Director of Grant Programs

Inside Philanthropy; Waltham, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is seeking a strategic Director of Grant Programs to oversee a high-volume grants portfolio, including disaster relief and educational funding. This role drives process design, data management, reporting, and team leadership to achieve actionable impact.

The ideal candidate will manage the grants workflow from application through payment, ensure quality assurance, and continuously improve efficiency while aligning with the Foundation’s vision and strategy.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years in grants program management or project management in nonprofit or for‑profit
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Experience managing high-volume operational programs with strong accuracy and timeliness

Responsibilities

• Oversee grants administration from application to disbursement.
• Maintain comprehensive records of applicants, grantees, funding allocations and payments.
• Lead the grant operations team and set goals aligned with organizational strategy.
• Develop and improve grant management workflows and data reporting dashboards.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Data-driven

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Teams

Job description

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is seeking a strategic leader to serve as the Director of Grant Programs. The Director will play a key role in fulfilling the Foundation's mission to lift lives. This role provides management oversight for the Foundation's portfolio of disaster/hardship relief and educational funding programs. This is not a traditional institutional grantmaking role; rather, it is a high-volume grant program serving a large number of individuals and small organizations. The ideal candidate is a strong program operator who can successfully manage a high-volume grant program and lead the grant operations team. In this role, you will be responsible for the grants management system, the grant processing workflow, tracking and reporting, quality assurance, ongoing program evaluation and process improvement. The duties of this role include strategic oversight of all grant-making operations, from application to payment, to ensure grant operations are achieving the intended results and are aligned with the Foundation's vision and strategy.

The position was created to build a comprehensive approach to the grantmaking workflows that delivers efficient processes, a quality user experience and intentional design around data management, with a strong focus on process execution, accuracy and timely administration. The person in this position must live somewhere in between Boston, MA and Washington, DC.

Essential Functions:

Grants and Payments Administration:

• Continually stay abreast of new developments and best practices in grant management.
• Maintain and update grant program guidelines and procedures to maximize impact.
• Oversee the grant administration process, from initial application to disbursement.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records of all applicants, grant recipient, funding allocations and payments.
• Manage all communications with applicants and grantees.

Database & System Administration:

• Oversee the functionality and optimization of the grants management system.
• Implement improvements to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
• Provide training and support to staff members on the grant management system.
• Create grant reports and dashboards for varied stakeholders as needed.

Fundraising and Finance Support:

• Support development and marketing teams with grant program information, grantee data and testimonials.
• Collaborate with finance team to build a grant program budget, administer e-checks and reconcile payments.
• Manage grant program vendor relationships.

Team Support:

• Serve as the senior point of contact for grant inquiries and administrative matters.
• Coordinate meetings, schedule calls and provide logistical support for team activities.
• Effectively recruit, manage and motivate the grant program team.
• Establish team goals and priorities that align with organizational goals.
• Promote a culture of learning and development.

Leadership:

• Promote the Foundation's broader vision and strategy.
• Actively participate in establishing organizational goals and work plans.
• Assist in creating materials for Board member requests and Board meetings.
• All other duties as assigned

Non-Essential Functions:

• Attends staff meetings and training sessions.
• Complies with proper paperwork procedures, prompt follow-up communications and departmental and organizational policies.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Must have 7-10 years of experience in grants program management or project management, with a strong emphasis on program management, in a nonprofit or for-profit organization.
• Must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience managing a high-volume operational program, with the ability to manage significant application volume, maintain accuracy, and provide timely follow-through.
• Experience managing or administering a database or program management system, with the ability to troubleshoot issues, implement improvements, and leverage data for reporting and decision-making. Prior experience managing staff; proven leadership and collaboration skills
• Exceptional interpersonal, customer service, problem solving and analytical skills; ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively in written and verbal communications.
• Excellent program management, process improvement and change management skills, with a strong process-oriented approach.
• Strong fiscal orientation and experience collaborating with finance teams on budgets, payments and reconciliations.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and adapt to change and manage work in a timely manner.
• Highly detail oriented and data-driven with strong presentation skills; ability to synthesize and present complex data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Teams for virtual meetings.
• Occasional travel as needed.

Physical Requirements:

This is a sedentary job by nature. Requires being able to sit at a desk and use a computer and telephone for most of the day. Limited travel is required.

Internal and External Contacts:

• Interfaces regularly with general employee population.
• Interfaces regularly with donors, clients and other populations in person and virtually.
• Interfaces regularly with outside vendors in person and virtually.

Reporting Structure:

This position reports to the CEO.