Director of Grants Development

Description

About Operation Food Search:

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.

Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.

Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.

Our Goals Are To

• Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.
• Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
• Champion change through advocacy, innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.
  
  

For more information about OFS, please visit our website at www.operationfoodsearch.org.

Position Summary

Operation Food Search is looking for a passionate and experienced Director of Grants to manage a portfolio of $3 million in grant funding annually to support OFS’s emergency food, mobile farmers market, community nutrition, food as medicine programs, and other initiatives. The Director of Grants reports to the Chief Development Officer, supervises a Grants Specialist, and works closely with programs, leadership, and other development staff. The position requires a blend of strategic planning, grant writing expertise, financial acumen, and leadership skills to effectively manage the grant-seeking process and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

Essential Functions

Lead the Grants Cycle

• Collaborating with staff to develop grant revenue projections annually during budget planning, tracking, researching, writing and submitting grant applications and reports, managing stewardship, creating grant budgets, monitoring grant compliance, outcomes, and deliverables, and submitting reports and reimbursement requests.
  
  

Grants Development

• Working across OFS departments, provide strategic leadership to identify, cultivate, and develop grant relationships in support of OFS program priorities:
• Conduct research to vet the applicability of new funding opportunities to OFS programs and outreach to funding agency staff to discuss funding program interests.
• Lead development of grant funding strategies for complex projects.
• Develop engagement strategies to grow organization revenue from a grant portfolio of corporate, foundation, and government donors through participation in program meetings and periodic individual program strategy meetings. Annually, this includes mid-summer establishment of grant funding priorities among leadership/program staff prior to completion of the coming year program budgets, which supports development of an overall OFS grant funding strategy with proposal and report timelines and prospect cultivation targets.
• Collaborate with development staff to engage new and existing corporate, foundation, and institutional partners to enhance relationships through grants, events sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, and in-kind donations.
• Gather information and support leadership in making recommendations for improving grantmaking processes, including identifying issues and implementing approved changes.
  
  

Grant Proposal and Report Writing

• Manage the lifecycle of funding proposals and reports, ensuring timely submissions at each step.
• Funders include private foundations, corporations, and local, state, and federal government entities.
• Manage production and/or assembly of associated documents, including preparation of grant budgets, outcome forms, donor lists, receipts, data collection, etc.
  
  

Grants Management

• Work with Grants Specialist to track grants, reports, contracts, and awards in grants software, create a grant response database, and assist in keeping it timely and relevant.
• Communicate details of grant awards with associated program, finance, and development staff toward appropriate and timely funds expenditure and reporting.
• Coordinate with program staff periodically about upcoming proposals/reports; Chief Financial Officer about budget development/actual expenses; and Data Strategy Manager to compile program-related goals and actual outcomes data.
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, and Program team members to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures governing grants and sponsored programs, including federal and state guidelines, and oversee the timely submission of required reports, documentation, and reimbursement requests.
• Supports OFS in government grant audits.
  
  

Stewardship

• Partner with the Chief Development Officer, senior management, and communications staff to lead corporate, foundation, and government stewardship, including cultivation meetings, social/media recognition, verbiage for acknowledgement letters, and mid-year follow up as appropriate to provide additional stewardship touches.
  
  

Staff Supervision

• Hire, train, motivate, supervise, and complete annual performance reviews for the Grant Specialist.
  
  

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s Degree and Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and/or Grants Professional Certification (GPC) credentials are strong pluses
• A minimum of 10 years of experience with increasing responsibilities in research, writing, and grants management for non-profit organizations
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strategic thinking with the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects and deadlines independently with purpose and accuracy under tight deadlines
• Clear, precise, and compelling writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to write successful grant proposals and develop budgets
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport, communicate persuasively, and negotiate effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Detail-oriented, organized, deadline-driven
• Strong knowledge of St. Louis area foundations and corporations
• Experience in using a customer relationship management (CRM) system is required
• Strong computer skills with MS Office
  
  

Special Requirements

• Occasional travel required for meetings, events, and conferences
• Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after-hours or weekend activities
• Willingness to volunteer for other OFS duties that don’t fall under regular job duties
  
  

Working Conditions And Physical Demands

• Sedentary inside office work with limited exposure to weather conditions
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors
  
  

Benefits – FT Positions

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• HRA and FSA
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Vacation and sick time, paid holidays
• Short and long-term disability income
• Company paid term life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary employee paid term life and AD&D insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Wellness support
• Potential for student loan forgiveness, if qualified
  
  

To Apply: Please submit your application and include your resume and cover letter

Location: 1644 Lotsie Blvd., Overland, MO 63132

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.