Grants Coordinator

JOB TITLE:  Grants Coordinator

LOCATION:  Western US preferred, other locations within the US may be considered. 

COMPENSATION: $22 - $25 per hour (starting, commensurate with qualifications)

JOB START DATE:  June 2022

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  April 25, 2022

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

All applications must be submitted via our application website at:  http://bit.ly/xerces-jobs

We are committed to creating a more diverse workforce that is welcoming to all employees and the communities we serve.  As part of the application process, please be prepared to answer a brief essay question (1,000 characters or less) in which you describe some ways you might help Xerces collaborate with diverse audiences or historically excluded communities in this role.

Xerces is happy to provide accommodations for the job application process if needed.  If you need an accommodation to complete the job application process, please email [email protected].

JOIN US!

Come join a growing team of conservation professionals at the Xerces Society who are dedicated to protecting some of the world’s most important animals.  As the Grants Coordinator, you will be working within a small, close-knit team tasked with the objective to raise critical funding to support Xerces’ mission. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply proposal and report writing skills to tell Xerces’ story and convey the impact of our work to our funders.

At Xerces, we harness the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of the public to implement conservation programs.  We take action by helping farms and public agencies develop conservation plans for pollinators and beneficial insects, producing ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, training thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat for beneficial insects, protecting endangered species and their habitat, and engaging the public to raise awareness about invertebrates found on farms, forests, prairies, deserts, streams, wetlands, towns and cities. Our methods focus on habitat conservation planning, education, scientific analysis, advocacy, and applied research to conserve invertebrates, such as bees, butterflies, mollusks, and fireflies.

Note:  In our effort to keep our employees, partners, clients and the public safe, Xerces Society follows a mandatory vaccination policy, requiring employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING: 

The Grants and Corporate Giving team is responsible for grants, contracts, and contributions from foundations, businesses, and government agencies; these institutional sources of funding make up a significant share of the organization’s annual budget. This team works closely with the Executive Director, Program Directors, and the Communications, Membership, and Finance teams.

The Grant Coordinator is responsible for the sub-portfolio that includes foundations and government agencies, which contributes to over 50% of the organization’s budget. The Coordinator facilitates all aspects of the grant fundraising process, from identifying prospects to proposal development and submission, grant administration, funder acknowledgement, and reporting. The Coordinator works closely with the Executive Director, Director of Grants and Corporate Giving, the Corporate Giving Associate, the Finance Team, and Program Directors on securing and managing private foundation and government grants to achieve Xerces’ fundraising goals. The Coordinator helps maintain the grants and corporate giving team database and works closely with finance staff to ensure proper administration of grants and contracts to support the Xerces Society’s record of clean audits. The Coordinator is accountable for tracking and managing proposal and reporting deadlines and ensures that grant deadlines are met by coordinating with program staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Working both independently and as part of the Grants and Corporate Giving team the Grants Coordinator will:

• Uses their discretion to identify and research prospective grant opportunities for match with Xerces’ priorities and capabilities; work in coordination with Program Directors, Executive Director, and team to determine which prospects to pursue.
• Autonomously lead and support the development of new funding proposals working with the Executive Director, program staff, and project partners, where applicable. This process includes coordinating with program staff on scope of work, preparing project budgets with Program Directors and finance staff, developing internal timelines for proposal completion, providing guidance and feedback to program staff on proposal content, writing and editing compelling proposals, completing and compiling required grant documents, and proofreading. Responsible for the overall final submission and ensures that deadlines are met.
• Write grant reports working with program staff, Program Directors and/or the Executive Director, and coordinate with the finance team on financial reporting. Edit and do final proofreading of reports developed by the Executive Director, program staff, and members of the grants and corporate giving team.
• Assist staff with program evaluation for grant reports and systems for tracking Xerces’ impact.
• Responsible for working with financial and program staff to ensure proper compliance of grants and contracts. Support the maintenance of all grant and contract files and coordinate with finance team throughout the year on documentation needed for audit preparation.
• Helps maintain the calendar of grant submission deadlines and reporting requirements for funded projects; submit grant applications and program and financial reports within required timeframes to ensure compliance with funders’ requirements.
• Helps maintain funder contacts and files. Works with the Executive Director, Director of Grants and Corporate Giving, and program staff to establish and maintain funder relationships.
• Support the Grants and Corporate Giving team with other tasks as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:  

REQUIRED

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent research, writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Nonprofit development experience, particularly with institutional donor prospect research, application processes and administration.
• Knowledge of federal grant administration.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite; with strong spreadsheet, word processing, and data entry skills; as well as other basic computer skills. 
• Ability to meet deadlines and juggle multiple tasks, working as a member of a team.
• Ability to complete work with little supervision, and embrace a range of duties as required.
• Ability to focus on work in an open office environment.
• Enthusiasm for building new skills, particularly in the area of nonprofit development.
• Strong graphic design/layout and photo editing skills, including ability to demonstrate creativity while also working within established brand and formatting guidelines.
• Ability and willingness to work with diverse teams and constituents in a respectful, equitable, and inclusive fashion.

PREFERRED

• Demonstrated interest or work in supporting environmental conservation issues.
• Experience using InDesign and Photoshop.
• Experience with nonprofit CRM database(s).

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in communications, marketing, writing or relevant area of study—or substantially equivalent training/experience.
• Must have current authorization to work in the United States with any employer.  Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Be able to perform the following with reasonable breaks and/or reasonable accommodations:

• Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a telephone, copy machine, and computer printer for periods of 1-8 hours.

STATUS:  Full-Time, Hourly, Non-exempt position, scheduled to work ~ 40 hours/week.  Schedule can be made flexible consistent with work requirements.  This position can be 100% remote or if the individual is located in Portland Oregon, they may be able to utilize our office space if needed. 

BENEFITS:  This position includes a generous benefits package: eleven paid holidays including two floating holidays that may be used for a personal or religious holiday observed by the employee or other occasion per policy, paid time off, paid health, dental, and disability insurance, option to participate in a pre-tax flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses, participation in a 401k retirement program upon eligibility and a flexible work environment.

TERMS:  The Xerces Society is an at-will employer. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

MORE INFORMATION:  For more information on the Xerces Society and our programs, please see our website: www.xerces.org.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

All applications must be submitted via our application website at:  http://bit.ly/xerces-jobs.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Xerces Society is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

PRIORITY REFERRAL OF PROTECTED VETERANS

We request priority referral of protected veterans for all openings with our organization.  In order to be considered for employment, all applicants for employment with Xerces Society, apply through our Job Board. When referring or being referred as a candidate, including protected veterans, please refer them to this applicant site; https://xerces.org/job-opportunities.