Vital Strategies is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, overdose prevention, environmental health, vital statistics systems building and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment research. Our programs are primarily concentrated in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific; the Overdose Prevention Program is our first initiative in the U.S. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.
Vital Strategies is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) organization. We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws.
Read about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Vital Strategies: https://www.vitalstrategies.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-vital-strategies/
Job Purpose:
This position will serve two critical roles at Vital Strategies: the management of Vital’s global organizational budget and reforecast process and the point person to prepare and/or manage all Vital cost proposals including the support of grants managers or country finance managers on program specific proposals, as well as the finance lead for new organizational initiatives.
This is a full-time position, based in our New York office (where a hybrid, 2-day-per-week office schedule is in place). We offer highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $125,000-$135,000 USD. The candidate must have authorization to work legally in the US at the time of hire.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Budget –
· Manage the annual budget process for the organization including, but not limited to working with technical project teams and operations support teams (finance, contracts, HR) to develop annual budgets.
· Serve as budget advisor to departments with unrestricted budgets providing analysis, forecasting, and reports as needed.
· Collaborate with the CFAO, SVP Finance, Global Finance Deputy Director to set budget goals, targets, and constraints.
· Lead annual global and reforecast budget launch and training sessions including preparation of timelines, communications, training content, session invites.
· Review and consolidate budget and reforecast divisional/Vital offices’ submissions, follow-up with grants managers, Global Director, and Finance leadership with issues.
· Establish standards and procedures to guide the administration of organizational budgeting and recommend strategies to optimize organization’s budget processes.
· Develop annual NICRA package for submission.
· Respond to budget-related requests from Senior Leadership Team and team managers/directors.
· Monitor spending patterns and implement measures to promote adherence to budgets.
· Formulate and develop departmental and organizational budgets
· Budget System Administration & User Support
- Work with grants management, finance and IT team in the implementation of the budgeting software.
- Work with SVP Finance, IT and other departments on integration of Net Suite and Budgeting software with other software.
- Serve as Vena (budget and reforecast system) key administrator, maintain data integrity
- Liaise with Vital IT and Vena consultants to resolve technical issues and explore new features or modules
- Update and prepare system input templates for contributors
Cost Proposal –
· Serve as financial point person for all Vital proposals.
· Work closely with Partnerships and Development division on budget and related documents for all proposal submissions.
· Provides financial information for business development/fundraising purposes and restricted funds as requested.
· Spearhead the creation of comprehensive cost proposals thoroughly incorporating all financial components such as labor, materials, overhead, and indirect costs.
· Conduct financial analysis to ensure precision and competitiveness of cost proposals. Utilize data, market insights, and industry benchmarks to inform pricing strategies as well as collaborate with other Operations’ departments for costs.
· Identify financial risks inherent in cost proposals, such as pricing fluctuations, currency risks, and regulatory shifts. Recommend mitigation strategies to address identified risks.
· Scrutinize and validate cost proposals to ensure adherence to internal policies, client specifications, and regulatory standards. Secure approvals from pertinent stakeholders per organizational protocols.
· Review all new and renewal donor budget proposals for accuracy, reasoning, and compliance with donor requirements.
· Maintain detailed documentation of cost proposal particulars, assumptions, and justifications.
· Maintain database of Vital financial documents typically required for proposal submissions.
· Offer actionable recommendations for process refinement and best practices adoption cost proposal process including enhancement of processes, tools, and methodologies to optimize
efficiency, accuracy, and competitiveness.
Qualifications and Skills:
Education and Degree –
· Minimally Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in Business, Finance, Accounting or related field.
Skills and Abilities –
· Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent independent judgement and initiative. Ability to independently manage a robust workload.
· Strong analytical, critical thinking, problem solving and organizational skills with precise attention to detail and accuracy.
· Advanced in MS Excel including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and Data Tables with experience using ad hoc query tools and other financial applications.
· Adept at leading and advancing projects and bringing forward new ideas. Skilled at creating and enhancing processes and proposing improvements to budget process, cost proposals and systems.
· Strong communication skills, including giving presentations and writing and editing reports, summary memoranda.
· Able to communicate complex issues with varied audiences in a clear and credible manner.
· Provide leadership and coordination to those involved in budgeting and cost proposals.
· Active listening skills, with the ability to synthesize feedback and information from various stakeholders.
· Ability to build strong, ongoing, impactful relationships at all organizational levels and across a diverse range of cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational, and social backgrounds.
· Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
· Strong, time and project management skills in order to coordinate effectively and efficiently the completion of multiple ongoing or long-term projects while simultaneously executing on day-to-day departmental operations.
· Knowledge of US government guidelines for proposals
· Ability to work on federal and non-federal proposal budgets independently.
Experience:
· Minimum of 10 years work experience with minimally six years of relevant experience including working for a non-profit in a global context
· Experience working on US Federal proposals.
· Demonstrated experience in managing an organizational budget process.
· Three years of prior project management work experience.
· Experience providing technical assistance and capacity building support in building budgeting competence.
· Experience in working with global teams on multiple time zones.
· Prior experience at analyzing financial and other statistical data and assessing viability to receive and manage funding.
· Experience developing proposals for European funders a plus.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
· Ability and willingness to work in various time zones as needed due to nature of work.
· Willingness to work in hybrid work environment with minimally 2 days per week in office.
· Periodic evening and weekend work as proposal deadlines dictate
How to apply
Please apply through the Vital Strategies Careers page on our website, or by using the link below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The position will remain open until filled.
