Grants Manager (International Environmental Law)

POSITION TITLE: Grants Manager

LOCATION: USA – working in Eastern time zone

PROGRAM: Development

SALARY RANGE: $81,000 – 100,000 USD (depending on
qualifications)

SUPERVISOR: Vice President

DEADLINE: Rolling, with first review on January 16

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) uses the
power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and
ensure a just and sustainable society. The Grants Manager is a
critical member of CIEL’s development team, which is accountable
for ensuring CIEL has the resources to deliver high-impact
campaigns that protect people and the planet. In support of this
mission, the Grants Manager is responsible for actively managing a
robust (primarily foundation-based) grant portfolio. This includes:
project management of deadlines and deliverables for 45+
foundations, lateral and upward management of program staff around
grant deadlines and deliverables, and tracking and organizing
foundation stewardship. This is a project- and people- management
role that is responsible not only for tracking progress against,
but also driving, outcomes. 

The Grants Manager supervises the Senior Grant Writer to ensure
high quality, accurate, and persuasive proposals and reports are
internally reviewed and submitted on time, and that all foundation
requirements are met, including compliance with all funder
regulations, policies, and procedures, as well as those of CIEL. In
collaboration with the finance department, the Manager will track
progress against grant deliverables, monitor budgets and analyze
financial data to ensure we are on track. 

The Grants Manager will work across programs and leadership to
develop strategies to improve the grant administration processes.
The successful Grants Manager will be detail-oriented, highly
organized, a systems-thinker, and a strong project manager. They
will need to be adept at working with a variety of people who are
themselves juggling multiple deadlines, and work with staff to
establish timelines and expectations for input. This is a great
position for someone who loves creating systems to keep many people
on track and uses horizontal and upward management to achieve a
common goal. They will be accountable for navigating a complex
workload, keeping many projects moving at once, and managing
numerous priorities and emerging opportunities while meeting firm
deadlines. This position will require excellent organization, adept
management skills, a keen eye for accuracy, and deep commitment to
CIEL’s mission, values, and goals. This Grants Manager is a
full-time, exempt position and reports to the Vice President
(Director of Development).

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Portfolio Management (55%)

• Actively manage CIEL’s diverse and growing foundation portfolio
  (currently around 50 funders at $8 million annually) to ensure
  timely submission of proposal, renewal, and reporting requirements
  for current and potential grants (both project-based and general
  support), and drive sustainable, multi-year grant revenue to
  support CIEL’s mission
• Develop and deploy project management systems/software and
  other tools to: monitor all active grants and their related
  deadlines/requirements, track foundation correspondence and
  outstanding queries, and ensure relevant staff are aware of key
  interactions, deadlines, or background information
• Design and maintain a grant deliverable tracking system to
  monitor progress and implement learnings 
• Use matrixed and lateral management to work with staff, over
  whom there is no direct supervisory authority, to deliver materials
  on deadline and achieve grant outcomes 
• Innovate and implement processes and procedures that improve
  the efficiency of the grants team and its interactions with the
  rest of the organization.
• Ensure all grant submissions are in compliance with internal
  procedures and donor regulations. 
• Meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, and ensure high-quality work
  products related to grants. 
• Collaborate with relevant staff to navigate review loops,
  secure necessary sign offs, and deliver high-quality, timely final
  products to relevant entities.
• As needed, serve as copyeditor or draft materials
  directly.

Grant Tracking (25%)

• Strengthen and sustain project management system to enable
  real-time updates on progress made towards grant deliverables
• Work with the finance department to submit accurate
  budgets.
• Track grant spenddown and proactively communicate divergences
  to VP and Directors to realign work as necessary.

Management (15%)

• Provide day-to-day supervision, management, and ongoing
  feedback for relevant staff and consultants
• Work with Vice President and Program Leadership to develop and
  monitor work plans and budgets in line with both short-term and
  long-term goals

Administration (5%)

• Maintain timesheets and submit them on time.
• Meet periodically as requested, with supervisor and other team
  members.
• Participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other
  organizational activities, including an annual staff performance
  evaluation.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in a
  fundraising/grants management role, with at least 3 years in a
  project management role and/or managing people
• Proven experience managing a portfolio of grants with competing
  deadlines
• Prior experience in a non-profit setting
• Excellent project management skills; ability to manage complex
  processes simultaneously 
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to
  follow detailed instructions and requirements
• Ability to understand grant budgets and organizational
  budgets.
• Ability to prioritize projects with various deadlines and
  requirements and ensure high-quality work product.
• Experience working across diverse teams and adapting
  schedules/priorities in real-time to address competing
  deadlines
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with people of
  different backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication
  styles, 
• Prior experience using matrixed management to achieve results
  from people for which there is no direct supervisory role
• Ability to identify a problem, investigate independently to
  propose a solution, and know when to ask for help.
• Affinity for feedback, both in converting received feedback
  into constructive changes and opportunities for learning, and in
  providing feedback to strengthen work products and processes.
• Comfort leading meetings to align around processes and
  expectations going forward.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in an international organization.
• Excellent English writing skills; ability to write compellingly
  about technical subjects and copyedit.
• Experience with Google Suite (including Docs and Sheets) and
  Asana.
• Project management experience.

A successful candidate will demonstrate the following
competencies: 

• Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new
  opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of curiosity,
  proactivity, and constructiveness.
• Nimble Learning: Approaches unfamiliar tasks proactively and
  with an open mind. Can quickly adapt to new situations and to draw
  on past successes and failures to solve current
  problems.  
• Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective
  communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and
  concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding, and
  adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different
  stakeholders.  
• Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills,
  talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy
  resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can
  be achieved by individuals.  
• Resourcefulness: Is able to make the best of limited resources
  and find a way to get things done even when the odds are against
  them.  Can look beyond the obvious for viable approaches to
  accomplish the goal. 

Location note: This position may be eligible to work from the
following locations:

• Remotely from the US, provided your work schedule aligns with
  US East Coast time. You must have obtained your own legal
  authorization to work and live in the US. Some jurisdictions may be
  excluded based on CIEL’s ability to hire in those
  jurisdictions.
• In our Washington, DC, USA office, provided you have obtained
  your own legal work authorization (CIEL cannot sponsor work visas).
  A moving stipend is available.

This is a full-time, exempt position. If you are selected for
this position and elect to work remotely, you are expected to
provide your own space from which to work. CIEL will contribute a
one-time stipend of USD $750 for fully remote workers, with an
additional USD $250 per year for the purposes of maintaining your
remote work space.

CIEL offers a strong benefits package including
employer-subsidized health, dental, and vision; paid vacation,
sick, and parental leave; a 5% contribution of gross annual salary
into a 403(b) retirement account; a relocation stipend; dedicated
professional development funding; and paid sabbatical leave after 7
years. CIEL is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in the US, and full-time
employees qualify for the US Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Program

Application instructions: Applications will be considered on a
rolling basis; the first application review will take place
on January 16. Desired start date: As soon as able; no later
than March 11. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and at least
one relevant writing sample. Only applicants selected for
interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls,
please. Note that CIEL does not sponsor visas of any kind.
You must have prior authorization to work in the United States in
order to be considered for this position.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with CIEL’s
duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known
hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our
employees, clients, and communities, CIEL requires candidates to
furnish proof of full COVID vaccination status in order to be hired
for this position.

About CIEL: For 30 years, CIEL has used the power of law to
protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just
and sustainable society. CIEL’s dynamic team of international
attorneys and experts work together in a collaborative and
supportive work environment to tackle some of the most interesting
and challenging issues facing people and the planet. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, actively committed to the
principles of multiculturalism and building an organization that is
as diverse as the communities we serve around the world. We know
that diversity and inclusion make us stronger, and we actively
encourage qualified applicants with various backgrounds,
identities, perspectives, and (dis)abilities to apply. If you
need an accommodation or assistance with this application,
please contact Human Resources at jobs[at]ciel.org.