Grants Development Coordinator-Pre Award

RiseMe; Kenosha (WI); On-site; USD 63,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Technical College in Kenosha seeks a Grants Development Coordinator – Pre-Award to translate institutional needs into fundable grant concepts and to coordinate the development and submission of competitive proposals.

The role researches funding opportunities, evaluates eligibility, interprets requirements, supports budget preparation, and manages timelines with cross‑departmental teams and external partners to advance workforce and community priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three (3) years’ experience in developing, implementing, and coordinating grant programs including successful grant application/proposal development.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and data collection, including the ability to extract, organize, and interpret information from databases, reports, or other structured sources.
• Experience using quantitative and qualitative data for proposals, reports, and planning, including interpreting program metrics, outcomes, and narrative information for funder-facing materials.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate grant development activities, proposal timelines, submission requirements, and supporting documentation to ensure timely completion.
• Organize proposal development activities across departments, program leaders, subject matter experts, and external partners.
• Facilitate development of the proposed project design, including the statement of need, goals, measurable objectives, activities, implementation timeline, staffing plan, evaluation approach, partner roles, and sustainability strategy.
• Coordinate with Institutional Research, Finance, academic and student-service units, and other data owners to obtain, validate, and appropriately present institutional, workforce, demographic, and outcome data supporting the proposal.
• Coordinate the College’s internal authorization-to-pursue process, ensuring that proposed grants have an identified executive sponsor, prospective Grant Project Manager, required institutional commitments, resource‑capacity review, and approval before substantial proposal development begins.
• Establish and monitor proposal workplans, deadlines, review processes, and submission requirements.
• Coordinate revisions, approvals, and final submission activities to ensure proposals are complete, accurate, and responsive to funder requirements.
• Evaluate grant development processes and recommend improvements that increase efficiency, consistency, and proposal quality.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

GATEWAY TECHNICAL COLLEGE | POSITION #08300 | APPROVAL DRAFT

Grants Development Coordinator - Pre-Award

Turn Gateway’s priorities into competitive, compliant proposals that expand opportunities for students and communities.

Campus: Kenosha

Division: Advancement & Strategic Partnerships

Position #: 08300

Shift: First shift

Salary: $63,499–$65,628 annually

Compensation grade: H

Employment: Professional Staff

FLSA: Exempt – Administrative

Reports to: Director of Strategic Grants

Supervisory role: No

Posting period: September 24–October 8, 2026

Application deadline: October 8, 2026, 11:59 PM Central

Help Gateway pursue meaningful funding.
Work with College teams and partners to identify opportunities, shape projects, and submit strong proposals.

The Role in Brief

The Grant Development Coordinator – Pre-Award supports Gateway Technical College’s pursuit of external funding by translating prioritized institutional needs and desired outcomes from the College’s Portfolio of Needs into fundable project concepts and coordinating the development and submission of competitive, compliant grant proposals. The position researches funding opportunities, evaluates eligibility and alignment, interprets grant requirements, coordinates project and proposal development, supports budget preparation, and manages submission timelines and required documentation. The position works collaboratively with College departments, executive sponsors, prospective Grant Project Managers, subject matter experts, and external partners to advance proposals that support Gateway’s educational, workforce, and community priorities.

Why This Role Matters

Expanded Educational & Community Opportunities

• Successful grant development helps Gateway secure external resources that expand educational, workforce, and community opportunities and support the College's vision of making life-changing educational opportunities a reality.

Accessible & Industry-Focused Education

• Grant proposals connect external funding opportunities with institutional priorities that support flexible, accessible, and industry-focused education for students, employers, and communities.

Sustainable Institutional Resources

• Effective identification and pursuit of external funding strengthen Gateway's capacity to develop and sustain programs and initiatives that advance student, workforce, and community outcomes.

Collaborative Institutional Partnerships

• Coordinated grant development strengthens relationships among Gateway departments, community organizations, employers, educational partners, and funding agencies to advance shared educational and workforce priorities.

Effective Stewardship of Funding Opportunities

• Accurate, timely, and compliant proposal development supports Gateway's credibility with funding agencies and strengthens its ability to compete successfully for external resources.

What You Will Actually Do

Planning, Coordination & Continuous Improvement (30%)

• Coordinate grant development activities, proposal timelines, submission requirements, and supporting documentation to ensure timely completion.
• Organize proposal development activities across departments, program leaders, subject matter experts, and external partners.
• Facilitate development of the proposed project design, including the statement of need, goals, measurable objectives, activities, implementation timeline, staffing plan, evaluation approach, partner roles, and sustainability strategy.
• Coordinate with Institutional Research, Finance, academic and student-service units, and other data owners to obtain, validate, and appropriately present institutional, workforce, demographic, and outcome data supporting the proposal.
• Coordinate the College’s internal authorization-to-pursue process, ensuring that proposed grants have an identified executive sponsor, prospective Grant Project Manager, required institutional commitments, resource‑capacity review, and approval before substantial proposal development begins.
• Establish and monitor proposal workplans, deadlines, review processes, and submission requirements.
• Coordinate revisions, approvals, and final submission activities to ensure proposals are complete, accurate, and responsive to funder requirements.
• Evaluate grant development processes and recommend improvements that increase efficiency, consistency, and proposal quality.

Service & Relationship Management (25%)

• Collaborate with faculty, staff, administrators, program leaders, and external partners to clarify and document prioritized institutional needs and identify external funding opportunities aligned with the College’s Portfolio of Needs.
• Serve as a resource to college employees regarding grant opportunities, application requirements, submission processes, and funding agency expectations.
• Provide grant-development orientation, operational training, tools, and technical assistance to prospective Grant Project Managers, project teams, and proposal contributors in accordance with the framework and standards established by the Director of Strategic Grants.
• Communicate with funding agencies and external partners regarding funding opportunities, proposal requirements, questions, and submission processes.
• Facilitate communication among proposal contributors to ensure consistent understanding of funding requirements, roles, timelines, and deliverables.
• Build productive relationships that support collaborative and competitive grant development.

Critical Thinking & Decision-Making (20%)

• Research and evaluate funding opportunities to determine eligibility, alignment, feasibility, and potential institutional benefit.
• Interpret funding announcements, application guidelines, regulations, and funder requirements to identify proposal requirements and potential risks.
• Analyze program needs, funding priorities, and available information to support recommendations regarding potential grant opportunities.
• Identify potential barriers to proposal development and recommend solutions to address application, eligibility, budget, or compliance concerns.
• Review proposal materials for completeness, consistency, accuracy, and alignment with funding requirements before submission.

Operational Execution & Administration (20%)

• Maintain accurate grant opportunity, proposal, and submission records in designated tracking systems and institutional files.
• Maintain complete and accurate grant-development pipeline records, including funding opportunities reviewed, internal decisions, proposal status, submission deadlines, funding requested, awards received, and supporting documentation; prepare operational reports and data summaries for review and analysis by the Director of Strategic Grants.
• Coordinate required application forms, narratives, budgets, supporting documentation, approvals, and certifications.
• Identify and document proposed institutional commitments, including matching funds, cost sharing, personnel, facilities, technology, equipment, indirect‑cost treatment, and continuation costs, and coordinate required review and approval before submission.
• Coordinate collection and review of partner and proposed subrecipient documentation, including scopes of work, budgets, budget narratives, commitment letters, assurances, and other required application materials, in consultation with Finance, Procurement, Legal, and other responsible offices.
• Draft or coordinate letters of commitment, collaboration, support, and other institutional or partner assurances required for grant applications.
• Identify proposals requiring specialized institutional review—including human‑subjects research, data privacy or data‑use agreements, intellectual property, export controls, environmental requirements, or other regulatory considerations—and coordinate timely referral to the responsible College office.
• Prepare the documented award handoff package for review and authorization by the Director of Strategic Grants, including the approved proposal, final budget, institutional commitments, deliverables, reporting requirements, partner obligations, and identified implementation risks.
• Support development and review of proposal budgets in collaboration with Finance and program personnel.
• Ensure grant applications and supporting materials are submitted accurately and in accordance with established procedures and funder requirements.

Additional Responsibilities (5%)

• Maintain current knowledge of grant development practices, funding trends, agency requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Participate in professional development, grant-related training, and institutional initiatives that support effective grant development.
• Support departmental initiatives, special projects, and activities related to external funding and institutional priorities.
• Assist with development and maintenance of grant development resources, templates, tools, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and institutional operations.

What You Need to Succeed

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Three (3) years’ experience in developing, implementing, and coordinating grant programs including successful grant application/proposal development.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and data collection, including the ability to extract, organize, and interpret information from databases, reports, or other structured sources.
• Experience using quantitative and qualitative data for proposals, reports, and planning, including interpreting program metrics, outcomes, and narrative information for funder-facing materials.

Other required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Excellent writing skills, strong interpersonal skills, a propensity for teamwork, as well as organizational, and communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience with computer software and applications such as data file management, spreadsheets, and word processing; ability to utilize on-line grant submission systems.
• Demonstrate a history of initiative, flexibility, and personal accountability.
• A significant degree of organization, and interaction with faculty, staff, and administration.

Conditions of Employment

Work authorization

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis; verification of employment eligibility is required at the time of hire, and visa sponsorship is not available.

Background check

• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check

Schedule flexibility

• Flexibility to work day, evening, and weekend hours based on operational and student needs.

Additional Information

Campus: Kenosha

Division: Advancement & Strategic Partnerships

Position #: 08300

Shift: First shift

Salary: $63,499–$65,628 annually

Compensation grade: H

Employment: Professional Staff

FLSA: Exempt — Administrative

Reports to: Director of Strategic Grants

Supervisory role: No

Posting period: September 24–October 8, 2026

Application deadline: October 8, 2026, 11:59 PM Central

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

Gateway Technical College is an Equal Opportunity/Access Educator/Employer. Reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids are available for qualified individuals with disabilities. For assistance with the application process, contact the Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights at [e-mail].

Applicants may review Gateway’s Annual Security Report, including information provided under the Clery Act and Violence Against Women Act.

Please Note: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.Advance educational, workforce, and community opportunities.