Senior Manager of Institutional Relations

Bridge Over Troubled Waters • Boston, MA

11d

About The Position

Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Bridge) is seeking a Senior Manager of Institutional Relations to join its Development team. This role is crucial for managing the organization's government funding portfolio, which amounts to approximately $6 million annually from federal, state, and city sources. The position will also be instrumental in securing funding for other institutional funders, including a $40 million capital campaign for a new facility at 25 West Street. Bridge, founded in 1970, is a leading agency in Boston dedicated to providing services for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness, offering a comprehensive continuum of care and helping over 2,000 young people annually to build meaningful futures. The organization is currently experiencing significant growth, driven by a new strategic plan and the expansion of its capacity to address youth homelessness.

Requirements

• 5+ years managing government grants and/or government relations, including hands-on experience with NOFOs, RFPs, and procurements.
• Strong, versatile writing skills, capable of transforming complex program information into clear, compelling proposals for various audiences and formats.
• Ability to build trust and relationships with government agencies, representing the organization confidently and proactively cultivating relationships with city, state, and federal partners.
• Proactive opportunity seeking, with the ability to steward an established grants portfolio while identifying new funding opportunities and partnerships through thoughtful, mission-aligned approaches.
• Collaborative approach, working effectively across teams to gather information, align priorities, and move projects forward while respecting program expertise and organizational dynamics.
• Organized and accountable operator, capable of managing multiple deadlines and relationships simultaneously and using CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge/Blackbaud or similar tools) to track activity and maintain strong follow-through.
• Proactive, hands-on contributor who thrives in community-based organizations, is solutions-oriented, and willing to step in wherever needed to support funders, programs, and initiatives.
• Values-driven team member committed to supporting youth experiencing homelessness, approaching work with empathy and respect, collaborating effectively with colleagues and partners, and motivated by connecting Bridge to the resources it needs to change young people's lives.

Responsibilities

• Lead government funding, grants management, and agency relations.
• Serve as the primary owner of Bridge's government grants portfolio, managing the full cycle from prospecting through reporting for current funding, including housing and youth services grants at the federal, state, and city levels.
• Write compelling, strategic grant narratives and tailored content for both existing programs and new programmatic initiatives, translating Bridge's work into competitive, funder-ready proposals.
• Monitor funding opportunities and analyze RFPs, NOFOs, and procurements to assess fit, competitiveness, and organizational capacity.
• Lead the development and submission of grant and contract applications, partnering with program, finance, and development colleagues on narratives, budgets, and supporting materials.
• Manage the government grants calendar, ensuring timely, high-quality submissions, reports, and renewals.
• Build and maintain relationships with city, state, and federal agencies and partners, and represent Bridge at meetings, briefings, and site visits.
• Move Bridge from a reactive to a proactive posture on government funding, building a pipeline of prospective opportunities, agencies, and partnerships, particularly as Bridge grows its state funding relationships (e.g., Department of Mental Health, Department of Children and Families).
• Stay current on government funding priorities and policy shifts that could affect Bridge's programs or revenue.
• Help lead grant writing and funder research for special initiatives, with the $40 million campaign for 25 West Street as a top priority, including large institutional RFPs and new funder partnerships in support of the campaign.
• Support other strategic priorities as they arise, such as Bridge's family reunification and complex case management initiatives.
• Develop proposals, briefing materials, and other written resources that help tell Bridge's story in new and compelling ways.
• Partner with the CDO on research, planning, and funding strategy for organizational priorities.

Benefits

• Generous time off, including up to 10 vacation days, 8 sick days, 3 personal days, and 13 holidays each year
• Medical and prescription drug coverage, with Bridge covering up to 50% of the first deductible for employees working 20+ hours/week and their dependents up to age 26
• Up to $1,500 in coverage for qualifying dental procedures
• Matched contributions to retirement savings for eligible employees
• Flexible spending accounts with pre-tax earnings for health care and dependent care
• Up to $125,000 in life insurance coverage, paid in full by Bridge
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Commuter benefit accounts with pre-tax earnings
• Career development and networking opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed