Senior Grant Writer (International Environmental Law)

POSITION TITLE: Senior Grant Writer

LOCATION: USA (Remote or Washington, DC office)

PROGRAM: Development

SALARY RANGE: $75,000 – 91,000 USD (depending on
qualifications)

SUPERVISOR: Grants Manager

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 Senior Grant Writer 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 Senior Grant Writer will manage and write content for
a robust (primarily foundation-based) portfolio throughout the
entire grant life-cycle, including prospecting, designing and
developing proposals, monitoring progress on grant awards,
reporting, and renewals. The Senior Grant Writer will craft high
quality, accurate, and persuasive proposals and reports and ensure
all application, renewal, and reporting requirements are met,
including compliance with all funder regulations, policies, and
procedures, as well as those of CIEL.

This position will work closely with Leadership and Program
staff to develop and sharpen strategies and clearly and
compellingly convey CIEL’s critical work and impact to secure and
sustain grants. The successful Senior Grant Writer will contribute
to the growth and retention of funding by collaborating with
program staff to identify, cultivate, solicit, steward, and renew
donations from foundations. They will be accountable for navigating
an intricate workload, keeping many projects moving at once, and
managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities while
meeting firm deadlines. This position will require excellent
writing ability, capacity to receive and integrate feedback,
strategic thinking, and deep commitment to CIEL’s mission, values,
and goals. This Senior Grant Writer is a full-time, exempt position
and reports to the Grants Manager (new position).

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Grant Writing (70%)

• Develop and write compelling, substantive, outcomes-oriented,
  multi-year proposals and reports, collaborating across programs to
  develop project narratives, objectives and deliverables that are
  aligned with CIEL’s mission, strategic priorities, and
  capabilities. Additionally, work with the finance department to
  submit accurate accompanying budgets.
• Collaborate with relevant staff, soliciting, sharpening, and
  distilling relevant material for proposals and reports,
  coordinating the drafting processes and review loops, and
  delivering high-quality, timely final products to relevant
  entities.

Portfolio Management (25%)

• 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
  assistance)
• Work with Grants Manager to:
  1. Contribute to and support processes and procedures that improve
     the efficiency of the development team and its interactions with
     the rest of the organization, including using Asana for project
     management.
  2. Organize all grant files according to established
     protocols.
  3. Ensure compliance with internal procedures and donor
     regulations.
  4. Shepherd written materials through necessary revision and
     review loops.
• Meet target timelines, prioritize tasks, and ensure
  high-quality work product.

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
• Proven experience securing multi-year proposals valued over
  US$250,000 and managing a portfolio of grants with competing
  deadlines
• Prior experience in a non-profit setting
• Excellent English writing skills; ability to write compellingly
  about technical subjects.
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to
  follow detailed instructions and requirements provided by
  funders.
• Ability to prioritize projects with various deadlines and
  requirements and produce high-quality work.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles (i.e., theories of
  change, logic models).
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with people of
  different backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication
  styles.
• Ability to identify a problem, investigate proactively 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.

Desired Qualifications:

• Ability to understand grant budgets and organizational
  budgets.
• Experience in an international organization.
• Comfort leading meetings to discuss complex strategies and
  impact with managers across teams.
• Experience with Google Suite (including Docs and Sheets) and
  Asana project management software.
• Project management experience.

A successful candidate will demonstrate the following
competencies: 

• Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new
  opportunities and tough goals 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 can align
  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