Director of Strategic Grants

DickersonBakker; North Canton (OH); On-site; USD 75,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Stark State College seeks a Grant Development professional to lead the college’s grant development efforts and support strategic initiatives across the institution. The role identifies funding opportunities, develops competitive proposals, and builds partnerships that connect resources with the college’s priorities and community needs.

You will oversee grant activities from opportunity identification to award implementation, reporting, and compliance, serving as a key resource to faculty, staff,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Technical Writing, English, or a related field.
• At least five years of professional writing experience, including three to five years of grant writing experience.
• Experience with public and private grant development, proposal preparation, grant administration, or a related field.
• Familiarity with community colleges, including their missions, programs, services, administrative structures, and community partnerships preferred.
• Experience with comprehensive planning or related institutional planning processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the College’s annual grant development agenda by researching public and private funding opportunities aligned with institutional and community needs.
• Lead faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners through grant development, including project design, research, writing, editing, budgets, timelines, and required documentation.
• Oversee pre- and post-award activities, working with project managers and principal investigators on implementation, reporting, budget revisions, no-cost extensions, and other grant requirements.
• Prepare and submit grant applications, reports, and related materials while ensuring compliance with funder requirements and College policies.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the College’s grants portfolio, maintaining relationships with funding agencies, consultants, and internal and external partners.
• Maintain accurate grant records, project files, reporting schedules, and grants office procedures while monitoring compliance requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement of grants processes and practices to strengthen efficiency, increase funding opportunities, and advance the College’s strategic goals.
• Supervise the full-time grant writer role and support Foundation and Advancement initiatives and other projects that contribute to the mission and strategic priorities of the College.

Skills

Grant writing

Research

Project management

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Technical Writing, English, or related field

Job description

Stark State College is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Grant Development professional to lead the College’s grant development efforts and support strategic initiatives across the institution. This position plays a vital role in identifying funding opportunities, developing competitive grant proposals, and building partnerships that connect available resources with the College’s strategic priorities and community needs. The successful candidate will oversee grant activities from opportunity identification and proposal development through award implementation, reporting, and compliance, while serving as a key resource to faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners.

Salary Range: $74,747.00 - $97,172.00 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is an exempt, 240-day contract.
Location: Main Campus, North Canton.

Who We Are:

The positive energy at Stark State College comes from exceptionally dedicated employees who work hard for students. Success for both our employees and our students is the result.

You’ll Be a Great Fit If:

If you’re a strategic thinker and an exceptional writer who enjoys turning ideas and community needs into compelling opportunities for impact this role is for you. You bring strong research, project management, and relationship-building skills to guide teams through the grant process, from the initial concept to successful proposal submission and beyond. You’re equally comfortable working independently, collaborating across the College, and building relationships with funders and community partners to advance the College’s mission and strategic goals.

Typical Responsibilities Include:

• Develop and manage the College’s annual grant development agenda by researching public and private funding opportunities aligned with institutional and community needs.
• Lead faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners through grant development, including project design, research, writing, editing, budgets, timelines, and required documentation.
• Oversee pre- and post-award activities, working with project managers and principal investigators on implementation, reporting, budget revisions, no-cost extensions, and other grant requirements.
• Prepare and submit grant applications, reports, and related materials while ensuring compliance with funder requirements and College policies.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the College’s grants portfolio, maintaining relationships with funding agencies, consultants, and internal and external partners.
• Maintain accurate grant records, project files, reporting schedules, and grants office procedures while monitoring compliance requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement of grants processes and practices to strengthen efficiency, increase funding opportunities, and advance the College’s strategic goals.
• Supervise the full-time grant writer role and support Foundation and Advancement initiatives and other projects that contribute to the mission and strategic priorities of the College.

To be Considered You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Technical Writing, English, or a related field.
• At least five years of professional writing experience, including three to five years of grant writing experience.
• Experience with public and private grant development, proposal preparation, grant administration, or a related field.
• Familiarity with community colleges, including their missions, programs, services, administrative structures, and community partnerships preferred.
• Experience with comprehensive planning or related institutional planning processes is a plus.

Full-time employees can expect excellent medical, dental & vision coverage; paid life and AD&D insurance; state pension/retirement (OPERS/STRS); paid time off, sick leave and paid holidays; paid Stark State tuition, tuition reimbursement and employee assistance program

The work you do at Stark State will matter to the thousands of students who walk through our doors, and eventually across the commencement stage, on their journey to a better tomorrow. Come join us and learn how your aspirations can be part of a better future for them – and you.

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Technical Writing, English, or a related field.
• At least five years of professional writing experience, including three to five years of grant writing experience.
• Experience with public and private grant development, proposal preparation, grant administration, or a related field.