Grant Administrator

King-County,-W; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

King County is seeking a Grant Administrator to oversee a portfolio of grants in the Water and Land Resources Division. The role involves managing the Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction grants, the Subregional Opportunity Fund (SROF) grants, and Cooperative Watershed Management grants, with an annual program value around $35 million.

The position supports a hybrid work model in Seattle, WA. You will collaborate with applicants, awardees, and county staff to ensure successful outcomes,

Qualifications

• Proven experience in grant management and managing complex grants.
• Ability to scope, schedule, and budget grant projects.
• Strong writing skills for briefing documents and leadership communications.

Responsibilities

• Administer the grant program from planning to close-out, including policies and procedures for grants and contracts.
• Oversee applications, reviews, budgets, scopes of work, and schedules to ensure compliance with grant criteria.
• Coordinate award processes, sign contracts, resolve issues, and ensure timely payments.

Skills

Grant management

Project management

Budget management

Written communication

Independent work

Customer service

Tools

Foundant

Job description

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Grant Administrator career services vacancies within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks over the next 12-months.

Are you a grant administration professional eager to apply your expertise to run a program managing $35 million a year for flood risk reduction, stormwater management, salmon recovery, and habitat restoration? If so, look no further than the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD)! We are seeking a high-performing Grant Administrator professional that will help advance the innovative and impactful work people and organizations are doing to protect the environment and the people of King County. You will be part of a team of dedicated professionals who support one another and share a mission to protect lives and property through integrated floodplain management.

About the Role

The Grant Administrator oversees the Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction grants and Subregional Opportunity Fund (SROF) grants from application to close out and manages the Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) grants after they are awarded. The position exercises a high degree of autonomy and is the face of the grant program to applicants and awardees. Through the grant process, the Grant Administrator learns about the great flood risk reduction, salmon recovery, and habitat restoration work underway around the county and contributes to the success of projects and programs by ensuring the smooth functioning of this vital funding source. This job will bring out your organizational skills, patience and humor in managing a portfolio of over 200 active grants with varying requirements, deadlines, and project types. WLRD, in its role as service provider to the King County Flood Control District, administers the Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction grants, the CWM grants, and the SROF. Combined, these programs award about $35 million annually.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team

The River and Floodplain Management Section (RFMS) of WLRD is a nationwide leader in integrated floodplain management, development of innovative flood risk reduction strategies, and improved river and environmental conditions and solutions across King County's six major river systems (White, Green, Cedar, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish) as well other tributaries and floodplains. RFMS leads a diverse work program to reduce flood risks to the residents of King County in a manner that restores river and floodplain processes, considers equitable outcomes and future conditions related to climate change, and provides a collaborative and engaged professional environment where RFMS staff can grow and thrive. This position will play an integral role in the Section’s success by overseeing grants that ensure the long-term success of multi-benefit and equitable flood risk reduction, floodplain and habitat restoration projects.

Who Are We?

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County's efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production. We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects. We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk. Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making. In two words, we are a watershed utility.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Grant Administrator, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing

Administer the grant program

• Lead and implement planning, development and coordination of programs, policies, systems, criteria, and procedures for managing and disbursing grants and contracts.
• Serve as a trusted resource for everyone involved in the grant program, including members of the public, applicants, County technical staff, and leadership and elected officials.
• Drive the annual grant cycle to ensure timely decisions and award distributions.

Manage the grant application, review, and award processes

• Assist applicants to provide complete applications on time and monitor applications as they are prepared and submitted in the online grant platform.
• Provide technical analysis for grants, including review of project applications, budgets, scopes of work, project schedules, and product deliverables to verify they meet grant program criteria and contract requirements.
• Recruit and coordinate technical review panels and coordinate selection committees comprised of elected and appointed officials.

Administer awards

• Work with awardees to sign contracts, meet grant requirements, solve problems that arise, and resolve disputes. Oversee online grant management platform.
• Coordinate with finance staff to ensure timely payment of submitted invoices.

Qualifications You Bring

• Proven experience in successful grant management, including familiarity with all aspects of a grant program and knowledge of grant management principles and practices.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects, including project scoping, project scheduling, and developing and tracking project budgets.
• Demonstrated experience managing all financial aspects of grant programs, including approving and tracking grant budgets, authorizing reimbursement requests, and ensuring adequate documentation of grant expenses.
• Strong writing skills and ability to summarize programs and provide briefing documents for leadership and elected officials.
• Ability to work independently and manage a complex portfolio of grants while navigating the policies, procedures, and culture of a large organization to move grant programs forward.
• A customer service approach and experience working with a diverse population of grant recipients.

Competencies You Bring

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring

• Demonstrated experience with Foundant or similar online grant management platform.
• Demonstrated experience in a natural science field related to salmon recovery, habitat restoration, natural resource management, flood risk reduction, and/or stormwater management.

Working Conditions

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: The River and Floodplain Management Section works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position will work a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Work outside the typical work schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends may be required from time to time. Participation in flood warning and emergency response programs and activities in support of King County's Flood Warning Center operations is required during flood events.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters Local Union Local 117.