Grant Specialist

City Of Wheat Ridge; Wheat Ridge (CO); On-site; USD 69,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Wheat Ridge seeks an experienced Grant Specialist for the Parks and Neighborhood Services Building in Wheat Ridge, CO. You will research opportunities, develop and submit grant proposals, and manage awards to support parks and recreation programs.

You will lead budgeting for grants, coordinate with multiple departments, and build partnerships with funding sources. This is a full-time, day-shift role with salary range $69,416 to $100,654, determined by qualifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree requirement in Recreation, Public Administration, Business or related field.
• Three (3) years of professional level experience in a Parks and Recreation Department or equivalent grants management.
• Experience includes grant writing and administration; developing and managing public involvement and civic engagement processes.
• Knowledge of municipal budgeting and public sector financial procedures.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with team members to identify areas, programs, and projects needing funding.
• Research local, state, federal, and private grant and funding opportunities.
• Lead the effort to develop and submit competitive grant proposals with budgeting and matching funds.
• Manage grant administration, reporting, compliance, documentation and close-out of awards.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with past, current, and future funding partners.
• Coordinate with Finance on grant budgeting, accounting, and audits.

Skills

Grant writing

Budgeting

Project management

Cross-department collaboration

Excellent writing

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Public Administration, Business or related field

Job description

Job Details: Level: Experienced, Job Location: Parks and Neighborhood Services Building (PNSB) - Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $69,416.00 - $100,654.00 Salary/year, Job Shift: Day, Anticipated Hiring Range:$69,416–$85,035. The final hiring salary will bedeterminedbased on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, internal equity, and other applicable considerations. In infrequent cases, exceptional candidates with qualifications that exceed the typical requirements may be considered for a salary above theanticipatedhiring range.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Grant Specialistis responsible forresearching andidentifyinggrant opportunities, developing, writing, andsubmittinggrant proposalsin collaborationwith team members who oversee programs and projects, and managing and reporting on grant awards to support the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.The majorityofthis position’s time is dedicated to parks and recreation-related funding initiatives, including capital projects, programming, trails, open space, conservation, recreation access, and community wellness efforts.This position alsosupports grant research, proposal development, and coordination for other City departments. The remaining time supports other Parks and Recreation Department and City of Wheat Ridge initiatives and needs.

Wheat Ridge islocatedon the ancestral homelands of Native peoples who lived on and stewarded this land long before its incorporation. During the 1859 Gold Rush, theCitywasarest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “CarnationCity.” Incorporatedin1969, WheatRidge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. Itoperatesasahome‑rule citywithacouncil‑manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting.

CORE VALUES:

The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to excellence and ACTION!:

• Accountability: Employees take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and recommendations and are accountable to each other and the community
• Change: Adapts to changing organizational needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.
• Teamwork: Employees value teamwork as a collaborative effort, with eachperson contributing unique skills, knowledge, and training to achieve common goals.
• Integrity: Employeesholdthe highest ethical standards,majorlymake Comparators at
• Opportunity:Employees are empowered to grow professionally, develop best practices, and seek challenges to advance theCity.
• NOW!:Employees are proactive,timely, and efficient in responding to the needs of the organization and the community – NOW!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaboratewith team members toidentifyareas, programs,and projects needingfunding.
• Researchlocal, state, federal, and privategrantand fundingopportunities.
• Prioritize time and effort to align opportunities withorganization needs and return on investment (ROI).
• Lead the effort todevelop andsubmitcompetitivegrantproposalsin collaboration with team members,typically including budget development,identifyingmatching funds, narrative writing, and developing required attachments.
• Manage grant administration,reporting,compliance,documentationand close-outofawardedgrants.
• Develop andmaintainproductive relationships with past, current, and future funding partners.
• Maintain grant calendars and funding pipelines for current and future organization needs and initiatives.
• Assistwith project management and coordination on projects when grant funding is involved.
• Prepare project spreadsheets and manage various information on projects including payments for special projects.
• Involvement in long-term planning toidentifyand be aware of future funding needs.
• Prepare written staff reports, agenda memoranda,and award nominations.
• Provide support andassistancein developing and preparing the annual department budget, focusing on secured andanticipatedgrant revenue and related expenses.
• Prepare department communications anddisseminateinformation viavarious mediums on behalf of the department.
• Assistother city departments in proposal preparation, budget development, and submission.
• Support interdepartmental grant coordination and ensure alignment with City priorities.
• Coordinate with Finance on grant budgeting, accounting, and audits.
• Develop internal grant procedures and best practices.
• Maintain grant records and documentationin accordance withCity policies and funder requirements.
• Other duties assigned asappropriate bythe position.

Qualifications: PREFERREDQUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Public Administration, Business orrelated field from an accredited university or college.
• Three(3) years of professional level experience in a Parks andRecreation Department with increasing responsibilityOR Three (3) years of professional level experience managing grants for an aligning organization, such as a public agency or similar non‑profit organization.
• AMaster's Degreemay be substituted for two (2) years of the minimum experience requirement. Additionalappropriate experiencemaybe substitutedfor the minimum education requirement.
• Experience includes grant writing and administration; developing andmanaging public involvement and civic engagement processes
• Preparing and managing budgets, specifically in terms of including projected matching funds, projected project expenses, and projected grant revenue.
• Alsogeneral budget management and expense tracking experience
• Project management, specificallyprojectswith state and/orfederal grant funds involved.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local grant processes and compliance requirements.
• Strong technical and persuasive writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and complex funding requirements.
• Knowledge of municipal budgeting and public sector financial procedures.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and build partnerships.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Familiarity with parks and recreation funding sources (e.g., LWCF, GOCO, etc.) preferred.
• Local government experience preferred.

HOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This is a full-time position. This position is primarily administrative in nature, working indoors and completing tasks, projects, and communications using a computer, office phone,printerand other standard office equipment. Work location will be at aCitybuilding within a typical office environment. Use of a personal or City vehicle to travel to meetings, projects sites, and conferences will occasionally be necessary.

The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.