Senior Lead, Grant Compliance, Reporting and Audit Readiness

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage recurring grant reporting activities across active broadband grant programs, including reporting calendars, submission checklists, templates, and internal deadlines.
• Review, validate, and organize supporting documentation, performance metrics, milestone evidence, and records required for grant reporting and compliance submissions.
• Lead audit readiness activities, including evidence retention standards, documentation controls, organized file structures, response support, and corrective action tracking.
• Interpret grant reporting and compliance requirements and translate them into practical internal procedures, workflows, and control checks.
• Serve as the primary cross-functional interface with Construction and related operating teams for build status, milestone support, and other documentation required to satisfy reporting and compliance obligations.
• Partner with the reimbursement Senior Lead on ARPA closeout deliverables, BEAD startup requirements, and other activities where reporting and reimbursement obligations intersect.
• Direct contractor work supporting reporting preparation, documentation gathering, record management, compliance file organization, and related compliance support activities, including NEPA documentation support.
• Identify reporting, compliance, and audit risks, and escalate issues requiring leadership awareness or intervention.
• Develop, maintain, and improve standard operating procedures, templates, checklists, and documentation controls for recurring compliance work.
• Support responses to agency inquiries, audits, monitoring requests, and closeout requirements by ensuring records are complete, accessible, and well organized.
• Monitor deadlines and deliverables across multiple grant programs to ensure timely and accurate completion of reporting and compliance obligations.
• May perform other duties as assigned. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.  

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5–7 years of experience in grant compliance, regulatory reporting, audit support, risk management, program controls, or related compliance-focused functions.
• Experience supporting high-volume, deadline-driven work in a regulated environment required.
• Compliance-related certifications are strongly preferred.   Skills & Competencies:
• Strong knowledge of grant reporting, compliance documentation, audit readiness, and records management practices.
• Ability to interpret external program requirements and operationalize them into repeatable internal processes and controls.
• Strong documentation discipline, quality control, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Adobe.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Effective cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to drive accountability across operational partners.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and issue escalation skills.
• Ability to review detailed supporting records and determine documentation sufficiency, accuracy, and completeness.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to remain calm, organized, and effective under recurring deadline pressure. Preferred
• Experience in broadband, telecommunications, infrastructure, or government-funded program environments.
• Experience with state or federal broadband grant programs, including reporting, compliance, and audit requirements.
• Experience with ARPA, BEAD, or similar public funding programs.
• Experience designing and implementing SOPs, templates, checklists, and documentation controls for recurring compliance processes.
• Experience supporting closeout activities, agency reviews, or audit response coordination. Physical Demands & Work Conditions:
• Standard business hours apply; additional hours may be required periodically to meet reporting deadlines, audit requests, or program closeout needs. #LI-RW1 WHY JOIN US? We aspire to contemporary ways of working. Recognized as a Top Workplace by the Charlotte Observer, Brightspeed HQ is located on the 7th floor of the new Vantage South End - East Tower in Charlotte, NC. We prioritize hiring talent in the Charlotte area, whenever possible, to make it a truly vibrant destination for our hybrid workforce. At Brightspeed, we have roles that are designated as remote, hybrid, office or field-based, depending on the position, business needs and individual circumstances. We also invest in technology that enables our entire team to stay connected. Why? Because Brightspeed recognizes the value of finding the best talent for the job, wherever they may be. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. Our benefits and paid time off programs reflect our underlying belief in promoting overall wellness through physical, emotional and financial health. Brightspeed offers a comprehensive benefit program, including competitive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; an employee assistance program; a 401K plan with company match and a host of voluntary benefits.  Inclusion and belonging are at the center of our grounding belief in Being Real.  When we bring our authentic selves to work, everyone is better as a result. A diverse team helps us be fierce advocates for more accessible, inclusive and high-quality internet, because we believe doing so promotes equity in the communities we serve. Brightspeed