Grants Manager - Grants Specialist Sr

State of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, seeks a Grants Manager to administer state and federal grant programs within the Office of Justice Programs. You will develop program goals, monitor compliance, and lead training sessions for internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities include managing a portfolio of grants, ensuring financial and programmatic reporting, and collaborating to improve efficiency and access to grant programs.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of dedicated experience in program management, public administration, or closely related field.
• Experience interpreting laws, regulations, and policies to ensure program compliance.
• Knowledge of budgeting principles and financial documentation.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor a portfolio of state and federally funded grants for the Office of Justice Programs.
• Develop grant programs and modify current programs; execute competitive funding processes.
• Lead special projects to improve grants administration and access to funding opportunities.
• Engage with stakeholders to provide training and technical assistance on grants.
• Develop and implement policies and processes related to grants administration.

Skills

Grant management

Budgeting

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Customer service

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public/Nonprofit Admin

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Working Title: Grants Manager

Job Class: Grants Specialist Senior

Agency: Public Safety Dept

• Job ID : 97638
• Location : St. Paul
• Telework Eligible : Yes
• Full/Part Time : Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers and for all current Minnesota Department of Public Safety employees only. Eligible bidders (permanent, classified employees in the same job classification)
• Date Posted : 10/13/2026
• Closing Date : 10/26/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Public Safety Dept / Public Safety-MAPE
• Division/Unit : Office of Justice Programs / OJP GRANTS RED TEAM
• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Days of Work : Monday - Friday
• Travel Required : Yes - Up to 25% of the time
• Salary Range: $30.76 - $45.26 / hourly; $64,226 - $94,502 / annually
• Classified Status : Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status : Nonexempt
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) at the Department of Public Safety provides leadership and resources to reduce crime, improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, and assist crime victims. This position exists to administer state and federal grant programs relating to violence prevention and intervention, youth intervention, criminal justice, and juvenile justice.

The OJP Grants Specialist Senior is responsible for administering state grant programs. The Grants Specialist Senior establishes program goals and objectives, is a project leader for grant programs, develops financial and programmatic reporting systems, develops, and conducts grant program administration training sessions for both internal and external stakeholders, monitors compliance of grantees, and evaluates policies and procedures for program administration.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage and monitor a portfolio of state and federally funded grants for the Office of Justice Programs.
• Provide comprehensive grant program administration including development of new grant programs or modification of current grant programs and the execution of competitive funding processes.
• Lead special projects for the Office of Justice Programs to improve the efficacy, efficiency, and compliance of OJP grants administration and access to OJP’s grant programs.
• In collaboration with the External Relations Unit and Operations Unit, develop and execute community engagement with and training and technical assistance to potential grant applicants, grant applicants, grantees, community groups, and other stakeholders regarding OJP funding opportunities and OJP grants administration.
• Develop, implement, and communicate policies, procedures, and processes related to grants administration for OJP.
• Provide high levels of customer service and technical assistance to grantees and potential grantees.

The Department of Public Safety is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DPS does not participate in E-Verify.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two (2) years* of dedicated experience in program management, public administration, or closely related field.

Applicants that meet the above qualifications will be further evaluated on the following:

• Experience interpreting and applying complex laws, regulations, polices, and procedures to ensure program compliance, including experience administering and managing grants, contracts, or other legal agreements
• Experience identifying and responding to non-compliance concerns, including developing corrective action plans and maintaining accountability while preserving effective working relationships.
• Knowledge of accounting and budgeting principles sufficient to review financial documentation, identify discrepancies, and resolve fiscal reporting issues.
• Experiencemanagingmultipletasks,attentiontodetail,organization,meetingdeadlines,strongproblem-solvingskills,andabilityto adaptto changingcircumstances.
• Communicationskillssufficient topresentcomplexinformationinplainlanguageto variedaudiencesincludingone-on-onecommunication,written reports,andpresentations.
• Interpersonalskillssufficienttoestablishcollaborativeworkingrelationshipswithcolleaguesandpartnerswithvariedbackgroundsandexperiences.
• ExcellentcomputerskillsincludingproficiencyinMicrosoftOfficeSuite.
• Abilitytoworkcooperativelywithindividualsfromdiversebackgroundsandunderserved communities

*A bachelors degree in public or nonprofit administration, public policy, accounting, planning, political science, criminal justice, community and economic development, or closely related field as determined by the agency can substitute for one (1) year of experience OR a master's degree may substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience analyzing, interpreting, and implementing federal and state laws, rules, policies, and procedures related to grant program administration.
• Experience as a federal grant manager and/or managing sub-awards of federal grants.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of project management.
• Experience developing, implementing, and communicating technical documents such as policies, procedures, processes, or training materials.
• Experience with community engagement, training, and/or technical assistance to potential grant applicants, grant applicants, grantees, community groups, and other stakeholders regarding public funding opportunities and public grants administration.

Physical Requirements

Requires occasionally moving and transporting such articles as file folder and small tools. May need to maintain stationary position for long periods of time while carrying out job duties.

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of the following:

It is the policy of the Department of Public Safety that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment, includes the following components:

1) criminal history

2) reference check

3) drivers license check

4) SEMA4 records, personnel file and employment records (current and former state employees only).

The Department of Public Safety is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DPS does not participate in E-Verify.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [e-mail] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.