Director of Grants/Sponsored Programs - (INTERNAL)
Position Summary
DIRECTOR OF GRANTS/SPONSORED PROGRAMS: The Director of Grants/Sponsored Programs will assist with grant research, grant writing, grant program design and compliance, project management, and grant reporting, as well as institutional effectiveness, institutional research, and additional special projects as assigned. The Director of Grants/Sponsored Programs will adhere to the policies as specified by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees and the Drake State Community and Technical College Faculty and Staff Handbook. This position reports to the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness/Title III, and/or President..
SALARY:
Appropriate placement on Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees Salary Schedule C2
Salary Range $77,611 - $120,346 (12 month - Exempt)
Salary step placement is based on experience per Drake State’s practice for awarding salary step credit
Work Hours: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm Monday - Thursday and 8:00 am - 12:00 pm FridayThis position is posted in compliance with Alabama
Code 16-22-15. It is the intent to place a current
employee in this position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The Director of Grants/Sponsored Programs shall perform the duties as specified in conformity with policies established by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees and the J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College Faculty and Staff Handbook.
The Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs serves as the College’s primary resource for the management, coordination, and administration of externally funded projects and institution-wide initiatives. The position oversees the full grant lifecycle, including identifying funding opportunities, coordinating proposal development, assisting with grant writing, managing grant documentation, monitoring compliance requirements, coordinating reporting activities, and supporting successful implementation of funded projects.
In addition, this position leads and coordinates special initiatives aligned with institutional priorities, providing project management support, research assistance, and data-informed recommendations to advance strategic goals. The position collaborates with faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners to ensure grant-funded projects and institutional initiatives achieve measurable outcomes. The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Serve as the College’s lead grant manager for externally funded projects, including serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) for assigned grants
- Identify and evaluate grant opportunities that align with institutional priorities.
- Coordinate grant development activities with faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners.
- Assist with writing and editing grant proposals, including narratives, goals, objectives, timelines, evaluation plans, and supporting documentation.
- Coordinate grant submission processes and ensure proposals meet sponsor requirements and institutional deadlines.
- Maintain official grant files and records throughout the grant lifecycle.
- Track grant deadlines, reporting requirements, compliance milestones, and project deliverables.
- Coordinate grant documentation, including applications, award agreements, contracts, amendments, progress reports, financial documentation, and closeout materials.
- Monitor grant implementation activities to ensure alignment with approved project plans, including but not limited to designing, organizing, promoting, and facilitating grant-related activities.
- Coordinate with project directors, departments, and the Business Office regarding grant expenditures, reporting, and compliance.
- Prepare and coordinate submission of required programmatic and performance reports.
- Assist with evaluation activities and documentation of grant outcomes and institutional impact.
- Develop reports summarizing grant activity, funding secured, project outcomes, and accomplishments.
- Manage special projects, including WIOA, as assigned by the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants, and Research and/or the President.
- Provide guidance for internal and external program audits and reviews
- Ensure that grant expenditures are reasonable, allocable, and allowable according to agency guidelines
- Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving multiple departments and stakeholders.
- Develop project timelines, milestones, and implementation plans.
- Monitor progress toward project goals and provide status updates to leadership.
- Facilitate meetings and communication among project teams.
- Assist with strategic initiatives, accreditation activities, and institutional improvement efforts.
- Conduct research, environmental scans, and information gathering to support institutional initiatives.
- Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for leadership.
- Conduct research related to grant opportunities, special projects, program effectiveness, and institutional priorities.
- Collaborate with the Institutional Research Coordinator to obtain and interpret data needed for grant proposals, reports, and initiatives.
- Assist with evaluation plans and outcome measurement strategies.
- Prepare summaries and reports using institutional data and external research.
- Support data-informed decision-making within the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants, and Research.
- Promote the mission and goals of the College
- Work well with others and show respect to all college constituents
- Serve on college committees as requested
- Retain and submit documentation as requested to support accreditation efforts
- Perform other work-related responsibilities as assigned by the President, or Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants, and Research
Job description may be modified or altered at any time by management.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum of an earned master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Ability to document and track grant progress and compliance
- Ability to organize, promote, and facilitate workshops and conferences
- Strong research skills
- Proficiency in the English language
- Excellent oral, auditory, interpersonal, and written communication skills
- Advanced word processing, spreadsheet, database software, and other current computer software applications to generate reports, databases, and spreadsheets
- Ability to work with self-initiative and minimal supervision to manage multiple projects with competing timelines
- Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills
- Detail oriented
- Ability to proofread work for accuracy
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, other employees, and the public
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of office information
- Occasional overnight travel
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- One (1) years of experience creating, managing, or monitoring budgets for federal, state, and/or local programs
- Knowledge of the principles of grant writing, grant management, and/or partnership development
- Experience in a Higher Education setting
- Experience in project management
- Experience with federally funded grants
- Strong methodical and strategic thinking skills
- Excellent technical and creative writing skills
- Proven grant writing success with federal and/or state agencies
- Experience conducting organizational research for strategic planning
- Experience organizing and presenting information to stakeholders
- Experience shaping and delivering advocacy and fundraising messaging to local, state, and federal legislators
- Knowledge of academic research procedures and experience conducting research
DESIRED PROFILE:
Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate through their experiences and accomplishments:
- An understanding of and a commitment to the philosophy and mission of a community and technical college
- A sensitivity and commitment to cultural diversity
- Ability to handle multiple tasks and various situations in a calm and professional manner
- Ability to work well under pressure and deadlines
Application Procedures/Additional Information
Application Procedures
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and must submit a complete application packet through the NEOED on-line application system to be considered. A complete application consists of the following:
- An on-line application
- Current resume
- Copy of college transcripts (Transcript must confirm applicant meets educational requirements.)
Application materials must provide documentation that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications.
Please Note: If an applicant submits more than one application packet, only the most recently submitted application packet will be reviewed.
Background Check Requirement
In accordance with Alabama Community College System Policy and guidelines, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form and agree to a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from the criminal background check.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated on this vacancy notice and must submit a completed application packet in order to be considered for this position. Complete application files must be received no later than the application deadline. Applicants who fail to submit all required information will be disqualified. Only applications received during the open period of this announcement will be considered. Applicants must travel at their own expense. Finalists will be required to provide official transcripts that are mailed directly to the Office of Human Resources at Drake State Community and Technical College from the institution(s) granting the credits.
All applicants must have an on-line and completed application packet by the deadline date. All applications received will be screened and interviews scheduled by appointment only. All applicants must adhere to the College’s prescribed interview schedule and must travel at their own expense. Applicants must demonstrate written proficiency in English as part of the on-campus interview process. Drake State Community and Technical College is an active participant in the Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Department of Homeland Security.
Drake State Community and Technical College is an equal opportunity employer. It is the official policy of the Alabama Community College System, that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, gender, religion, creed, national origin, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment. Drake State will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants or employees. Drake State reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to awarding. Drake State compiles information about safety and security and publishes an annual report. This report can be found on the website by accessing the crime and safety report link. The link can be found on the Drake State home page by clicking the “About Drake State” tab and then selecting the “Campus Security Report” link. A copy can also be obtained by contacting the Director of Operations at 256-551-5210.
The College reserves the right to fill the position within (120) days of the job announcement stated closing date or to not fill the position due to budgetary or operational considerations. Further, the College reserves the right to fill more than one position in the same job classification should another vacancy occur during the search process.