup  

• 100% Employer paid medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D and long-term disability premiums; 75% Employer-paid premiums for all dependents on your benefits  

• 403B Retirement plan match up to 4% + Annual discretionary contribution  

• Earned Incentive Program  

• 3 weeks of paid time off + 1 additional week off with pay in July for all staff  

• 4-week sabbatical for every 5 years of service  

• 13 paid holidays + 2 paid volunteer days off each year  

• Extended Health Care Time accruing at 2.77 hours per pay period to a cap of 480 hours: use for sick time, family care, and parental leave baby bonding  

• $100 monthly cell and internet reimbursement  

• $75 quarterly gym reimbursement  

• Donor Advised Fund contribution with no minimum and $600 annual match from the Foundation to a nonprofit of your choice  

• Annual service award $100 donation to nonprofit of your choice    

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.