Grants Director, Exempt
Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered
Relocation Compensation may be available and considered
Salary: $113,592.00 - $132,492.00 Annually
To allow for growth and salary progression, the full salary range is: $113,592.00 - $139,452.00

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 9/25/25. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

• Provide subject matter expertise on federal, state, and philanthropic grant activities.
• Maintain strong knowledge of the federal, state, and non-governmental funding landscape and grant reporting processes.
• Act as the primary point of contact on federal funding affairs.
• Participate and represent DNR in statewide and subcabinet workgroups, strategy groups, technical and funding communities of practice.
• Ensure compliance with grant funding agreement conditions and reporting requirements by coordinating across the agency and with external partners agencies and departments.
• Develop agency policies, procedures, and tools to ensure compliance with state and federal grant administration guidance. 
• Develop policies, procedures, and tools to assist staff with grant coordination and administration, including providing letters of support and the approval process by leadership before applying for funding. 
• Provide regular updates and communication to leadership on the status of grants, administration, new or updated policies, procedures, and tools, and relevant information.
• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of a federal, state, local, and philanthropic grants strategy for the agency.
• Work with the executive team, programs, divisions, regions, community partners, and stakeholders to advocate for grant funding, track and communicate policy issues, and other impacts related to funding. 
• Maintain an ongoing needs assessment of agency gaps and needs related to grant funding and resources.
• Assess in partnership with executive staff, including the Chief Financial Officer, State Forester, and State Geologist, actions to prioritize agency grants strategy.
• Oversee coordination of DNR’s grant applications, status, and outcomes for federal, state, and philanthropic funding opportunities with programs, divisions, regions, and external partners to ensure consistency, reduce redundancy, and improve effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain an agency-wide procedure and tool to monitor federal, state, and non-governmental activities that could result in grant funding.
• Communicate regular updates to leadership and staff on the status of grant opportunities and activities.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or related field;
  OR a combination of education and/or experience equivalent.
• At least 5 years of experience developing and implementing grant programs.
• Demonstrated leadership related to the full spectrum of creating, managing, and completing Federal grant opportunities. This includes financial program analysis, compliance, policy development, innovation, community, and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal, state, and/or philanthropic grant-making processes and experience in government and philanthropic partnerships.
• Proven experience writing, securing, and managing federal grants of more than $5 million.
• Expertise in environmental justice practices and programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state regulatory processes. Knowledge of federal regulatory rules, guidelines, enforcement, and administration.
• Experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders in complex policy and program delivery settings.
• Ability to think strategically while implementing and executing on initiatives and appropriately influencing outcomes.
• Strong written, verbal, and graphic communication skills, including briefing memos, presentations, and public speaking.
• Ability to analyze proposed legislation and/or regulations to determine impacts on funding opportunities for the agency.
• Expertise in drafting grants strategies or prioritization frameworks, working with multi-sectoral leadership.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.