What are the responsibilities and job description for the Grants Manager position at National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation?
Grants Manager
About the Job
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Grants Manager is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing grant opportunities to support the Museum’s operations, programs, capital projects, and strategic initiatives. Day-to-day responsibilities include researching potential funders, keeping grant calendars and deadlines, coordinating internal grants meetings, preparing high-quality proposals and reports, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements. The Grants Manager will collaborate closely with leadership and program staff to align funding requests with organizational priorities, track grant budgets and outcomes, and maintain accurate documentation. The role also involves building and sustaining relationships with foundations, government agencies, and other funding partners, and contributing to long-term resource development strategies.
What We’re Looking For
- 3–5 years of experience in grant writing and management (government grant experience a plus).
- Grants Administration Skills, including managing grant cycles, tracking deliverables, and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
- Strong Analytical Skills to interpret guidelines, assess funding opportunities, analyze data, and monitor program and budget performance.
- Proposal Writing Experience, including drafting narratives, budgets, and supporting materials tailored to diverse funding sources.
- Excellent Communication Skills (written, verbal and listening) to collaborate with internal teams and engage effectively with funders and partners.
· Strong writing, storytelling, and project management skills.
- Program Management abilities to coordinate funded projects, align activities with grant objectives, and document outcomes and impact.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Communications, History, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Prior experience in grants management or fundraising within museums, cultural institutions, education, or nonprofit organizations is preferred.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle multiple deadlines and work independently in a hybrid environment.
- Familiarity with CRM or grant management software and proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and standard office productivity tools.
Success in this role requires someone who is collaborative, attentive to detail, organized, pro-active, resourceful in problem solving, curious, personable, and can prioritize and work on multiple deadlines.
About the Museum
The National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation is the birthplace of American railroading, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. This is an exciting time to join the Museum. Located at the historic Mt. Clare Shops of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first common carrier railroad in the U.S. chartered in 1827, we have a world-class collection, a robust and engaged board, and small and dynamic staff actively preparing for the 200th Anniversary of American Railroading in 2027. We are forward-thinking and committed to community impact. We have an innovative workforce development program on our 40-acre campus in West Baltimore and are actively expanding our educational and sensory inclusive programs.
The Museum offers competitive benefits as well as free, onsite, secure parking, and a hybrid work environment.
Submit resume and cover letter to HR2@NationalRailroad.org.