Grants Specialist - Grants Specialist 3

State of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking a Grants Specialist 3 for the Fish & Wildlife Division. Based in Saint Paul, this role manages federal and non-federal grants, coordinates proposals, ensures compliance, and serves as the primary contact with grant agencies.

Ideal candidates have several years of grant management experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders while meeting deadlines.

Qualifications

• Three years of professional experience administering or coordinating a publicly funded grant program or coordinating incoming grants.
• Bachelor's degree can substitute for one year of experience.
• Knowledge of grants procedures and related laws, rules and regulations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for working with staff, partners and contractors.
• Analytical and critical-thinking skills to interpret statutes, contracts and reports.
• Organizational and problem-solving skills to handle multiple assignments and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as division’s primary contact for incoming grant opportunities and communicate to statewide staff and partners.
• Coordinate with DNR staff to implement, manage and monitor grants, including related subgrants and subcontracts.
• Oversee fiscal administration of statewide grants to ensure compliance and timely reimbursement.
• Identify and share essential grant information with FAW staff and external partners.
• Provide statewide consultation on FAW grant programs to ensure compliance with laws and policies.
• Assist Administrative Services with budget management, cost accounting and financial reporting.

Skills

Grant administration

Communication

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Grant management software

Job description

Working Title: Grants Specialist

Job Class: Grants Specialist 3

Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

• Job ID : 98211

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 11/09/2026

• Closing Date : 12/02/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources

• Division/Unit : Fish & Wildlife / F&W Director Staff

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Occasional

• Salary Range: $32.97 - $48.60 / hourly; $68,841 - $101,476 / 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

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

The DNR is seeking to hire one (1) Grants Specialist 3 at our central office in Saint Paul, MN.

This position administers and coordinates MN DNR's Fish and Wildlife Division's federal and non-federal incoming grants, except for the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grants. Individual grants and program responsibilities vary with funding availability. Current grant programs include Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, National Wildlife Federation grants, Interjurisdictional Fisheries Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service grants and US Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Program grants. The grants managed by this position support division priorities and provide essential funding. Working with division staff, this position identifies funding opportunities, develops proposals, and ensures ongoing compliance with grant requirements. Administration includes financial tracking, contract and subaward review, reporting and regulatory compliance. This position serves as the primary point of contact with granting agencies. It also assists the Administrative Services Section Manager with special projects as needed.

This position may be eligible to telework up to 50% of the time, which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement. This position may require you to report to the central office location, for meetings, trainings, onboarding or as needed by supervisor. Travel may be required for occasional overnight meetings or site visits, typically 1-5 trips per year.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the division’s primary contact for incoming grant opportunities. Communicate grant opportunities to statewide staff and other partners. Coordinate and prepare incoming grant applications to meet administrative, fiscal and programmatic needs. Coordinate support of partner-led grant applications.

• Coordinate with DNR staff and partners throughout the state to implement, manage, and monitor statewide incoming grants, as well as related subgrants and subcontracts. Ensure that administrative and programmatic requirements are met in a timely manner.

• Coordinate the fiscal administration of statewide incoming grants to ensure fiscal compliance and timely reimbursement. This includes support for subcontracts and subgrants.

• Identify and implement effective methods for communicating essential grant information to FAW staff, other divisions and external partners.

• Provide statewide consultation on FAW grant programs to ensure programs remain compliant with federal law, state law, grantor requirements, and department and division policies. Assist in the resolution of operational issues.

• Support the Administrative Services Section Manager with special projects related to budget management, cost accounting, and financial reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three (3) years of professional experience administering or coordinating a publicly funded grant program or coordinating incoming grants. Prior experience must demonstrate the ability to evaluate grant applications for applicability, develop grant proposals, evaluate performance against grant objectives, analyze grant fiscal performance, and assess grant compliance with federal laws, state statutes and departmental policies.

• A bachelor's degree in grant administration, business administration, public policy administration, natural resources, or a related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience.

• Knowledge of grants procedures and techniques and the applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations sufficient to administer an incoming grants program.

• Communication and interpersonal skills sufficient to establish strong working relationships with agency leadership, agency staff, grant partners and contractors; explain complex requirements in plain language, provide technical assistance to individual grant managers, and respond effectively to questions.

• Analytical and critical-thinking skills sufficient to interpret and apply statutes, policies, contracts, procedures, and other requirements; analyze financial and programmatic information; identify issues and alternative solutions; and make sound recommendations.

• Organizational and problem-solving skills sufficient to handle multiple assignments, work within tight deadlines, maintain accurate documentation, adapt to changing priorities, and resolve issues.

• Computer skills sufficient to use word processing, spreadsheet, database, communication and related business applications to maintain records, analyze information, and prepare professional work products. Computer skills sufficient to manage grants in multiple grant management platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree or master's degree in grant administration, business administration, public policy administration, natural resources or a related field.

• Experience with natural resource management including fish or wildlife management, and/or habitat management including vegetation ecology and the biology of exotic invasive species.

• Experience with the functions, programs, operations, structure and interrelationships of a major statewide natural resource management organization.

• Experience identifying and implementing improvements to administrative processes, guidance, forms, workflows, or customer service.

• Experience with community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, local governments, Tribal Nations and Tribal governments or other organizations/entities with differing levels of experience navigating government programs.

Additional Requirements

There are no required driving duties.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Conflict of Interest Review
• Criminal History Check
• Education Verification
• Employment Reference / Records Check
• License / Certification Verification

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.