Bedford, Massachusetts
US-Remote, Washington, DC Preferred
Troy, Michigan
Moore, Oklahoma
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Posted: 08-Jan-25
Location: Bedford, Massachusetts
Internal Number: 184284
Title: Grant Development Officer
Unit: Non-Unit Professional (NUP)
Department: Grants Development/Institutional Effectiveness
Reports to: Director of Grant Development
Date: January 7, 2025
General Summary: The Grants Development Officer is a highly skilled writer who collaborates with college leaders and program managers to develop persuasive grant proposals for public and private funding sources. As an integral member of the Grants Development team, the Grants Development Officer plays a critical role in advancing the College's mission and strategic priorities through securing grant funding primarily from government agencies (local, state, and federal), as well as some foundation and corporate sources.
The Grants Development Officer is responsible for identifying new funding opportunities and crafting compelling proposals to a diverse range of funding sources. They work closely with the Grants Development team to translate the College's strategic priorities into achievable funding plans. The Grants Development Officer's focus is on writing proposals that align the College's mission and vision, and that effectively communicate the value of its programs and initiatives to potential funders.
Additionally, this position serves as the primary Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding coordinator. In this capacity, the Grants Development Officer will oversee the Perkins grant development process, ensure compliance with Perkins guidelines, and collaborate with program leaders to strengthen CTE programs across the College.
The Grants Development Officer has a critical role in securing grant funding that supports the College's mission and strategic priorities. The successful candidate will have exceptional writing skills, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the College to achieve shared goals.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Responsible for all aspects of grant proposal development including: defining needs, identifying sources, leading the development and writing of proposals, providing technical support, and conducting grant-related research.
Proposal Development and Submission:
- Work with the Director of Grant Development to design an annual grant development plan based on MCC's strategic priorities and potential funding sources;
- Act as a writer and editor for the development and submission of grant proposals to public (federal, state, and local agencies) and private funders;
- Provide guidance to project managers regarding compliance with funder requirements, program and evaluation design, and alignment with the College's strategic priorities;
- Manage and assemble all materials for the timely submission of grant proposals, including but not limited to narrative content, proposal forms, budgets, letters of support, and memoranda of agreement;
- Coordinate and facilitate working groups (including internal and external stakeholders) involved in proposal and program design;
- Stay current with changes in state, federal, and private foundation grant standards and proposal guidelines;
- Collaborate with the Fiscal/Budget Office to develop accurate budgets and financial plans/documentation, and produce budget amendments as needed; and
- Work with project managers and the Office of Institutional Research to support the development of meaningful outcomes measures for grants and documentation activities to track outcomes.
Perkins CTE Coordination:
- Serve as the primary coordinator for Perkins CTE funding, including leading the development of the College's annual Perkins application;
- Collaborate with program managers, faculty, and institutional leaders to identify priorities and align Perkins funding with the College's strategic goals for CTE programs;
- Ensure compliance with Perkins funding regulations and reporting requirements;
- Support the planning and execution of initiatives aimed at strengthening CTE programs and student success; and
- Work closely with the Fiscal/Budget Office to monitor expenditures and ensure appropriate use of Perkins funds.
Research:
- Identify potential funding sources and determine their alignment with the College's mission and programs;
- Conduct in-depth research on relevant topics to ensure proposals are comprehensive, accurate, and evidence-based;
- Maintain proactive communication with state, federal, and private foundation sources to inform the College of trends, issues, and opportunities relevant to community colleges; and
- Identify and integrate best practices into project activities and programmatic objectives.
Grant Stewardship:
- Facilitate the transition from the grant development/award phase to the implementation phase in collaboration with the project implementer, division dean, and the Fiscal/Budget Office;
- Support the post-award management of grants by collaborating with the project lead and the Fiscal Office to ensure that grant-funded projects and reports are in compliance with all state, federal, foundation and other regulatory policies and procedures
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs, Communication, English, Journalism, Education, or a related field
- 1-3 years of experience as a successful writer or team leader in the development of public (federal, state, local) and private grant proposals for higher education, education or non-profit organizations as evidenced by a writing portfolio.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
- Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced and confidential work environment;
- A strong working knowledge of program and evaluation design;
- Experience in working collaboratively and effectively with teams comprised of internal and/or external partners;
- Ability to organize prioritize and manage multiple high-priority tasks and responsibilities to meet established deadlines;
- Knowledge of, and ability to, research grants electronically through various sources and work with various online/cyber grant portal requirements for submission;
- Strong computer skills including, but not limited to, MS Excel, MS Office Suite, PowerPoint, database management and data search tools;
- Experience with equity-minded work and/or understanding of individuals of diverse identities such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, sexual orientation, veterans, and individuals with different academic preparation levels and varying physical and learning abilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Public Affairs, English, Communications, Journalism, Education or a related field.
- 3-5 years of experience as a successful primary writer in the development of public (federal, state, local) and private grant proposals for higher education, education or non-profit organizations as evidenced by a writing portfolio.
- Experience composing and editing grants in higher education or a non-profit environment.
- Bilingual skills a plus
Additional Information:
Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000; actual salary commensurate with academic background and experience. Employees of Middlesex Community College are considered employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and receive benefits, which include:
- High-quality and affordable health insurance through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Commission (GIC)
- Competitive Dental and Vision Plans
- Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance programs
- Low-cost basic and optional life insurance
- Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension or Optional Retirement Program (ORP) and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan or 403(b).
- 12 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation, and Personal Time
- Tuition Benefits for employees and dependents at state colleges and universities
- Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options
- Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities
- Cell Phone Bill Discounts with Verizon and T-Mobile Cell Phone Carriers
- Access to the Commonwealth's Mass4You, employee assistance program
- Free employee parking on Bedford and Lowell campuses
- Eligibility towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Location: Bedford campus with occasional travel to Lowell as needed
Hours: 37.5 per week, schedule to be determined upon hire, this position will be eligible for a maximum of two days of telework in accordance with the College's telework policy.
Expected Start Date: March 2025
Application Deadline: January 28, 2025