Crowder College - Director of Grants & Strategic Initiatives

Position Summary

The Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives provides institutional leadership in advancing Crowder College's mission by aligning external funding opportunities, strategic partnerships, and cross-functional initiatives with the College's strategic priorities, fostering collaboration among faculty, staff, administrators, and community stakeholders to strengthen academic programs, student success, workforce development, and community impact.

This position leads the development, acquisition, administration, and compliance of a diverse portfolio of grants while ensuring the successful implementation and stewardship of grant-funded projects. In addition, the Director assists the President in the coordination, development, implementation, monitoring, and assessment of the College's strategic plan to advance institutional priorities and measure progress toward strategic goals. This position requires a collaborative leader with strong communication, organizational, and project management skills who can align external resources with institutional priorities.

Essential Job Duties

• Identify potential grant opportunities aligned with the community college's strategic priorities.
• Prepare, submit, and oversee grant applications, progress reports, financial reports, and required documentation while ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Establish and maintain relationships with funding agencies, foundations, and other relevant organizations.
• Oversee the successful implementation of awarded grants, adhering to all grant conditions and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate with program directors and staff to ensure effective use of grant funds and timely achievement of project goals.
• Monitor grant budgets and expenditures, maintaining accurate records and financial reports.
• Conduct regular evaluations to assess the impact and effectiveness of grant-funded programs.
• Stay up-to-date with relevant regulations and policies related to grant funding, ensuring the college's adherence to all compliance requirements.
• Work closely with the college's finance and accounting departments to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to identify funding opportunities, develop competitive grant proposals, and align external funding with institutional priorities.
• Lead the implementation, monitoring, and periodic revision of the College's Strategic Plan in collaboration with executive leadership.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness to maintain a strategic planning framework that includes measurable objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and monitoring of continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide recommendations regarding the alignment of grant opportunities with the College's mission, strategic plan, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Facilitate communication and information sharing between various college departments involved in grant projects.
• Promote a culture of grant awareness and engagement among faculty and staff.
• Coordinate management and communication related to the college’s strategic plan with the Executive leadership team.
• Assist with the evaluation of progress on strategic plan items as well as resources needed to achieve strategic priorities.
• Stay current with best practices in grants management, attending workshops, conferences, and networking events.
• Share knowledge and expertise with colleagues to enhance the college's overall grants management capabilities.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as business administration, public administration, education, or a related area. A Master's degree is preferred.
• Proven experience in grant acquisition and management, or project management, preferably in a higher educational or non-profit setting.
• Strong understanding of the grant application process, grant compliance, and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and management of strategic planning and processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive and compelling grant proposals.
• Ability to translate institutional priorities into measurable goals, action plans, and performance metrics.
• Ability to prepare executive reports, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership and governing boards.
• Knowledge of budgeting and institutional planning processes.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating organizational-wide initiatives.
• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities, with an eye for detail and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical skills, including budget management and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships with funding agencies, community partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Familiarity with relevant grant databases, resources, and tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and data visualization, project management, and grant management software.
• Experience using enterprise information systems and data reporting tools is preferred.
• Understanding of and commitment to the community college philosophy and mission.
  
  

Preferred Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the Higher Learning Commission’s accrediting standards.
• Skill in using data to make informed decisions.
  
  

Information Technology Abilities

• Operate standard office equipment such as computers, copiers, and telephones.
• Ability to perform computer functions, including email, word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation functions.
• Ability to understand campus-wide computer systems, programs, and network structures.
• Expertise with computer information systems and capabilities, including database design, management and spreadsheet applications.
• Ability to use a variety of grant portal interface tools for grant application, reporting, and compliance.
  
  

Positions Supervised

• Grant funded staff, as needed.
  
  

Working Environment

• Generally, indoors in a normal office environment with minimal exposure to temperature changes, noise, dust or chemicals.
• Normal college working hours but adjustment of hours involving evening and/or weekend work will be required from time to time.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• A neat appearance and appropriate business-like apparel are required.
  
  

Physical

• Sedentary work involving sitting part of the time, but will involve mobility within the office, campus, and external locations.
• Input and access information-using computers.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  
  

Creative And Analytical Skills

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to devise or modify methods or processes to solve specific problems.
• Ability to work with and apply mathematical concepts.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical and statistical material.
  
  

Language/Communication Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people, including employees, students, parents of students and the general public.
• Ability to read and understand technical journals, financial reports, and similar publications.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions.
• CROWDER COLLEGE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, INTERPRET, OR APPLY THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN ANY WAY THE INSTITUTION DESIRES. THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES, INCLUDING ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES, TO BE PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE OCCUPYING THIS POSITION. THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IS NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE. THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP REMAINS “AT-WILL.” THE AFOREMENTIONED POSITION REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY.