Grants Research and Development Specialist

Job title:

Grants Research and Development Specialist

Company

Dixon Hall

Job description

Employment Type: Full Time
Department: Philanthropy
Union: Excluded
File #: 24-PHI-02
Posting Date: July 5, 2024
Posting Close: July 19, 2024Position SummaryReporting to Director, Philanthropy and working collaboratively with the various departments at Dixon Hall, the Grants Research and Development Specialist will be responsible for researching, matching, managing, writing/editing, and submitting grant proposals to secure funding for Dixon Hall’s program, projects, and initiatives. The Grants Research and Development Specialist will work closely with program and finance staff to identify opportunities, meet grant application requirements, gather/synthesize information and support the development of proposals and budgets for grant applications. The role will also involve collaborating with key stakeholders and applying knowledge of our organization’s mission and programs to maximize grant success rate.Duties and ResponsibilitiesResearch and Identify Funding Opportunities:Conduct advanced research to identify and understand strategic grant opportunities that align with Dixon Hall’s mission, values, long-term objectives, and operational needsEngage in proactive advocacy research to strategically promote awareness of Dixon Hall and advocate for the organization at all three levels of governmentFollow emerging and maturing funding trends, government funding sources, and private foundations offering substantial social services sector grantsLead strategic problem-identification and solutioning processes to help Dixon Hall leaders identify service gaps and plausible options to address these gaps. This work will inform strategic grant identification, viability evaluation, and application processesThoroughly analyze and evaluate each grant opportunity’s eligibility criteria, guidelines, and deadlinesMatch grants to identified organizational needs and provide analysis succinctly to decision-makers across the organizationLead initiatives to proactively identify and cultivate new funding sources and grant opportunities for operational and innovative social services projectsMaintain a database of upcoming grant opportunities and identify opportunities strategically throughout the year by balancing organizational needs with grant deadlinesDevelop Grant Proposals:Develop project plans, guidelines, approach, and materials to streamline grant development process (i.e., project management)Collaboratively work with Dixon Hall teams to align their operational/strategic plans with funder priorities, processes, needsGuide and/or spearhead the gathering and synthesis of comprehensive strategic/operational information, historic program data, and publicly available statistics (e.g., Statistics Canada) to form the foundation of and fortify each grant proposalStrategically craft clear, concise, and persuasive grant proposals demonstrating a deep understanding of Dixon Hall’s mission and articulating the organization’s strategic impact in community service and social programsCollaborate closely with program staff, executive leadership, and the board of directors to align grant proposals with overarching organizational strategiesTailor and refine grant proposals to meet and exceed the specific requirements and priorities of funding agencies in the social services sectorBudget Development:Provide leadership and guidance to support the project team to collaborate with the finance team to develop intricate and precise budgets for grant proposalsEnsure that the budget aligns seamlessly with the proposed activities and aligns with Dixon Hall’s strategic objectivesReview budget items with Finance and ensure strict compliance with funding agency guidelines for social services initiativesSupport project teams to critically design budgets, including securing quotes from 3rd party vendorsSynthesize disparate and sometimes sparse financial information to form the backbone and foundation of budgetsDevelop evaluation plans (i.e., Logic Models, Performance Indicators)Grant Application Submission:Oversee and manage the preparation and submission of grant applications to various prestigious social services-focused funding agencies within specified deadlinesSecure and include all necessary documents, attachments, and supporting materials to present Dixon Hall’s projects in the most compelling lightConduct proactive follow-ups with funding agencies to confirm grant application receipt and facilitate ongoing communicationGrant Compliance and Reporting:Implement a comprehensive evaluation, monitoring and tracking system for funded community service projects, ensuring strict adherence to grant requirementsCollaborate with program teams to prepare and submit high-quality progress reports, financial reports, and other documentation as required by funding agenciesSupport the development of high quality data monitoring tools (qualitative and quantitative) that adhere to best practices in evaluation methods, ethics, equity-based measurement, and GBA+ methodologiesSupport continuous monitoring and agile implementation of funded programs through iterative feedback, etc.Set up methods and standard operating procedures for data tracking, collection, analysis, and reportingMaintain meticulous records of grant activities, expenses, and outcomes, contributing to the organization’s accountability and transparencyRelationship Building:Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with potential major donors, funding agencies, and critical stakeholders in the social services communityCollaborate with program staff, executive leadership, and the board of directors to strategically gather success stories, testimonials, and impact data for donor cultivation at an elevated levelCreation and Maintenance of a Grant Management System:Innovate and lead the development and implementation of an advanced grant management system to optimize efficiency in the grant application and reporting processDesign and maintain a sophisticated centralized database for Dixon Hall, storing grant-related information focusing on deadlines, requirements, and reporting schedulesProvide senior-level guidance in training and educating staff on utilizing the advanced grant management systemContinuously evaluate and enhance the grant management system to meet Dixon Hall’s evolving needs, emphasizing efficiency and effectivenessCross-Functional Collaboration:Work collaboratively with all departments and programs within Dixon Hall to ensure seamless integration of grant research, identification, application, and implementation across the organizationAct as a liaison between departments to align grant initiatives with overall organizational goals and objectivesFoster a culture of cross-functional collaboration to enhance the impact of grant-funded projects on Dixon Hall’s mission and community service initiativesQualificationsAdvanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., communications, nonprofit management, English, public administration)Project Management (PMP) certificate or certification in process, an asset however not required7+ years of progressive experience in senior-level grant fundraising and writing, with a demonstrated track record in securing substantial grants for social services projectsExceptional strategic thinking, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, showcasing an ability to manage complex projects and deadlines while taking proactive initiativeExtensive experience in not-for-profit accounting, senior-level grants management, and an in-depth knowledge of advanced non-profit fundraising strategies and best practicesStrong interpersonal and executive-level customer service skills, demonstrating the ability to quickly establish credibility and develop robust partnerships with high-level individuals, both internal and external to the agencyAdvanced computer skills, including proficiency in using Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, etc.)Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage with high-level individuals and influence/negotiate effectivelyHighly collaborative and adept at working effectively within a team, especially in a fast-paced senior-level working environmentMust be legally able to work in CanadaAbility to provide a Vulnerable Sector Screening check with a ‘Clear’ or satisfactory result meeting the Agency’s operational requirementsDixon Hall is dedicated to fostering an inclusive selection process and work environment, guided by their Race Relations and Employment Equity Policies. If selected for an interview, please inform the hiring manager or the People and Culture team of any accommodations you may require during the interview process. Please feel free to apply even if you do not meet the Canada Summer Jobs requirements.To achieve their goal of inclusivity and diversity, Dixon Hall actively seeks exceptional candidates from varied backgrounds and with lived experiences. Individuals who self-identify as being from marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or who have experienced homelessness, are strongly encouraged to apply.Powered by JazzHR

Expected salary

Location

Toronto, ON

Job date

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:09:10 GMT

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