Position Summary: The Funding Specialist will assist Finley clients with the application process for various funding programs, including grants, loans, tax credit programs, and other funding mechanisms. Our clients are predominantly in the telecommunications, broadband, and energy industries. Each program will have specific program requirements pre-application, during the application process, and post-award, including grant closeout, reporting, and compliance. This role will be responsible for understanding the specific application requirements for each program and managing the application process and contents of the application according to those requirements.

The Funding Specialist will report to the Manager, Funding Solutions and will routinely interact with Finley clients to organize, facilitate, and execute action items related to the specific program being utilized. The Funding Specialist will manage the funding project’s workflow, coordinate regular meetings with the client and colleagues at Finley, create narratives, gather required data, conduct project tracking, facilitate reporting as needed, and manage post-award support activities. This position will have the opportunity to be cross-trained in managing other consulting projects on an as-needed basis and as funding workflow permits.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Review and fully understand the specific application requirements for each program and manage the application process and contents of the application according to those requirements.
• Compiles necessary information for the funding application process through collaboration with other employees, database research, and other fact-finding actions and meetings.
• Understands and tracks grant requirements meeting deliverable due dates.
• Conducts structured meetings with the client to facilitate workflow related to funding opportunity deliverables.
• Drafts and completes funding applications according to application requirements, including narratives and other internal and external communications.
• Ensures application is submitted on time and within application parameters.
• Completes all documents, forms, or reports the funding program requires.
• Coordinates the monitoring and evaluation of funded projects.
• Develops and maintains electronic master files and paperwork on funding requests made on behalf of the client.
• Provide customer service activities with the client between funding cycles to ensure compliance with existing funded areas and to assist the client in being well-prepared for future funding opportunities.
• Serve as project leader and cross-trained to manage other lines of effort for the consulting clients.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Associate degree in a related field OR high school diploma combined with directly related experience.
• Two (2) years of experience seeking funding assistance from government and/or non-profit organizations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Extremely organized and meticulous with details, including meeting or exceeding prescribed deadlines.
• Understanding of effective grant writing techniques.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize work and resources.
• Ability to interpret financial data into a narrative format, review project budgets for completeness, and prepare reports that will include financial information associated with the project.
• Ability to be discreet with business proprietary and client-specific confidential information that may be needed for some funding programs.
• Understanding Federal, State, and Local funding sources and locating potential sources for funding.
• Understanding funding program details and the associated procedures for the applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience in grant writing.
• Environmental narrative development experience.
• Demonstratable experience in telecommunications, broadband, or energy sectors.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors:

• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Most assignments are performed in an office type environment.

Work Location (Office, Field, Hybrid, Remote):

• Remote with a preference to work within 100 miles of a Finley regional office. Associates must have access to reliable internet speeds, with a minimum of 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps download and 30 to 100 Mbps upload.

Travel:

• Intermittent travel may be required for professional development, conferences, and meeting in person with Finley’s Client Services leaders and clients of significance (up to 15% of the time).