Grants Management Specialist

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation•Princeton, NJ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the senior director, Grants Management, the grants management specialist serves as the main point of contact for their assigned program area to coordinate and manage the grantmaking process from concept to award. The grants management specialist ensures compliance with RWJF policies and procedures and serves as the liaison between Program unit areas, national program offices (NPOs), grantees, consultants, reviewers, and other departments such as IT, Law, and Finance on the grantmaking process and coordination. As with staff at all levels of RWJF, the grants management specialist is expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and to the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

Requirements

Commitment to racial and health equity and to the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
Minimum four (4) years of increasing experience related to managing grants.
Professional commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills.
Strong project management skills.
Demonstrated excellence in current role with minimal oversight from people leader.
Excellent written and oral communication.
Demonstrated people and performance management skills, as well as an ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, emotional intelligence, and diplomacy, both individually and as part of a team effort; experience mentoring staff and colleagues at multiple levels; orientation to team building.
Deep social justice values and commitment to the practice of racial justice, health equity, and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.

Nice To Haves

Six (6) years of progressive grants management experience in a foundation or nonprofit environment.
Eight (8) years of progressive grants management experience in a foundation or nonprofit environment.

Responsibilities

Ensure all grant activities, including external reviews and process steps for concepts, proposals, and grants are managed according to set practices and policies.
Remain current on tasks including dates and deliverables.
Contribute to the review, refinement, and redesign of our grant processes to ensure equitable practices.
Manage, monitor, and advise the Program unit on program timelines, key approval, and board deadlines, upcoming events, and meeting planning.
Support Program unit on grant process technology needs.
Train program development staff and work with IT on technology updates.
Track pending items to ensure grants are processed in a timely manner, process issues are resolved, and start dates are met.
Perform customized searches to provide data as requested.
Manage all solicitation functions for our NPOs, intermediary organizations, and RWJF staff.
Manage the CFP/RFP elements of the application and grantmaking process, including CFP/RFP timeline development.
Conduct meetings with RWJF staff, NPOs, intermediary organizations, grantees, and consultants to demonstrate and discuss the opportunities, options, and best practices available in the grantee portal.
Advise Program unit staff on best practices and lessons learned related to running a CFP/RFP process that is fair, equitable, and efficient.
Shepherd all CFPs and RFPs through the review and approval process.
Troubleshoot user issues and provide technical support when needed.
Advise Program unit staff on best practices and lessons learned related to running a grant process that is fair, equitable, and efficient.
Is primary contact for applicants, grantees, and staff for grantmaking process, policies, and requirements associated with grantmaking and monitoring.
Prepare grant agreements and other grant-related documentation and correspondence.
Advise staff on basic elements of regulatory compliance including conducting charity and OFAC checking.
Provide policy and process expertise associated with award, authorization, and specialized grantmaking.
Create grant write-ups for awards that draw from national program authorizations or large authorizations.
Advise Program staff on timing of applications and funding deadlines to balance workload through Grants Management, Law, and Program Finance.
Manage concepts, proposal requests, and grants in process, including monitoring queries, tracking decisions, and determining workflow assignment, renewal status, and more.