Grants & Strategic Funding Advisor

Town of Cochrane • Cochrane, AB

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Cochrane is seeking a Grants & Strategic Funding Advisor to serve as a key lead in securing external funding and providing strategic analysis within its Strategic Services section. This role is designed for a professional who can navigate the complexities of grant development while offering high-level advisory recommendations to inform senior leadership and Council. As a key member of the Strategic Services team, the advisor will identify and assess funding opportunities, ensuring they align with organizational priorities and long-term financial feasibility. This is an opportunity to directly impact Cochrane’s growth and sustainability by building a strategic framework for the Town’s future. The first year will involve establishing a structured intake and coordination process for grant applications, developing a comprehensive grants register and opportunity pipeline, conducting departmental roadshows to map funding opportunities, and beginning the development of a 3-5 year funding roadmap aligned with Council priorities.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Public Administration, Political Science, Business, Communications, or a related field.
• Approximately 3–5 years of related experience in grant writing, development, or funding strategy, preferably in a public sector context.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Expert ability to develop clear, persuasive business cases and compelling grant applications with a high level of confidentiality and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex government policies, legislation, and budget decisions into practical organizational impacts and strategic recommendations.
• Exceptional coordination skills to manage timelines and multiple contributors while identifying funding risks, trade-offs, and resource implications.
• Demonstrated ability to build influential relationships across the organization and confidently present strategic information to senior leadership and Council.
• Sound judgment and the ability to work effectively with a moderate level of independence in an evolving environment.
• A valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of the grant process, from intake and development to submission and reporting compliance.
• Provide clear recommendations on whether to pursue or decline funding opportunities based on alignment with organizational priorities, feasibility, and financial risk.
• Build and maintain critical relationships with funding agencies, community organizations, and federal/provincial partners to strengthen awareness of upcoming opportunities.
• Conduct environmental scanning and research on government programs, legislation, and budgets to identify potential advocacy points and funding impacts.
• Work across departments to gather necessary project details and financial information to align upcoming capital and operational projects with funding cycles.
• Support departments in meeting all reporting, compliance, and audit requirements for awarded funds.
• Collaborate with departments to develop a proactive organizational grant strategy and maintain a centralized internal grants registry to coordinate funding efforts town-wide.
• Develop clear and persuasive business cases for funding opportunities, articulating the strategic rationale, financial implications, and organizational risks.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to confidently share complex policy information, funding trends, and strategic recommendations with senior leadership and Council.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level