Manager, Strategic Grant Development (3 Year Contract)
About The Position
Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy, the Manager, Strategic Grant Development is responsible for leading the development, positioning, and submission of high-quality funding proposals that support Applied Research initiatives and Advancement priorities. This role operates at the intersection of research, partnerships, and fundraising. The incumbent leads the full lifecycle of proposal development, from early-stage opportunity identification and concept shaping through to submission and follow-up. The role works collaboratively with faculty, researchers, Advancement colleagues, and external partners to develop competitive, funder-aligned proposals that integrate academic, institutional, and partner priorities. The incumbent translates complex research, technical, and partnership inputs into clear, compelling narratives tailored to diverse funders, including government agencies, foundations, and industry programs. They are accountable for identifying funding opportunities, assessing alignment with institutional priorities, and coordinating proposal development across multiple stakeholders. The role also supports the development of a coordinated funding pipeline by tracking opportunities, managing timelines, and improving proposal readiness across the College. This includes building reusable content, strengthening institutional narratives, and ensuring all submissions are accurate, compliant, and strategically positioned. The incumbent is expected to leverage modern research and writing tools, including AI-enabled drafting and synthesis tools, to improve the speed, quality, and consistency of proposal development, while ensuring appropriate human oversight, accuracy, and compliance. This role requires exceptional writing and communication skills, strong project management capabilities, and the ability to operate effectively across academic, research, and Advancement environments.
Requirements
- Minimum four (4) year post-secondary degree or certificate in Research Administration, Business Administration, Project Management, Communications, Public Relations or Public Administration or other related field. Equivalent combination of relevant education and work experience may be accepted in place of formal education.
- Minimum five (5) years experience of proposal development with a strong record of delivering quality proposals within the defined scope, time, and cost parameters.
- Experience leading the development of complex research proposals.
- Experience managing research projects.
- Advanced technical writing and editing skills: Strong attention to detail in editing and proofreading proposals to ensure clarity, coherence, and conciseness.
- Understanding proposal compliance requirements: Ensuring that proposals meet all funding agencies and organizational guidelines.
- Effective written and verbal communication: Clearly and persuasively articulating proposal goals, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes.
- Proficiency in proposal management software: Familiarity with software and tools used for grant tracking and management.
- Experience working with faculty and researchers and presenting to upper management and senior executives.
- Experience developing proposals in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments with multiple stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and competing deadlines.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting large-scale or multi-partner proposals is considered an asset.
- Experience contributing to proposal strategy, positioning, or pipeline development is an asset.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and submission of high-quality grant proposals to private and corporate foundations in partnership with Advancement.
- Serve as a primary proposal development resource for Advancement portfolios, supporting positioning, narrative development, and submission planning.
- Translate institutional priorities, programs, and impact into compelling, funder-aligned proposals.
- Maintain and enhance a centralized repository of reusable content (impact statements, financials, program descriptions, templates).
- Track deadlines, ensure compliance, and support timely submission and reporting.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen proposal competitiveness through improved positioning, evidence, and alignment.
- Identify and pursue government, research council, and institutional funding opportunities.
- Lead the development of complex, multi-stakeholder proposals aligned with Applied Research priorities.
- Translate technical, academic, and partner inputs into clear and persuasive narratives.
- Collaborate with faculty, researchers, and leadership to shape fundable project concepts.
- Ensure compliance with funding guidelines, evaluation criteria, and institutional requirements.
- Support large-scale, multi-partner and interdisciplinary proposals.
- Leverage current technologies, such as AI-enabled research and writing tools to accelerate drafting, editing, summarization, and content development.
- Align research and Advancement opportunities to maximize funding outcomes across funding streams.
Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and retirement plans
- Access to training, tuition assistance programs (Algonquin College Courses and Degree Completion), certifications, workshops, and professional courses
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
