Grants Project Manager

For over 50 years Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys volunteers and staff help resolve civil legal problems including domestic violence consumer fraud and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice.

Position: The Grants Project Manager ensures that grants are properly monitored and managed and that grant deliverables are completed successfully on time and within budget. Beyond the existing portfolio of known entities this position will contribute to prospect research to help identify potential new funders and contribute to building those relationships. The position will manage assigned grants prepare progress reports ensure compliance with grant regulations manage grant databases engage with funders and educate and oversee staff on grant compliance issues.

The Grants Project Manager will report to the Director of Foundation and Government Grants and work closely with External Relations program staff the Chief Advancement Officer Chief Financial Officer and other Practice Group Directors.

Responsibilities:

Strategy Prospecting and Relationship Development

• Work closely with Chief Advancement Officer Director of Foundation and Government Grants and other leadership to set funding priorities and develop strategies
• Conduct prospect research to identify corporate individual and foundation partners
• Develop and maintain relationships with funders and program officers
• Support ongoing stewardship of existing funders as assigned

Grant Writing and Proposal Development

• Interpret funding guidelines and analyze RFPs
• Draft grant narratives and supporting materials ensuring alignment with program goals and funder priorities
• Prepare and submit proposals to secure new and renewed funding
• Provide writing and editing support to the External Relations team

Grants Management

• Working with program finance and external relations staff prepare and submit funder reports including data financial and narrative components
• Maintain accurate grant records including data entry in funder portals and Raisers Edge
• Oversee compliance for grant-funded projects including deliverables timelines and other requirements
• Coordinate and lead project meetings with internal staff and external partners
• Manage project adjustments (scope staffing budget) in compliance with funder partners
• Oversee partner agencies contractors and sub-grantees to ensure compliance as applicable

Supervision

• Direct project staff on assigned grants to ensure deliverables and outcomes are achieved
• Monitor and enforce project staff timekeeping to ensure accurate allocation to grant funding sources
• Support supervisors in evaluating staff performance on grant-funded projects

Financial/Accounting

In collaboration with CFO and Grants Financial Manager:

• Monitor grant budgets and ensure appropriate spending
• Assist with financial management and respond to funder inquiries
• Support staff allocation processes
• Ensure expenses are allowable and compliant with federal and private funder requirements
• Other duties as assigned

Organizational Collaboration

• Work closely with all members of the External Relations Team to provide insights research and support on external events and projects
• Contribute to cross-departmental coordination on projects reporting and external engagement

Salary and Benefits:

This position is budgeted at $66000/annually and increases for every year of relevant experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical dental and vision insurance effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 21 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays including four floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 401(a) retirement plan with an employer contribution after 3 months of employment
• $100000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources at no cost
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

The successful candidate must have:

• Bachelors degree
• 3 years of experience with non-profit and/or grants management preferred
• Strong ability to organize workload when faced with competing priorities and to complete work assignments on a timely basis
• Demonstrated success in building relationships and working collaboratively to build or strengthen programming. Ability to bring diverse parties together in pursuit of common goals
• Strong interpersonal skills service orientation ability to multi-task effectively in a varied high volume environment and good judgment decision-making and problem solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high level of confidentiality
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word Power BI PowerPoint Excel and Outlook. Knowledge of Crystal Reports or other data visualization tools is a plus
• Working knowledge of relevant grant and nonprofit regulations and requirements to satisfactorily including the Code of Federal Regulations and OMB Uniform Guidance is a plus
• Commitment to Legal Aid Chicagos Mission

To Apply: Submit a cover letter resume and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. For applicants with previous work experience at least one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled.

Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed color national origin sex gender sexual orientation age religion marital or parental status alienage disability political affiliation or belief military or military discharge status ex-offender status family responsibilities reproductive health decisions or any other protected status.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application contact Human Resources at

Due to the high volume of applications we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding an application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.