Manager of Grant Services

School of Government Services•Chapel Hill, NC

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Manager of Grant Services is responsible for establishing and building a Grant Services program within the UNC System Shared Advancement Services team. This role will design and implement systems, processes, and protocols to support the development, submission, tracking, and stewardship of private philanthropic grants for partner institutions, with a focus on foundation, corporate, and other charitable funding opportunities. The manager will cultivate strong relationships with institutional leadership and Advancement team members to ensure alignment between funding opportunities and institutional priorities. The manager will serve as a centralized resource for private philanthropic grant development, supporting partner institutions in identifying, pursuing, and stewarding foundation and corporate funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 3 years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5+ years of experience in grant writing, grant development, foundation relations, or related fundraising activities.
Proven track record of securing funding from foundations and corporate partners.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
Experience working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across institutions or departments.
Familiarity with grant compliance, reporting, and stewardship best practices.

Nice To Haves

Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable processes.
Relationship-builder with strong interpersonal skills.
Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and deadlines.
Ability to work independently while managing complex, multi-institutional relationships.

Responsibilities

Design, launch, and manage a centralized Grant Services program serving a growing portfolio of partner institutions within the UNC System (beginning with three institutions).
Establish policies, procedures, and workflows for grant development, submission, tracking, and reporting.
Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional partners.
Develop a strategic approach to identifying and pursuing funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
Create scalable systems and tools to support long-term program growth and efficiency.
Serve as a resource and advisor on grant strategy, development, and best practices for partner institutions.
Research and identify grant opportunities from private foundations, corporations, and other private funding sources.
Collaborate with institutional stakeholders to align funding opportunities with strategic goals and programmatic needs.
Develop high-quality grant proposals, concept papers, and letters of inquiry that clearly communicate mission, impact, and funding needs.
Ensure adherence to all funder guidelines and requirements throughout the application process.
Coordinate with institutional partners to gather, organize, and align budget information for grant proposals, ensuring consistency with program plans and funder requirements.
Manage the end-to-end grant development and submission process, including coordination of application materials, timelines, and stakeholders to ensure high-quality, on-time submissions.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive system for tracking grant opportunities, submissions, and outcomes.
Monitor grant timelines, follow up on submitted proposals, and coordinate resubmissions as appropriate.
Ensure timely and accurate fulfillment of all grant reporting requirements in collaboration with institutional partners.
Support accountability by ensuring grant-funded activities align with awarded terms.
Collaborate with institutional partners to compile reports, impact updates, and other materials for donors.
Strengthen relationships with corporate and foundation partners through effective communication and reporting.
Contribute to a culture of stewardship and donor engagement across partner institutions.