Grant Specialist

GENERAL PURPOSE: The Grant Specialist is responsible for researching and identifying grant opportunities, developing, writing, and submitting grant proposals, and managing and reporting on grant awards to support the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. The majority of this position’s time is dedicated to parks and recreation-related funding initiatives, including capital projects, programming, trails, open space, conservation, recreation access, and community wellness efforts.  This position also supports grant research, proposal development, and coordination for other City departments. The remaining time supports other Parks and Recreation Department and City of Wheat Ridge initiatives and needs.

Wheat Ridge was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush as a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting.

CORE VALUES: The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to excellence and ACTION!:

• Accountability: Employees take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and recommendations and are accountable to each other and the community
• Change: Adapts to changing organizational needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.
• Teamwork: Employees value teamwork as a collaborative effort, with each person contributing unique skills, knowledge, and training to achieve common goals.
• Integrity: Employees uphold the highest ethical standards, recognize the importance of public and customer trust and adhere to the values of the organization.
• Opportunity: Employees are empowered to grow professionally, develop best practices, and seek challenges to advance the City.
• NOW!: Employees are proactive, timely, and efficient in responding to the needs of the organization and the community – NOW!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with team members to identify funding needs.
• Research local, state, federal, and private grant and funding opportunities.
• Prioritize time and effort to align opportunities with organization needs and return on investment (ROI).
• Develop and submit competitive grant proposals, typically including budget development, identifying matching funds, narrative writing, and developing required attachments.
• Manage grant administration, reporting, compliance, documentation and close-out of awarded grants.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with past, current, and future funding partners.
• Maintain grant calendars and funding pipelines for current and future organization needs and initiatives.
• Assist with project management and coordination on projects when grant funding is involved.
• Prepare project spreadsheets and manage various information on projects including payments for special projects.
• Involvement in long-term planning to identify and be aware of future funding needs.
• Prepare written staff reports, agenda memoranda, and award nominations.
• Provide support and assistance in developing and preparing the annual department budget, focusing on secured and anticipated grant revenue and related expenses.
• Prepare department communications and disseminate information via various mediums on behalf of the department.
• Assist other city departments in proposal preparation, budget development, and submission.
• Support interdepartmental grant coordination and ensure alignment with City priorities.
• Coordinate with Finance on grant budgeting, accounting, and audits.
• Develop internal grant procedures and best practices.
• Maintain grant records and documentation in accordance with City policies and funder requirements.
• Other duties assigned as appropriate by the position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Public Administration, Business or related field from an accredited university or college.

• Three (3) years of professional level experience in a Parks and Recreation Department with increasing responsibility OR Three (3) years of professional level experience managing grants for an aligning organization, such as a public agency or similar non-profit organization.
• A Master’s Degree may be substituted for two (2) years of the minimum experience requirement. Additional appropriate experience maybe substituted for the minimum education requirement.
• Experience includes grant writing and administration; developing and managing public involvement and civic engagement processes
• Preparing and managing budgets, specifically in terms of including projected matching funds, projected project expenses, and projected grant revenue.
  • Also general budget management and expense tracking experience
• Project management, specifically projects with state and/or federal grant funds involved.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local grant processes and compliance requirements.
• Strong technical and persuasive writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and complex funding requirements.
• Knowledge of municipal budgeting and public sector financial procedures.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and build partnerships.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Familiarity with parks and recreation funding sources (e.g., LWCF, GOCO, etc.) preferred.
• Local government experience preferred.

HOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: This is a full-time position. This position is primarily administrative in nature, working indoors and completing tasks, projects, and communications using a computer, office phone, printer and other standard office equipment. Work location will be at a City building within a typical office environment. Use of a personal or City vehicle to travel to meetings, projects sites, and conferences will occasionally be necessary. 

The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.