Grants Manager

Agency Overview:

thread assists families in finding affordable, high-quality child care that meets their needs.  We provide professional development, technical assistance, and financial support to early childhood educators and programs to ensure they are preparing children for lifelong success.  By collaborating with communities and businesses, we work to achieve positive outcomes for families and young children through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care. We undertake research and advocate for child care policies. This work is guided by our core values of empowerment, access, child care professionalism, children’s rights, and entrepreneurial incubator.

 

Specific Responsibilities:

The Grants Manager leads thread's Government grants program and is responsible for identifying, securing, managing, and stewarding grant funding that advances the organization's mission and program strategic priorities. This includes complex public funding from Federal, State and Local Government sources. This role oversees the full grant lifecycle, including research, proposal development, reporting, compliance, and funder stewardship. The Grants Manager collaborates closely with program and finance staff to ensure successful application, implementation and management of grant-funded initiatives.

 

Strategy & Prospecting:

1. Design and implement a comprehensive annual government grants calendar aligned with the nonprofit’s strategic goals and budget.
2. Develop and implement a grants growth strategy aligned with organizational goals and funding priorities.
3. Research, identify, and evaluate grant opportunities from federal, state, and local funding sources.

 

Grant Writing & Submission:

1. Write compelling proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and case statements for government grants.
2. Manage a portfolio of grant opportunities, awards, and renewals.
3. Lead grant proposal development, including narratives, budgets, supporting documentation, and application submissions.
4. Coordinate proposal development efforts with program, finance, and leadership teams.
5. Collaborate with program leaders to develop competitive and fundable projects.
6. Maintain a grant calendar and ensure timely completion of applications, reports, and renewal submissions.

 

Post-Award Management:

1. Partner with finance and program teams to track grant spending, fulfill reporting requirements, and meet project deadlines.
2. Oversee post-award grant management, including tracking deliverables, reporting requirements, performance measures, and deadlines.
3. Work closely with Finance to develop grant budgets, monitor expenditures, track revenue, and support reimbursement requests.
4. Prepare and submit accurate programmatic and financial reports to funders.

 

Grant leadership, relations:

1. Ensure compliance with assigned grant requirements, funding regulations, and organizational policies.
2. Work closely with Finance to facilitate, develop and track grant budgets, monitor expenditures, and support reporting/reimbursement requests.
3. Maintain grant records, files, and reporting systems.
4. Support audit preparation and funder monitoring activities as needed.
5. Build and maintain positive relationships with grant funders, government agencies, and community partners.
6. Provide regular updates on grant activity, funding opportunities, and portfolio performance to leadership.
7. Strengthen and maintain policies and procedures for this position and thread’s grant work.
8. Supervise assigned staff and perform other duties as needed.

 

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Finance, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
2. Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in grant development, grants management, fundraising, or related field.
3. Demonstrated success in securing and managing government grants.
4. Experience developing competitive grant proposals and managing grant reporting requirements.
5. Knowledge of grant compliance, budgeting, and nonprofit financial practices.
6. Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills.
7. Excellent technical writing, editing, and communication skills.
8. Ability to work effectively with program staff, leadership, funders, and community partners.
9. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365, grant management systems, databases, and reporting platforms.
10. Valid driver's license required; Alaska driver's license preferred.
11. Ability to pass a background check and provide references and valid identification.
12. Experience working with Alaska state agencies and nonprofit organizations preferred.
13. Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and federal grant administration preferred.
14. Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS), or related professional certification preferred.

 

Key Competencies:

1. Commitment to thread's mission and the importance of early childhood education.
2. Strong technical writing and proposal development skills.
3. Knowledge of grant compliance, reporting, and stewardship practices.
4. Technical regulatory and compliance driven.
5. Ability to manage multiple grants, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
6. Strong financial literacy related to grant budgeting and expenditure tracking.
7. Excellent relationship-building and collaboration skills.
8. Effective project management and organizational abilities.
9. Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
10. Ability to analyze funding opportunities and align them with organizational priorities.
11. High standards of integrity, accountability, confidentiality, and ethical stewardship.
12. Customer service orientation with internal and external stakeholders.
13. Proficiency with Microsoft 365, databases, grant management software, virtual meeting platforms, and reporting systems.

 

Physical requirements & Working Conditions:

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to frequently use a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout an office or meeting environment.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move office materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel throughout Alaska and occasionally work outside of normal business hours, as required by business needs, meetings, conferences, or grant activities.
• Ability to work in a variety of settings, including an office, remote work environment, community or partner locations, and meeting or conference venues.
• Ability to maintain concentration, accuracy, and attention to detail while working under deadlines and managing multiple priorities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Schedule and Compensation:
Position Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, other hours as needed
Location: State of Alaska. Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks preferred

Position Type: Full Time, 40 hours/week
Classification: Exempt, Permanent
Supervisor: COO
Supervises: None

Starting Compensation Range: $81,000 - $87,000 annual salary
Full-Time Benefits: 20 days of PTO/Sick leave (starting), paid holidays, 403b match, High-Deductible Health Plan with HSA option (employer may contribute to HSA), DCFSA, Dental, Vision and Life and EAP. All premiums covered 100% for employee’s health, dental, vision and life. Free thread services.