Subawards Specialist

The International Republican Institute (IRI) advances democracy and freedom. We link people with their governments, support politicians to be responsive to citizens, and motivate those citizens to engage in the political process.

At IRI, every employee plays a crucial role in advancing our mission across the globe. We’re looking for passionate individuals who embody our Core Values and are eager to contribute to our dynamic team. Our values include:

• Respect: We lead with trust, empathy, and dignity; empowering colleagues and partners.
• Teamwork: We collaborate across teams;solve problemstogether;are humble and ready to learn.
• Ownership: We take initiative; champion solutions; deliver results for IRI’s mission.
• Excellence through Execution: We balance thoughtfulness with timeliness; learn from results; prioritize progress over perfection.
• Transparency: We share information openly; give direct feedback; build trust through honest communication.
• Freedom: Weare empowered to make decisions, trynew approaches, and adapt as needed.

The Subawards Specialist supports the timely, accurate, and compliant administration of IRI subawards throughout the full award life cycle. The position serves as the subaward focal point at IRI, taking ownership for preparing, reviewing and processing subaward packages. This includes drafting agreements and modifications, conducting required compliance and risk reviews, maintaining complete award files and tracking records, and proactively coordinating with program, finance, procurement, and partner staff to identify and resolve documentation issues.

The Specialist also reviews subaward financial reports, invoices, reimbursement requests, and milestone payment documentation, providing clear and proactive solutions when necessary to support accurate and timely payment processing. The role provides practical guidance to staff and subrecipients and helps ensure that subawards comply with donor requirements, IRI policies, agreement terms, and applicable federal regulations.

This position is located in Washington, DC. The Subawards Specialist is expected to work in-office at least three days per week.

• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with IRI regional and program teams, Finance, Procurement, the Project Delivery Team, other internal stakeholders, and subrecipient organizations.
• Proactively provide responsive guidance and hands-on support to IRI staff and subrecipients regarding subaward package requirements, billing documentation, agreement terms, reporting obligations, and compliance expectations.
• Support training and the development of tools, templates, job aids, and standard procedures for subaward administration and billing.
• Balance customer service with consistent enforcement of donor, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Serve as focal point for subawards at IRI, taking ownership for ensuring subawards are conceptualized, executed, monitored and closed efficiently, effectively and compliantly.
• Review subaward application and award packages for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and compliance with the solicitation, approved program design, donor requirements, and IRI policies.
• Review and provide specific, solution-oriented feedback on project descriptions, deliverables, performance periods, budgets, budget narratives, indirect cost treatment, and payment structures.
• Confirm required due diligence and supporting documentation, including organizational information, registrations, certifications and representations, risk documentation, banking information, and other required forms.
• Coordinate subrecipient pre-award reviews and risk assessments; documentidentifiedrisks and ensure required mitigation measures, special conditions, or monitoring requirements are incorporated into the award.
• Draft subaward agreements and modifications using approved IRI templates, incorporating the final scope of work, budget, reporting requirements, applicable terms and conditions, mandatory flow-down provisions, special conditions, and risk-mitigation actions.
• Facilitate internal review and approval of subawards and modifications, confirm funding andrequiredapprovals, route documents for signature, and support award issuance and funds release.
• Communicate with IRI staff and…