Grant Manager

January 2024

A. Position Description

The Grant Manager is crucial in managing and overseeing the organization's federal grants and fee-for-service work. The Grants Manager is also critical in securing and managing funding and directly contributes to SEEA’s sustainability and growth. The position oversees the management of the entire grants process, including partnering with team leads/SMEs on proposal drafting, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, and maintaining relationships with funders. Additionally, the role oversees grant budgets, tracks expenditures, and reports to the head of finance, the President, internal team leads/SMEs, and identified key stakeholders. Strong communication, writing, budgeting, financial, and organizational skills are crucial for success in this role. The ideal candidate will ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and guidelines, maximize the utilization of grant funds, and create transparency around grants with team leads/SMEs and Executive staff to achieve the organization's mission, vision, and goals. This position will report to the Head of Finance.

B. Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Grant Application and Management

• Research, identify, and evaluate federal grant opportunities that align with the organization's goals.
• Stay informed about industry trends, funding opportunities, and changes in grant regulations.
• Support preparation and submission of compelling grant and fee-for-service proposals and applications, ensuring accuracy and adherence to all requirements and alignment with SEEA's mission and goals.
• Update team resumes and all grant proposal submission templates in a user-friendly format to facilitate grant creation.
• Update and maintain federal, foundation, and fee-for-service funding tracker and timeline to ensure all deadlines and deliverables are met. This includes maintaining detailed records of grant applications, awards, funding sources, project leads and all communications (internal and with funders).
• Assist in the development of staff and other budgets in collaboration with SEEA subject matter experts.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with funding agencies and program officers setting update meetings with President and grant leads and working with administrative support staff to schedule calls and meetings.
• Monitor and track grant progress, ensuring timely reporting and compliance with grant terms and conditions and identify tools/resources to automate these processes.
• Mobilize and collaborate with the President, Head of Finance, Executive staff, and grant leads/supporting staff to ensure effective implementation of grant-funded projects.
• Establish internal approvals process for each proposal.

Budgeting and Financial Management

• Work with program managers and finance teams to develop accurate and realistic budgets for grant proposals.
• Manage budgets for grant-funded programs, ensuring proper allocation and utilization of funds throughout the life of the grant.
• Monitor expenditures and financial reports to ensure compliance with grant regulations and full transparency with the President, head of finance and grant leads.
• Prepare financial reports and documentation required for grant audits.

Compliance and Reporting

• Stay updated on federal grant regulations, policies, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with grant guidelines, regulations, and reporting requirements. including documentation, reporting, and record-keeping throughout the grant lifecycle.
• Prepare and submit accurate and timely reports to funding agencies by soliciting information in collaboration with program leads/SMEs and pass-through grantees per grant guidelines.

Grant Performance Evaluation

• Monitor and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of grant-funded programs.
• Collect and analyze data to measure program outcomes and success.
• Identify areas for improvement and make recommendations for proposal process and overall program enhancements.

Key Collaborator

• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with grantors and program partners/stakeholders, including foundations, government agencies, and other funding sources.
• Collaborate and support internal cross-functional teams to gather necessary information for grant applications and reports.
• Assist in management of pass-through funding sources to ensure all partners are on track with grant responsibilities and budget spenddown.
• Provide status updates in team meetings and ensure that the President and head of finance are apprised of all trends, opportunities, and issues across the grant portfolio.
• Some travel required.

C. Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent non-profit grants management experience (e.g., public administration, finance, or nonprofit management).
• Strong experience and demonstrated expertise in federal grant regulations, policies, and procedures preferred; managing/growing diverse funding portfolios including federal/foundation grants and fee-for-service awards.
• Significant experience in grant writing, application development, and management.
• Proficiency in budgeting and financial management.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, time management, and ability to meet individual deadlines while ensuring team deadlines are met.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are critical.
• A positive team player who is a self-starter to juggle myriad competing project responsibilities while working to support a cross-functional, collaborative team.
• Experience in energy efficiency is a plus.

D. Classification & Compensation

• This is a full-time, exempt salaried position based in SEEA’s main office in Atlanta, Georgia, and may require some travel.
• The salary for the position begins in the high $60k's. Compensation is flexible based upon industry experience and technical skills. SEEA offers competitive compensation based upon candidates’ qualifications and overall expertise.
• Successful applicants must demonstrate their legal status to work in the United States.
• As a federal contractor, SEEA requires all employees to complete their COVID-19 vaccination series or have an approved exception to the requirement due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. Therefore, successful candidates for this position must submit vaccination documentation or be approved for an exception before their first day of employment. Failure to provide proof of full documentation or receipt of an approved exception will lead to the withdrawal of the job offer.
• SEEA is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an environment that supports and advances diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

E. How to Apply

Qualified candidates may apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to SEEA’s BambooHR platform. Candidates considered for interviews must provide three professional references and may be asked to provide examples of previous work or respond to assessments.

About SEEA

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 2007, SEEA is the only regional energy efficiency organization serving eleven states across the Southeast and island territories. SEEA ensures people have the knowledge, resources, and opportunities to use energy more efficiently. We advance effective state, local, and utility policies, support the implementation of strong building energy codes, expand the availability and access to resources to address energy efficiency in buildings, and support equitable engagement in energy planning processes across all communities.

SEEA’s Culture & Benefits

SEEA offers a highly collaborative and supportive work environment to allow employees to be authentic, learn, grow, and demonstrate their leadership abilities. We are committed to fostering an environment of transparency and trust that will enable us to learn from one another and incorporate diversity, inclusion, and equity in all we do.

Because we work with a broad selection of stakeholders to address complex and evolving issues, all employees receive training on collaborative leadership, including the dimensions of trust, facilitating powerful and productive meetings, collaborative problem-solving, and stakeholder identification and engagement.

Additionally, employees receive the following benefits:

• Fifteen (15) days of paid time off, four (4) floating holidays, and seven (7) paid holidays annually
• End-of-year office closure (December 24 through January 1)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits
• 401(k) retirement plans with organizational match and immediate vesting (up to 4%)
• Paid parental maternity and paternity leave
• Monthly mobile phone stipend and transit stipend ($35 each per month)
• Flexible work schedule and hybrid office setting with at least two in-office days per week
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities and support