Grant Writer
The Grant Writer performs research, analysis, monitoring, reporting activities, and proposal writing in support of Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe (PGST) grant and contract funded programs and projects; and contributes to the oversight and compliance in all stages of the grant life cycle. Tribal proposals include a wide range of cultural, social, health, educational, environmental, criminal justice, financial and administrative goals, as well as projects that have a positive economic impact on the Tribal Community. Legislative analysis and input/advocacy involve any federal or state legislation, being proposed or already approved, that directly or indirectly affects the Tribe’s access to grant or cooperative agreement funding.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform research, analysis, monitoring, reporting, planning activities, and proposal writing with assigned departments.
- Help to compile data for use in making grant applications; summarize information from reports, field and file investigations, maps, notes, and all other available sources; conduct interviews and surveys of conditions within PGST and gather information in the region that may affect policies, grant applications and administration.
- Write, submit, and manage high-quality grant proposals, applications, letters of interest, and furnish prospective funders with supporting documents as needed.
- Research federal/state/local agency rules and regulations for grant proposal requirements. Develop an evaluation rubric and assess the competitiveness of a funding application.
- Provide technical assistance and collaborate with assigned tribal programs and department directors regarding policy process, planning process, and grant process, preparing to meet grant prerequisites, and proposal writing techniques, styles, and content.
- Maintain a continuing and effective rapport and working relationship with tribes, local, regional, state, and federal offices.
- Analyze legislation, funding programs and announcements then strategize and articulate requests and recommendations to Grants Director for direction, knowing these will likely be forwarded to Administration and/or Tribal Council for consideration and decisions or use.
- Summarize findings and recommendations arising from work for Grants Director and Administration.
- Contribute to a grant database consisting of documentation repositories for grants, funding sources, reporting requirements, funding period, or other essential data, notify directors of grant status.
- In conjunction with the Grants Director, serve as leaders and subject matter experts in the tribal grant community called upon to inform state and federal agencies’ funding-related policies and procedures and grant offerings.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Strong written communication skills: ability to translate complex data into user-friendly text; write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals, appeals, input and requests.
- Strong verbal communication skills: Able to listen and understand others and respond in a way that effectively conveys resources or information needed.
- Highly computer literate, excellent skills in word processing and spreadsheets, Microsoft Office Professional and related software programs including Word and Excel.
- Strong editing and grammar skills; with great attention to detail.
- Strong research skills and ability to locate data as needed on internet-based resources.
- Broad basic knowledge of the best practices of grant writing, planning, community program development, budgetary analysis, principles, and procedures.
- Understanding of tribal governments and knowledge of P.L. 93-638 public and private sector funding programs.
- Ability to collaborate across all sectors to identify and remove barriers to funding, build networks, and remain abreast of the latest developments affecting the Tribe’s access to funding.
- Ability to work with little supervision, beginning projects independently and reliably bringing them to conclusion on a timely basis.
- Ability to organize, establish timelines and prioritize requests to meet deadlines.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional, cooperative, and effective working relationships.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Thoroughly familiar with grant evaluative methods and effective writing techniques and federal and state funding programs.
- Understanding of legislative process and ability to monitor and analyze funding-related legislation as it is considered and passed.
- Understanding of legislative and governmental grantmaking processes and ability to provide input to federal and state agencies to inform and improve funding packages during their development.
- Understanding of foundations and grantmaking processes and ability to provide input to foundations to inform funding packages during their development.
Education/Experience
Minimum Education and Experience: Associate degree from a fully accredited college or university with at least two years successful work experience in data gathering, data analysis, research, grant writing, and reporting for a tribal organization, public agency, or community-based organization. Work experience in a similar occupation may be substituted for the educational requirement (two years of full-time experience equal to one year of college).
Preferred Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Business, Environmental Studies, Public Administration, Community Development, or a closely related field is preferred, with at least one year of successful work experience in data gathering, data analysis, research, grant writing, and reporting for a tribal organization, public agency, or community-based organization. Work experience in a similar occupation may be substituted for the educational requirement (two years of full-time experience equal to one year of college).
Desired Education and Experience: Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) certification from National Grants Management Association or Grant Professional Certified (GPC) from The Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), with at least 3 years of experience in the grants field within the past 5 years. Documentation of Grants Experience, including a list of successful proposals within the last 5 years.
Conditions of Employment
- All applicants are subject to the Tribe’s Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy, including pre-employment screening.
- Must possess valid Washington driver’s license and be insurable under Tribe’s policy.
- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Travel Requirements
- Local, statewide, and out-of-state travel may be required.
Physical Requirements
- Regularly required to finger, handle, reach with hands and arms
- Frequently required to walk, sit, stand
- Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
- Normal audio and visual acuity