Assistant Director

State of Indiana; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans and RX coverage

Wellness rewards program

Health savings account (HSA)

Pension options

Paid leave and holidays

Education reimbursement

LinkedIn Learning access

Job summary

The State of Indiana is seeking a Grants Manager to provide strategic leadership in IDEM's Grants Management Division. You will oversee compliance, grant accounting, reporting, and reconciliation across multiple program areas, guiding a professional team and coordinating with federal and state partners.

This exempt position emphasizes policy interpretation, budgeting oversight, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on delivering accurate, timely fiscal administration of grants.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
• Extensive knowledge of State programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
• Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
• Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
• Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, with recommendations for improvement.
• Assist the Director with developing and coordinating plans, resources, and mission, plus goals and expectations.
• Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
• Supervise personnel including hiring, workload, assignments, training, performance, and corrective action.
• Assist with monitoring agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and projections.
• Coordinate with government officials on planning issues and respond to media inquiries in a public relations context.

Skills

Public policy knowledge

Program evaluation

Relationship building

Decision making

Problem solving

Communication with leaders

Job description

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Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM):

Our mission is to implement federal and state regulations to protect human health and the environment while allowing the environmentally sound operations of industrial, agricultural, commercial, and governmental activities vital to a prosperous economy. We issue air, water, and solid and hazardous waste permits that restrict discharges to environmentally safe levels. Staff members inspect and monitor regulated entities; provide compliance and technical assistance; monitor and assess air, land, and water quality; use enforcement actions as necessary to ensure compliance; and respond to incidents involving spills to soil or waters of the state.

Role Overview:

The Grants Manager provides strategic leadership, division‑level oversight, and subject‑matter expertise for IDEM's Grants Management Division. This role ensures compliant, accurate, and timely fiscal administration of all federal and state grants across agency program areas, including OLQ, OAQ, OWQ, and OPS. The incumbent establishes and interprets grant‑related financial policies, oversees grant compliance, manages complex financial activities, and leads a professional team responsible for grant accounting, reporting, and reconciliation. The position represents the agency in coordination with federal and state funding partners, directs the full life cycle of grant management activities, and ensures the agency's financial grant operations meet statutory, regulatory, and audit requirements.

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $75,010.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., makes recommendations for improvement.
• Assist the Director with developing and coordinating plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision and expectations of agency or program.
• Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
• Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, and authorizing assignments, training, monitoring, and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
• Assist with monitoring agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
• Communicate with news and other media and respond to media questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner.
• Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues.
• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development.
• Set expectation, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
• Extensive knowledge of State programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
• Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
• Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
• Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
• Make logical, well-informed, and objective decisions. Ability to perceive the impact and implications of decisions.
• Ability to identify problems. Determine accuracy and relevance of information. Implement sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Ability to assign work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively provide feedback, guidance or corrective action to coach and develop employee skillsets.

A degree is not required.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b)account (similar to401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parkingfor most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learningaccess

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [e-mail] .