Grants Administrator

About Think Small

Since 1971, Think Small®has been dedicated to raising the standard of care of Minnesota’s children. Pioneered in Saint Paul by community volunteers concerned about the lack of affordable, organized and accessible early childhood care and education in a rapidly changing workforce, Think Small was founded on the principal that the quality of a child’s early experiences greatly influences his or her success later in life. This principal has remained relevant throughout the past four decades and has inspired our agency’s growth from a community-based grassroots organization to a full service agency supporting families and early childhood professionals.

Work Location: Hybrid (Wed/Thu onsite), must live in Twin Cities area to be considered.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Review, process, award applicants
• Process reimbursement requests
• Communicate, respond to inquiries, and follow up with educators, programs, and stakeholders to provide support and resolve documentation issues
• Manage order returns/exchanges as needed
• Monitor compliance with program policies, rules and procedures 
• Maintain database and files of participating early childhood programs
• Collaborate with marketing to implement marketing plans and outreach efforts
• Recruit Regional Advisory Grant Committee members
• Plan, coordinate and conduct informational sessions
• Timely, engaged participation in meetings
• Prepare reports as required
• Provide cross-coverage and support to team members as needed, including during high-volume periods and staff absences
• Perform other duties as assigned 

Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills) 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood family education, family support, human services or a related field and one year experience
• or Associate’s degree in child development, early childhood family education, family support, human services or a related field; CDA and two years’ experience 
• Other childcare experience will be considered as well. 

Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with consistent follow-through
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Attention to detail and accuracy in processing applications, reimbursements, and documentation
• Ability to work well independently as well as with a team 
• Experience with database management  

Licenses and Other Requirements 

• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and proof of insurance for metro-area travel
• Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required
• Occasional travel outside of the 7-county metro (e.g., St. Cloud) 

Physical & Work Environment Requirements 

• This position is mostly sedentary with occasional demands to walk and stand
• There are occasional requirements to lift up to 20 pounds
• There is frequent keyboarding, computer use and communicating via phone, email, and in person