Grants Manager
About Us:
We are the Uniters. We bring people together to solve problems. We identify the most pressing issues in our community and we bring together the people we think can solve them. United Way funds agencies that, working together, can address the nuances of complex problems like homelessness or the academic achievement gap. We create programs and initiatives to fill unmet needs. We deploy volunteers and socially responsible companies as the engines of change and the feet on the street, delivering hope to people in need. We raise funding through generous donors who understand that social change can’t happen without it.
LOCATION: Boston, MA
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Grants Manager is responsible for helping to execute and track against a strategic Grant Development plan aimed at achieving measurable revenue targets, developing and enhancing partnerships with other funders, and achieving desired impact within the community. Major responsibilities include researching and identifying grant prospects, creating and tracking project requirements, deliverables, and deadlines and ensuring that all team members are aware of their milestones and complete them on time. The Manager will establish effective project communication between departments and individuals, maintain knowledge of larger landscape without neglecting granular details, staying alert for risk and resolving issues as they arise.
In order to be successful the Manager must be skilled at developing and cultivating internal relationships across all departments in the organization - including Development, Finance, Marketing and especially our Community Impact Department - and possess an ability to influence colleagues who are not direct reports. In addition, the Manager must have a passion for the work of United Way and the populations served. Must also have a keen interest in continuous learning in order to fully understand the work that we seek grants for and a passion for creating opportunities for people in need.
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS:
- Help carry out a long term strategic grant funding plan to meet specific revenue attainment goals which positions the organization to achieve community impact goals - The Manager, in collaboration with the VP, Strategic Partnerships and Foundation Relations and colleagues across the organization will carry out a clear and actionable grant development plan. The plan will include ways to retain, gain, and grow grant revenue.
- Maintain internal tracking system for all grant deliverables and monitor progress: The Manager will develop and maintain a realistic schedule for pre- and post-grant award deliverables. The Manager will notify team members about deadlines and when deadlines are missed or need to be adjusted. This person will conduct a kickoff meeting for each grant project and consult with team members to understand workload issues. This also includes maintaining information in the Andar and grants management databases to accurately reflect the status of grant proposals and reports at all times.
- Assemble and lead key project team members: The Manager, with the VP, Strategic Partnerships and Foundation Relations will identify the key personnel for pre-award and post-award work, help to assign roles and responsibilities, and maintain frequent contact with staff to ensure everyone is on target to deliver their piece of the grant activity.
- Play an active role in grant development and submission: The Manager will identify and research new grant opportunities aligned with UW’s mission and goals. The Manager will review grant RFP guidelines to ensure that grant writing staff meet all requirements and answer all grant questions. The Manager will compile customized grant templates, proposals, letters and other documentation for UW and maintain inventory of boilerplate language to be used on subsequent applications, creating increased efficiency and consistency within the organization. The Manager will copy edit proposals and review them to ensure they are responsive and meet the RFP requirements for length. The Manager will maintain the grant submission checklist, upload all content into online grant submission portals and check proposals before submission to make sure they are complete and ready to submit.
- Serve as a connection between Community Impact project leads and Grant Finance: The Manager will communicate with CI project staff and grant finance to ensure that UW is in compliance and managing issues and risk associated with each grant. This will include oversight of invoicing, report due dates, sub-grantee and subcontract deliverables, and specific compliance as determined by grant guidelines.
- Perform all administrative duties related to grants: This includes securing all necessary approvals and signatures, tracking through the grant contract process, and collecting attachments, letters of commitment and additional documentation to accompany funding proposals. The Manager will manage timely acknowledgements to funders upon receipt of grant awards; assist with quarterly and annual analysis of grant support success; and maintain all grant files.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Demonstrated aptitude for writing and communicating
- Practical project management knowledge including knowledge of techniques and tools
- Excellent decision-making and communication skills
- Excellent organization skills, including ability to plan, prioritize and coordinate multiple projects
- Ability to meet tight deadlines and move at a fast pace. Willingness to work outside of normal business hours when needed in order to meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to work professionally under pressure
- Superior ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and persuasively in written and verbal format to effectively and efficiently review proposals and reports
- Ability to build and maintain authentic relationships throughout an organization and to work collaboratively across departments with diverse staff
- Ability to quickly learn and retain content knowledge
- Ability to perform research and organize information
- Proficiency with relevant technology (MSOffice – Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Project Management tools, etc.)
- Knowledge of standard written English, including correct grammar and spelling
- Passion for United Way’s Community Impact Work
- Commitment to excellence and to the mission of United Way
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD FORWARD A RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO:
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley,
Human Resources Manager,
51 Sleeper Street, Boston, MA 02210. Fax: 617- 624-9114
For information on additional opportunities, please access our Web Site at www.unitedwaymassbay.org
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is committed to hiring
individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.