Senior Grant Specialist

adams; Alamosa (CO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Adams State University is seeking a Senior Grant Specialist to drive external funding, lead proposal development, and coordinate campus-wide grant efforts. This exempt, full-time role centers on researching opportunities, writing strong proposals, and ensuring compliance with federal guidelines.

The position reports to the Provost and requires collaboration with faculty, staff, and administrators to align with institutional goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in English, Communications, Public Administration or related field.
• Five years or more of proven grant writing and proposal development experience; federal grant guidelines knowledge expected.
• Excellent writing, editing, communication, data analysis and organizational skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines under changing funding landscapes.
• Experience with budget development and financial reporting related to grant proposals.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and conduct research to identify funding opportunities addressing strategic priorities.
• Supervise, facilitate, write, and assist with development of compelling grant proposals and narratives.
• Coordinate completion of internal processes (concept proposals, intents to apply, budgets) to meet policy.
• Chair Grant Concept Review Committee and conduct review meetings twice monthly.
• Guide faculty and staff on developing proposals, including draft and budget review.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements and submission deadlines.
• Facilitate post-award transitions and maintain records for reporting.
• Mentor campus grant-writing culture and oversee grant process presentations.

Skills

Grant writing

Proposal development

Research

Editing

Communication

Budgeting

Data analysis

Project management

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Public Administration, or related field

Master’s degree in English, Communications, Public Administration, or related field

Job description

Position Summary: The Senior Grant Specialist is at the center of accessing external funding to drive campus innovations and promote collaborative initiatives in higher education that can change the trajectory of students’ lives toward greater economic and social mobility, with potential positive effects across families and future generations. The position entails research, writing, and submitting grant proposals to diverse funding organizations to secure financial support for university initiatives and projects. The Senior Grant Specialist also oversees, coordinates and facilitates campus proposal development processes, and works closely with faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure high-quality submissions that align with institutional goals and funding priorities in fulfillment of the university’s purpose, vision, and strategic plan. A key aim of this work is to support the development of proposals that uplift our students to attain their personal goals and expand educational pathways to rewarding employment and careers. This is an exempt, full-time position that supports institutional advancement. Because close collaboration with the campus community is essential to this role, we will not consider remote work. The position reports to the Provost.

Specific Job Duties (Essential Functions and Responsibilities):

Grant Proposal Development:

• Oversee and conduct research to identify funding opportunities that address the university’s strategic priorities and initiatives, and share with relevant campus constituents.
• Supervise, facilitate, write, and/or assist with the development of compelling grant proposals and narratives that effectively communicate institutional and project goals, research methodologies, outcomes, evaluation, and budget justifications to meet solicitation specifications.
• Oversee and assist faculty and staff to develop or complete the non-technical aspects of grant proposals; facilitate faculty/staff incorporation of technical (program-specific) content and supporting research into proposals.
• Provide supervision and guidance to the Grant Specialist to ensure the production of high-quality proposals to meet deadlines in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements, including agency regulations and institutional policy, and proposal preparation guidelines such as formatting, supporting documentation, and submission deadlines.
• Submit grants as the university’s primary Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).

Proposal Coordination and Facilitation:

• Serve as chair of the Grant Concept Review Committee and conduct review meetings twice monthly as needed.
• Coordinate completion of internal university processes (Concept Proposals, Intents to Apply, budgets) to meet Adams State Grant Policy, including communications with departmental representatives /project directors and with the Finance Office, Controller of Sponsored Programs, Purchasing Office, and Adams State University Foundation, as applicable.
• Provide guidance and support to faculty, staff, and consultants on developing competitive proposals, including draft and budget review, and feedback for improvement.
• Coordinate proposal development meetings, agenda, timelines, and deliverables to ensure timely submission, including budgets for review by the Controller of Sponsored Programs.
• Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to facilitate institutional data extraction and reporting mechanism/s for grant applications upon request.
• Facilitate collaborations among multiple departments or institutions when necessary to strengthen proposals and enhance competitiveness.

Grant Planning and Communications:

• Mentor and facilitate a culture of grant-writing by assisting campus faculty, staff, and administrators with budget and proposal preparation to advance the mission and strategic priorities of Adams State University. Oversee and conduct informational Adams State grant process presentations or proposal development workshops for campus constituents.
• Oversee development of current listings of grant resources and coordinate external resources such as memberships and subscriptions to current grant listings to support grant research; identify supplementary grant-writing services secured through independent contractors as needed.
• Monitor and oversee updates to the Grants Administration web page, monthly Cabinet status reports, and information on grant awards provided to the Public Relations & Marketing Office to be publicized in the campus e-newsletter and other publications.
• Review and complete annual registrations in sam.gov to maintain institutional eligibility to apply for federal grants. Advise Chief Financial Officer (sam.gov Administrator and grants.gov EBiz Point of Contact) on role updates required.
• Facilitate transitions for post-award processes (e.g. forward award notifications, respond to inquiries re: scope and compliance) and maintain accurate records of internal approvals, grant submissions, awards, and post-award budget revisions for reporting and planning purposes.

Professional Development and Networking:

• Oversee monitoring of grant funding trends, policies, and opportunities to advise university leadership on funding potentials.
• Attend workshops, conferences, and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.

Qualifications Required:

• A bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Business, Public Administration, or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Five years or more of proven experience in successful grant writing and proposal development, including knowledge of federal grant guidelines and securing federal grants. Demonstrated success securing state and/or private grant funding is also desired.
• Excellent writing, editing, communication, data analysis, and organizational skills, including spreadsheets and word processing, database searches.
• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and commitment to producing high-quality work under tight deadlines; responsiveness to changes in the external funding landscape.
• Experience with budget development and financial reporting related to grant proposals.
• Commitment to people, perspective and place in the context of Adams State University and the San Luis Valley.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teams and interest‑holders from a range of backgrounds and experience, including faculty, administrators, and external partners.
• Project management and/or supervisory experience.
• Must have ability to perform the job description.

Preferred:

• A Master’s degree in English, Communications, Business, Public Administration, or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Five or more years of successful grant‑writing experience at a university and current knowledge of funding sources and grant‑making processes in higher education or related fields.

To be considered for this role, candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Please note that Adams State University is unable to provide sponsorship, transfer, or support for employment visas (such as H-1B, TN ect.) for this specific opening.

Location:

On-site in Alamosa, CO

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $69,500-$83,400. Compensation is competitive, commensurate with experience and qualifications and includes a liberal benefits package and retirement plan. The bottom of the range is aligned with applicants who meet minimum requirements but have limited experience. The top of the range expects significant years of experience at this level with demonstrated success acquiring federal grants. For detailed benefits information please visit our Human Resources Benefits Page.

Questions about the position may be directed to Margaret Doell at [e-mail]

We strive to create a more representative workforce that mirrors the people who study, work, and lead our institution and welcome applications from candidates from all walks of life, especially members of communities who fall within state and federally protected classes such as: women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities.

We value qualified candidates, with varied language skills, who have a record of successful experience with varied communities and student populations, and who have a deep understanding of and commitment to the unique geographical and historical characteristics of the place we are situated in and the intersecting perspectives that define our university being a low‑income, first‑generation, and Hispanic‑serving, rural anchor university. Therefore, we seek individuals committed to intentionally supporting students and colleagues who possess these characteristics through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

The successful candidate will join a campus that is dedicated to inclusive excellence and acknowledges Adams State’s purpose to foster the educational goals of its students and the well‑being of the surrounding community.

Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/

In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.

Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well‑informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU's Office of Equal Opportunity, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU's sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University's Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/. These procedures also describe the University's response to reports and/or complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment.

Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.