Grants Manager (Full-time, Onsite)

Wilson College is seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented Grants Manager to support the College’s comprehensive grants program and advance institutional priorities through government, corporate, and private foundation funding. The Grants Manager plays an important role in identifying funding opportunities, developing competitive proposals, coordinating grant activities, and supporting effective reporting and stewardship.

This position works closely with faculty, staff, and College leadership to research and develop fundable projects, prepare grant proposals and reports, and maintain relationships with current and prospective funding partners. The successful candidate will be an organized and persuasive writer who can work both independently and collaboratively while managing multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.

Essential Responsibilities

The Grants Manager will:

• Research foundation, corporate, state, and federal funding opportunities aligned with College priorities and faculty and staff funding needs.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective funding opportunities for the College.
• Assist faculty and staff in developing grant concepts and projects through interviews, research, information gathering, and assessment of funder guidelines.
• Prepare, write, edit, and submit grant proposals, applications, letters of inquiry, and other funding requests.
• Coordinate proposal development with faculty, staff, project managers, principal investigators, the Business Office, and other appropriate College departments.
• Review funding guidelines and requirements to ensure proposals and supporting materials are complete, accurate, and submitted by established deadlines.
• Coordinate awarded grants in collaboration with project managers/principal investigators, the Business Office, and other appropriate College departments.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of required grant reports, including gathering information from project managers, principal investigators, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain grant files, calendars, timelines, deadlines, and other documentation necessary for effective grant administration and stewardship.
• Maintain accurate records of grant proposals, awards, reports, funder interactions, visits, and stewardship activities in Raiser’s Edge and other College systems.
• Maintain and steward relationships with foundation, corporate, and government funding partners.
• Coordinate appropriate funder stewardship activities, including reports, correspondence, meetings, calls, and site visits.
• Assess, develop, maintain, and communicate effective grant-related policies, procedures, and best practices in collaboration with appropriate College departments.
• Represent Wilson College professionally in interactions with current and prospective funders and external partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Grant Research & Development: Ability to identify and evaluate government, corporate, and foundation funding opportunities and assess alignment with institutional priorities and funding needs.
• Grant Writing & Communication: Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, compelling, well-organized, and persuasive proposals and reports.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to interpret and follow complex proposal, reporting, compliance, and funder requirements while ensuring deadlines, documentation requirements, and donor intent are appropriately addressed.
• Project & Deadline Management: Ability to independently manage multiple proposals, reports, projects, timelines, and competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and organization.
• Relationship Building & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to establish productive working relationships with faculty, staff, College leadership, project managers, principal investigators, funders, and external partners.
• Grant Administration & Stewardship: Ability to coordinate grant activities throughout the funding lifecycle, including proposal development, award administration, reporting, recordkeeping, and funder stewardship.
• Research & Analytical Skills: Ability to gather, evaluate, organize, and synthesize institutional, programmatic, financial, and external information for use in grant development and reporting.
• Confidentiality & Professional Judgment: Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when working with sensitive institutional, donor, financial, and personnel information.
• Technology & Data Management: Ability to effectively utilize fundraising, grants management, database, and other technology necessary to maintain accurate records and support grant activities.
• Adaptability & Initiative: Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic higher education environment while responding to changing institutional and funding priorities.

Position Type & Expected Hours of Work

• Full-time, 12-month, exempt position.
• Regular work schedule is generally Monday through Friday during established College business hours.
• Some evening and weekend hours may be required to support funder meetings, College events, grant deadlines, and other related activities.
• The position may require occasional schedule flexibility based on grant deadlines, funder requirements, and institutional priorities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• One to three years of related experience in grant writing, fundraising, development, sponsored programs, higher education, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with research, grant writing, proposal development, fundraising, or related activities preferred.
• Experience researching and working with government, corporate, and/or private foundation funding opportunities preferred.
• Experience preparing grant proposals, applications, reports, or other professional written materials preferred.
• Experience working collaboratively with faculty, staff, project leaders, or other internal stakeholders to develop proposals or projects preferred.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or a similar fundraising, grants management, or constituent relationship management system preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.