Grants Manager Responsibilities
A grant manager works for organizations from various sectors like education, non-profit or social service, business, research or science, finance, health, etc. A grants manager responsibilities include planning and implementing grant programs from its application to approval and utilization.
In all, he/she has the ability to perform grant research, grant writing, grant program design and implementation, compliance and grant reporting. He/she usually reports to the director of the organization and plays a leadership role, while supervising the staff of all grant related job and sometimes other departments too.
Grant managers are mainly leaders in managing the overall grant efforts. They lead the fund raising team in order to make the grant process work effectively and efficiently.
The most crucial part of their job is to identify potential grant support from government agencies, foundations, and corporations to meet the financial and operational needs of the organization. It requires a methodological and analytical approach of a grant manager to meet such requirements.
They also need to provide clear communication of proper rules and regulations for approving grants, its specifications, requirements and objectives across all departments of the organization and the management.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Grants Manager
- Managing and supporting the grants requirement and implementation for the organization
- Identify and develop strategies to optimize the grants administration process
- Perform relevant research to identify available grant opportunities and evaluate the results
- Directly involve in grant writing by coordinating with grant writers or coordinators
- Research for effective and authentic funding opportunities having a lawful registration and proven track record
- Oversee if the grants are implemented according to the operational and financial needs of the organization
- Supervise the fund raising team to ensure proper coordination of work
- Keep the relevant staff informed about upcoming deadlines and deliverables, thereby ensuring smooth completion of work responsibilities
- Oversee if other grant staff (coordinators, writers and administrators) is complying with their job responsibilities
- Oversee the job of invoicing, accounting, reporting, and other administrative functions to ensure successful execution of grant process
- Prepare financial or budget plans and allocation along with the planning and finance department in accordance with each requirement
- Analyze the budget trends and make recommendations for cost control and reduction for various grants
- Provide detailed reports to the funders and the board of directors with respect to the organization's progress
- Monitor paperwork and other related documents connected with grant-funded programs
- Maintain records of all payments and receivables and prepare monthly records for all grant related activities
- Provide training to the new staff on grants management and reporting requirements
Essential Skills and Abilities
- Excellent project management skills with experience in managing and supervising administrative projects
- Posses excellent organizational skills
- Strong command over written and verbal communication
- Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
- Good understanding of the organization's overall business and its objectives
- Possess good knowledge of planning and strategizing financial and budgeting issues
- Ability to work within a team and provide support to the junior staff
- Ability to perform in cross-functional team approach and job responsibilities
- Experience with basic financial management skills including developing and monitoring budgets and financial reporting
- A multi-tasker with strong ability to work under under pressure
- Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines and produce quality results on time with attention to detail.
- Proficient in using computers with related knowledge of software programs and Internet
Educational Requirements
The minimum educational qualification required to be a grant manager is a Bachelor's degree. However, a manager's post is always valued more with a master's degree. The area of specialization can be in any branch of studies, but a master's degree in business administration carries the most appropriate eligibility for a grant manager position. Some positions require prior experience of managing a grant portfolio. A job seeker may also have some certifications from recognized institutes with specialized courses in grants management.
Salary Details
The average salary offered to a grants manager is $64000, according to a recent survey. There are some organizations who offer a pay scale which may be either more or less than the mentioned average salary. Additionally, a grants manager enjoys certain benefits like yearly bonus, gratuity, conveyance, allowances, etc.
The major determinants of a grants manager's salary are:
- Experience level of the candidate
- Education, skills and proficiencies of the candidate
- Grant manager specific field of specialization (education, NGO, business enterprise, etc.)
- Prevalent industry salary structure
- Organization's payment capacity or salary structure
- Geographic location of the company
A grants manager responsibilities can be defined in different ways, and it requires varied credentials, depending upon the needs of the employer. Currently, the job opportunities as a grants manager show an upward trend and may require a broad range of skills to operate as a leader for the smooth running of an organization. If you feel that your profile meets the above credentials, you can easily apply for such a position and build a bright career for yourself.
Related Job Description
Grant Coordinator Job Description