Grant Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a grant manager. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a grant manager.
Who is a Grant Manager?
A grant manager is a professional in fundraising who works for a range of different organizations. Grant management is the procedures and techniques that organizations use to manage grants. Grant management covers every stage of a grant’s lifespan, from pre-award research to grant closeout after the award. Through its distinct award phases, the procedure, which is always changing, incorporates many lifecycle duties. The creation and execution of grant programs are under the jurisdiction of grant managers. To gain funding for programs and projects, grant managers collaborate with governmental bodies, private foundations, and other organizations.
A career in grant management has the potential to be incredibly fulfilling, but it is also quite competitive and demands extensive training and experience. A grant manager is in charge of running a grant program as a whole. This includes planning, creating, and carrying out policies and procedures in addition to managing the program’s daily operations. Additionally, grant managers collaborate with different divisions inside their company to guarantee that the grant program is accomplishing its goals. Grant managers assist with groups that submit grant requests to various public and private funding agencies. They support these groups with grant application development, grant award evaluation, and grant management.
Grant managers need to be aware of how each grant proposal is evaluated by the funding organization and what criteria are used to choose which projects to support. Grant managers should be knowledgeable about the grant review procedure. To recommend the best grant proposals for financing, a funding agency must first review all the grant applications it has received. Understanding this procedure enables grant managers to provide their customers with advice on how to strengthen future grant applications.
Depending on the requirements of the company, the duties of a grants manager can be described in a variety of ways, and different certifications may be required. The demand for grants managers is currently growing, and the ability to lead an organization effectively may involve a wide variety of skills. Grant managers must know how to budget the money they collect from external sources to use for internal projects or activities. Grant managers would ensure they have an appropriate supply of cash to see a program through to completion by understanding how to distribute funds during a program. A grant manager’s job requires them to regularly work with fundraising and grant personnel, accounting and finance experts, grant funders, and program employees. They need to be able to modify their communication techniques to interact positively with persons of varied personalities.
Grant managers need to be quite knowledgeable about fundraising practices, including planning and execution techniques. This is an essential skill since it enables grant managers to conduct profitable fundraising campaigns for their businesses. Grant managers may also need to write, even if grant writers are experts at creating grant submissions and contractual contracts. Therefore, having good written communication skills that enable them to write clear, professional statements is essential for grant managers. Grant managers ought to be able to assign duties to the financial, grant, and fundraising teams. This aids in keeping their attention on longer-term fundraising goals and due dates. Grant managers can help to guarantee that their team obtains tasks that are in line with the unique areas of expertise of team members by distributing work responsibilities.
Grant Manager Job Description
Below are the grant manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The following are the duties and responsibilities of a grant manager:
- Oversee and assist with the organization’s grant requirements and application process.
- Determine and create plans to enhance the grants administration procedure
- Conduct pertinent research to find possible funding opportunities, then assess the findings.
- Get involved in grant writing directly by coordinating with grant writers or coordinators.
- Investigate illegitimate and inefficient funding sources.
- Make sure that the grants are used in a way that meets the organization’s financial and operational needs.
- Keep the appropriate staff informed about upcoming deadlines and deliverables to ensure the smooth completion of work responsibilities.
- Supervise the fundraising team to ensure proper coordination of work.
- Observe whether other grant staff members are carrying out their duties.
- Oversee the billing, accounting, reporting, and other administrative tasks to ensure the grant process is carried out successfully.
- Prepare financial or budget plans and allocations by each necessity together with the planning and finance departments.
- Analyze the budgetary patterns and suggest ways to reduce costs for different grants.
- Provide thorough reports on the organization’s development to the funders and the board of directors. Keep track of the paperwork and other materials related to grant-funded programs.
- Keep track of all receipts and payments, and provide monthly reports for all grant-related activity.
- Provide new employees with management and reporting required training.
- Create grant programs with particular budgets that emphasize applicants’ eligibility
- Work closely with the business development or fundraising teams at their organization to identify the funding requirements for internal projects.
- Keep thorough records of all payments made to and received from grant programs.
- Draft grant proposals to request money from outside sources with the assistance of grant writers.
- Distribute portions of incoming funding to their employer’s program teams and monitor how the grants are being used to ensure compliance with the original contract
- Find out which grant program their organization qualifies for by researching prospective funders for their employer.
- Monitor program budgets and expenses, work with the program manager, and make sure the program is effective.
- Keep track of all payments manage all modification requests, research any grant-related problems, and create monthly reports for all grant-related actions.
- Maintain grant records, assess financial reports, and conduct grant expenditure reviews to analyze all annual progress.
- Recruit and train new personnel for positions on the grant team and in the fundraising department.
- Manage incoming and outgoing payments in conjunction with the finance and accounting department.
- Examine all research, monitor all findings, and work with management to handle communications with researchers and the accounting divisions.
- Manage all grant management processes by rules and procedures after conducting an analysis of all processes and offering improvements to all grant programs as needed.
- Work along with the staff and the board; create internal reports for the same and send status reports to seniors as needed.
- Analyze all expenditures about the budget, evaluate all budgets, and make sure work is completed by the required deadline.
- Offer training and support to all SIF subgrantees on tax and administrative concerns, as well as suggestions for system improvements.
- Keep track of and analyze all budgetary patterns, then offer ways to reduce grant costs.
- Maintain spreadsheets for all billings, record them, and provide the necessary reports for cost allocation.
- Determine if a person or organization is eligible to receive funding by reviewing grant applications.
Qualifications
- Degree in business administration, business management, accounting, or another relevant discipline.
- A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in accounting.
- Professional accounting certification such as the CMA, CGA, or CA is advantageous.
- Practical knowledge of finance law and regulatory standards.
- In-depth understanding of economic and banking processes.
- Practical knowledge of federal, state, and local tax compliance regulations and reporting.
- Aptitude for methodical and strategic thinking.
- Interpersonal and communication skills.
- Great project management skills.
- Outstanding organizational skills.
- Thorough knowledge of how budgeting works.
- Computer literacy is required.
- Good understanding of auditing policies.
- Must be knowledgeable of donor agencies.
- Excellent writing skills.
Essential Skills
- Financial analysis skills: To assess a project’s feasibility, a grants manager needs to be able to analyze financial data. This entails having the ability to read and comprehend financial statements as well as other papers that provide financial information. Grants managers need to have the ability to comprehend and analyze financial data.
- Project management skills: You can have more than one project to manage concurrently as a grants manager. You would manage many activities and deadlines at once by using project management skills. This can involve handling finances, keeping track of project milestones, and assessing the progress of the project.
- Communication skills: Communication skill is the act of conveying information clearly and effectively to others. You can be in charge of liaising with funders, officials, and other stakeholders as a grants manager. Your ability to communicate your thoughts and respond to inquiries from others is aided by strong communication skills.
- Organizational skills: You can have more than one project to manage simultaneously as a grants manager. The state of each project, its deadlines, and the resources required for each project are all details that having great organizing skills may help you keep track of.
- Time management skills: The capacity to organize and complete things within a predetermined time range is known as time management skills. Being able to manage numerous projects at once is a must for a grants manager, therefore time management is an essential skill. It’s important to be able to assign tasks to others and follow up regularly to make sure that deadlines are met. You might also be in charge of managing the time of other employees.
How to Become a Grant Manager
Step 1. Obtain a degree
The minimal educational requirement for the majority of grant management positions is a bachelor’s degree. You can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to handle grants, such as financial analysis, project planning, and the creation of organizational initiatives, by earning a degree in business administration or public administration. Candidates with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Grant Management may be preferred by some employers. An MBA program usually lasts two years and consists of courses in marketing, economics, finance, and other subjects.
Step 2. Acquire work experience
Most hiring managers prefer to work with grant managers who have at least three years of relevant experience. Working as an administrative assistant or grants assistant is a common entry-level employment for grant managers where you can learn about the daily activities involved in managing grants and connect with clients. Consider internships as another option if you want to learn about the sector personally. Although internships are often unpaid, they offer beneficial networking opportunities that can aid in your search for a full-time job following graduation. When they begin a new career, many grants managers undergo on-the-job training. This training can span a few months, and it might involve working under a senior executive or a current grants manager. Learning about the specific processes and procedures of the organization may also be covered in the training. Seminars or conferences may be used to provide additional training for some grant managers. A grants manager may keep their skills and knowledge up to date and learn about new trends in the business by taking advantage of these training opportunities.
Step 3. Acquire certifications and join professional organizations
Professionals can use certifications to prove their qualifications to potential employers. Grants managers can obtain certifications to enhance their theoretical understanding of their duties, assess their professional abilities, and advance in their careers. Professionals in the grant management industry can network and get training through the Grant Professionals Association (GPA). Being a member of the GPA can help you stay informed about market trends and link you with other professionals who can offer guidance and support. The GPA also provides certifications for students looking to advance their careers.
Where to Work as a Grant Manager
Grant managers work for organizations from different sectors such as education, non-profit, social service, business, research, finance, and health. Their work environment is usually an office setting, although they may be required to travel for site visits or to attend conferences. Many grants managers work full-time, and some may even work extra time to meet deadlines or deal with unforeseen circumstances. The work of grants management can be demanding, and grants managers must have the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time and work effectively under pressure. They must also be able to handle rejection because not all grant proposals will be funded.
Grant Manager Salary Scale
The salary scale of Grants managers significantly varies depending on certain factors such as level of education, years of experience, the size of the industry, skill set, additional qualifications, and type of organization they work for. They may also earn extra pay in the form of bonuses or allowances. The average salary of a Grants Manager in the United States is $77,878 per year, but the range typically falls between $68,227 and $91,406. In the UK, while from £35,000 to £49,999 is the salary scale, the average salary is £40,000 per year. In Canada, the base salary for a Grants Manager ranges from $68,227 to $91,406 with an average base salary of $77,878. A Grants Manager in Nigeria earns around 5,770,000 NGN yearly, but the earnings typically fall between 2,855,000 NGN to 8,250,000 NGN.
