Manager, Regional Homeless Systems Strategy & Grant Development

Ready to lead the charge against homelessness and shape the future of housing strategy in Greater Nashua?

Harbor Care is looking for our next Manager, Regional Homeless Systems Strategy & Grant Development to serve as the public face and lead Greater Nashua Continuum of Care (GNCOC) operations. You will be the collaborative force uniting local partners to redesign our regional homeless response infrastructure. In this dual-impact role, you will also dedicate about 10 hours a week to authoring high-impact federal and state grant proposals for Harbor Care.

Step into a role where your system-building expertise and technical writing directly translate into transformed lives and better housing outcomes.

Location: Nashua, NH

Schedule: This full-time, salaried position will be hybrid upon successful completion of the introductory period.

What You Will Do:

The Manager, Regional Homeless Systems Strategy & Grant Development combines public-facing leadership of the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care (GNCOC) with an essential internal grant-writing role for Harbor Care. The position translates community needs and organizational priorities into coordinated strategies, well-designed programs, competitive funding proposals, and measurable improvements in the regional homeless response system.

Working collaboratively with the GNCOC Chair, Executive Committee, Harbor Care leadership and grants team, member agencies, and community partners, this position coordinates implementation of the HUD Continuum of Care Planning Grant, advances strategic initiatives, supports collaborative governance, and manages complex cross-sector projects. The Manager applies these same research, planning, analytical, and communication skills to source funding opportunities, develop federal and/or state grant proposals, and prepare reports and funder correspondence.

The Manager serves as the operational leader responsible for coordinating implementation of the GNCOC's priorities and as a primary connector among member organizations, committees, community partners, and stakeholders. The position brings partners together to assess needs, develop program models and evaluation plans, and move initiatives from concept through implementation, while translating this work into clear funding narratives, measurable objectives, and evidence of results.

This position continuously evaluates how the regional homeless response system functions, identifies opportunities to strengthen coordination and effectiveness, and works collaboratively with community partners to improve system performance and housing outcomes. These responsibilities also inform grant development and reporting by connecting documented needs, proposed services, performance data, and funder expectations.

The role focuses on strengthening the systems that support direct services and securing resources to advance that work. The ideal candidate combines partnership building and project management with successful federal and/or state grant writing, strong technical writing, program design, and evaluation skills. The Manager uses technology and AI responsibly to support research, drafting, analysis, and reporting, with independent verification and professional judgment.

Internal grant writing is a required, ongoing responsibility of this position and is expected to account for approximately 10 hours per week, with additional time as application and reporting deadlines require. As a member of the Harbor Care grants team, the Manager coordinates priorities, deadlines, and workload with the Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff while fulfilling the GNCOC responsibilities outlined below.

Essential Responsibilities

Internal Grant Development and Funder Communications

• Serve as an active member of the Harbor Care grants team, collaborating with program, finance, evaluation, and leadership staff on funding strategy, proposal development, reporting, and shared grant materials.

• Research, source, qualify, and recommend federal, state, and private foundation grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities, program needs, eligibility requirements, and capacity; maintain a funding pipeline and application and reporting calendar.

• Develop and write competitive letters of inquiry, proposals, renewals, and supporting materials, with particular responsibility for federal and/or state applications. Interpret funding notices, address review criteria, coordinate contributions and approvals, and submit complete, accurate applications by funder deadlines.

• Work with program and finance staff to develop feasible program models and logic models, needs statements, service strategies, implementation plans, and budgets with supporting narratives. Ensure proposed activities, staffing, costs, and outcomes are aligned.

• Develop evaluation plans with program and data staff, including measurable objectives, outputs and outcomes, indicators, data sources, collection methods, timelines, and assigned responsibilities; use findings to strengthen proposals and program improvement.

• Draft and coordinate timely narrative and progress reports, renewal requests, responses to funder inquiries, and other funder correspondence; reconcile program and financial information with responsible staff and ensure consistency with award requirements.

• Maintain accurate grant files, application and award records, funder contact histories, and deadlines in shared systems; track applications, awards, dollars requested and secured, and other agreed performance measures to demonstrate results and guide funding strategy.

• Build and maintain professional funder relationships in coordination with the grants team, including opportunity clarification, program officer communications, and follow-up on applications and awards.

• Use AI tools responsibly to support grant research, drafting, program model and evaluation-plan development, and report preparation. Independently verify funding eligibility, requirements, citations, facts, data, and all generated content against authoritative sources; protect confidential information, follow organizational and funder policies, and retain human authorship, judgment, and accountability for final submissions.

Strategic Planning & System Leadership

• Support implementation of the GNCOC Strategic Plan, annual work plan, and Executive Committee priorities.

• Coordinate strategic initiatives approved by the Executive Committee and monitor progress toward established goals.

• Identify, facilitate, and often lead opportunities to strengthen coordination, collaboration, efficiency, and outcomes across the regional homeless response system.

• Coordinate community planning activities, including community needs assessments, system gap analyses, environmental scans, and other planning efforts that inform regional priorities.

• Research emerging trends, best practices, federal guidance, and policy changes affecting homelessness and housing, providing recommendations for community consideration.

• Prepare reports, presentations, dashboards, planning documents, and decision-support materials that inform community planning and strategic decision-making.

HUD Continuum of Care Planning & System Performance

• Manage day-to-day implementation of the HUD Continuum of Care Planning Grant and associated planning activities.

• Coordinate annual HUD Continuum of Care competition activities, including timelines, applicant communications, technical assistance, project review coordination, and preparation of required planning documents and submissions.

• Coordinate development and submission of HUD Continuum of Care funding applications, planning documents, and other required federal deliverables.

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to member agencies regarding HUD regulations, funding requirements, planning activities, system priorities, and emerging best practices.

• Support implementation of the GNCOC's Plans to End Homelessness and other regional planning initiatives.

• Support CoC-funded projects through performance monitoring, technical assistance, and collaborative problem-solving to promote compliance with HUD requirements, improve project performance, and strengthen system outcomes.

• Coordinate collection, analysis, and reporting of system performance data required by HUD and other funders.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen HUD System Performance Measures, improve system coordination, and increase housing outcomes.

• Coordinate development and periodic updates of Written Standards, governance documents, policies, procedures, and planning documents to ensure continued compliance with HUD requirements and evolving community needs.

Governance, Communications & Member Engagement

• Serve as the primary staff liaison supporting the GNCOC Chair, Executive Committee, and standing committees.

• Coordinate all aspects of governance and committee operations, including meeting planning, agendas, supporting materials, committee communications, action tracking, documentation, and follow-up activities.

• Support implementation of Executive Committee decisions and committee work plans by ensuring accountability, communication, and timely follow-through.

• Maintain governance documents, including bylaws, charter, committee structures, membership records, organizational policies, and committee records.

• Coordinate committee communications and preserve institutional knowledge to ensure continuity across leadership transitions.

• Coordinate and oversee the GNCOC communication strategy to ensure timely, accurate, and transparent communication with member agencies, partners, funders, and other stakeholders.

• Develop newsletters, policy updates, funding announcements, meeting summaries, annual reports, and other communications that strengthen member engagement.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for GNCOC member organizations, connecting partners with information, technical assistance, resources, and collaborative opportunities.

• Oversee GNCOC communication platforms, including website content, email distribution lists, shared document repositories, and communication systems, coordinating updates with Harbor Care staff, consultants, or vendors as appropriate.

• Maintain an annual communications calendar supporting governance activities, funding competitions, strategic initiatives, member engagement, and community awareness.

• Ensure member contact information, committee rosters, communication lists, and organizational records remain accurate and current.

• Utilize project management platforms, collaborative workspaces, electronic document management, AI-assisted meeting transcription, and asynchronous communication tools to improve governance, communication, documentation, and knowledge management while reducing administrative burden.

Community Partnerships & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary connector across GNCOC member organizations, helping translate regional priorities into coordinated action through communication, collaboration, and shared problem-solving.

• Cultivate trusted relationships across the Continuum of Care by serving as a responsive resource, facilitating information sharing, and helping member organizations identify opportunities to collaborate and advance shared community goals.

• Build collaborative relationships with nonprofit organizations, municipalities, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, schools, housing providers, developers, funders, businesses, and other community stakeholders.

• Identify opportunities for collaboration that strengthen the regional homeless response system and improve housing outcomes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

• Represent the GNCOC in local, regional, and statewide meetings, workgroups, and collaborative initiatives.

• Facilitate meaningful participation of individuals with lived experience of homelessness in planning, governance, and system improvement efforts.

• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Continuum of Care.

Project Management & Continuous Improvement

• Manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.

• Develop project plans, work plans, timelines, dashboards, and reporting tools that support implementation and accountability.

• Coordinate consultant activities, contracts, and project deliverables, as applicable.

• Support development of competitive federal, state, local, and private funding applications that advance GNCOC priorities and strengthen the regional homeless response system.

• Identify funding, partnership, and resource opportunities that support implementation of the GNCOC Strategic Plan and regional planning priorities.

• Coordinate implementation of special initiatives, demonstration projects, and planning activities that advance community goals.

• Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness through technology, automation, process improvement, and innovative approaches to collaboration.

• Utilize digital collaboration platforms, project management software, workflow automation, and appropriate technologies to improve communication, documentation, project coordination, and organizational effectiveness.

• Continuously evaluate internal processes and recommend improvements that reduce administrative burden while increasing organizational effectiveness and community impact.

What We Are Looking For

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Human Services, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, Community Planning, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in project management, strategic planning, community development, housing, homelessness, healthcare, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field.

• At least five years of successful grant-writing experience preparing federal and/or state proposals, with a demonstrable record of securing awards. Candidates must substantiate their role and measurable results, including grants won and funding amounts; general fundraising or persuasive-writing experience alone does not meet this requirement.

• Demonstrated ability to source and assess funding opportunities; develop program models, logic models, evaluation plans, measurable outcomes, and budget narratives; and prepare proposals, grant reports, and professional funder correspondence.

• Practical experience using AI in grant research, writing, and reporting, with demonstrated ability to validate outputs, safeguard confidential information, and complete high-quality work using independent professional judgment.

• Demonstrated success coordinating complex initiatives involving multiple organizations, competing priorities, and diverse stakeholders.

• Excellent project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, presentations, meeting facilitation, and professional correspondence.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships, facilitate consensus, and influence others without direct supervisory authority.

• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities while exercising sound judgment, initiative, diplomacy, and discretion.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into practical recommendations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using collaborative technology platforms and project management software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with HUD Continuum of Care programs or homeless services systems; required federal and/or state grant-writing experience is specified under Minimum Qualifications.

• Experience supporting governing boards, coalitions, advisory committees, or collaborative governance structures.

• Knowledge of HUD Continuum of Care regulations, planning requirements, and System Performance Measures.

• Experience securing competitive foundation grants and managing grant-funded initiatives through implementation and reporting.

• Familiarity with HMIS, data-informed planning, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement.

• Experience working with elected officials, public agencies, governing boards, or community coalitions.

• Demonstrated experience utilizing digital collaboration platforms, workflow automation, and emerging technologies to improve organizational effectiveness.

To be considered for this position, we require:

• A grant-writing sample from a federal or state application that demonstrates the candidate’s own substantive writing. Identify the funding agency, program, application year, and the sections authored by the candidate; redact confidential or proprietary information.

• A list of grant applications submitted and grants won, identifying the funder and program, submission year, amount requested, award status, amount awarded where applicable, and the candidate’s role. Include measurable results, such as total funding secured and application success rate, with the period covered and basis for calculation.

Should you have any difficulty including this information, you can email attachments directly to:

t.mccubrey@harborcarenh.org