Position: Grant Manager
Organization: 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, ~$100M
Job type: contract-to-hire (candidate must be currently available)
Location: NW Washington, DC, 1 to 2 days in-office

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Grant Manager to join our grants administration team. This is a new position created to elevate the grant function and provide strategic leadership in securing funding for our six research programs. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring financial sustainability and propelling our research endeavors forward.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full grant lifecycle, from pre-award prospecting and proposal development to post-award administration and compliance reporting (with a focus on post-award).
• Oversee a concurrent review process involving grants administration, ensuring all grants meet internal vetting standards before accepting.
• Partner with Workday specialists to set up awarded grants and extract key details for accurate setup (checklists and manuals provided).
• Lead the grant prospecting efforts, actively identifying funding opportunities aligned with our research programs’ needs.
• Cultivate relationships with a diverse donor pool consisting primarily of family and private foundations (85%), with some federal, foreign government, and corporate funders.
• Champion the pursuit of federal funding, leveraging your experience to navigate the application process while mitigating concerns about paperwork burden.
• Act as a liaison between funders and scholars, effectively communicating research activities and aligning them with funding priorities.
• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment. Train and develop current staff, potentially shifting roles and responsibilities to automate tasks and reduce daily data entry.
• Assume a more advisory and educational role for the team, empowering them to take ownership and reduce administrative burden.
• Meticulously review and manage grant agreements, ensuring adherence to complex terms and conditions (high volume throughout the year, with peak season in June/July/August).
• Work independently with minimal supervision, while remaining a vocal advocate for the grants team and its initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in grants administration, with a strong post-award focus.
• Proven experience managing grants from diverse funders, experience with federal funding is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Excel, comfortably use functions like concatenate, goal seek, pivot tables, and lookups.
• Experience working with grant management software (Workday a plus).
• A passion for research and a commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and open communication.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (targeting $85,000)
• Hybrid work model (1-2 days in-office, with Wednesdays as a departmental meeting day, potentially shifting to Tuesdays)
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on the organization's research efforts
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Comprehensive benefits package (details to be provided upon request)

Why Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to lead a growing and dynamic grants team at a research-focused organization. You will play a critical role in securing the resources needed to propel our research programs forward. We are committed to investing in your professional development and creating a work environment that fosters creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

If you are a highly motivated and results-oriented individual with a passion for grants administration and research, we encourage you to apply!

Job Type: Contract

Pay: Up to $85,000.00 per year

Experience level:

• 4 years

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• Hybrid work
• Office

Experience:

• grant administration: 4 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Washington, DC 20036 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20036