Summary
The Senior Grants Manager plays a pivotal role in driving the organization’s grant strategy and execution, ensuring that all grant-funded activities align with organizational priorities and long-term goals. This position oversees the full lifecycle of grant management—including pre-award review, post-award compliance, reporting, invoicing, and close-out—while working cross-functionally across all departments. The Senior Grants Manager ensures that grant implementation supports programmatic impact, financial accountability, and the organization’s broader mission and strategic direction.
Duties
Grant Lifecycle Management
- Lead the setup of newly awarded grants, including internal documentation, budget configuration, reporting schedules, and kickoff coordination with relevant teams.
- Review and interpret grant agreements, ensuring the organization can comply with all stated terms and conditions before acceptance.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure proper systems and documentation are in place for tracking activities, deliverables, and expenditures.
- Manage the grant close-out process, including submission of final reports, reconciliation of funds, and archiving of required documentation.
Grant Compliance and Financial Oversight
- Monitor ongoing compliance with grant terms, funder regulations, and internal policies.
- Submit budget modifications and line-item adjustments in coordination with Finance and Program teams, ensuring funder approval when required.
- Generate and submit timely, accurate invoices to funders, including all required documentation and backup.
- Track grant spending, ensure timely drawdowns, and flag any risk of under- or overspending.
- Support audits and ensure documentation is in order for federal, state, and private grant requirements.
Data Management and Reporting
- Collect, analyze, and maintain grant-related program data (quantitative and qualitative) for required reports and internal reviews.
- Submit programmatic and financial reports in coordination with internal teams and funder expectations.
- Maintain a centralized calendar and tracking system for deliverables, reports, invoices, and compliance milestones.
- Partner with staff to ensure that all data submitted to funders is accurate, timely, and mission-aligned.
Program and Cross-Functional Coordination
- Collaborate closely with program teams to ensure grant-funded work is on track, documented, and aligned with deliverables.
- Serve as a liaison between funders and internal departments to communicate expectations, timelines, and performance metrics.
- Provide training and guidance to staff on grant compliance, allowable costs, and reporting requirements.
- Assist teams with documentation and process improvements to enhance grants efficiency across the organization.
Donor Stewardship and Development Support
- Ensure that funders receive timely, customized communications and acknowledgments.
- Support Communications team with creation of donor-facing materials such as acknowledgment letters, impact updates, and success stories.
- Maintain accurate grant records in the organizational grants management system to support cultivation and stewardship efforts.
KEY COMPETENCIES
Supervision & Leadership
- Supervise Grant Manager and set effective workflows with clear directives, deadlines, and goals.
- Role model professionalism and set standard for team and workplace culture
Collaboration & Communication
- Effectively present information and respond to grant questions from VTAEYC staff and external stakeholders
- Work collaboratively with Finance and all departments to achieve shared goals in a deadline-driven environment.
Attention to Detail and Organization
- Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple complex grants simultaneously.
- Proven experience reviewing and interpreting grant contracts and managing budgets, invoicing, and close-outs.
Requirements
EDUCATION and TRAINING
- Bachelor’s degree required; Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Finance, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in nonprofit finance, data, and/or grant management, with demonstrated expertise in both private and government grants.
- Proficient Google & Microsoft office suite, Quickbooks, and grants management systems (e.g., Zengine, Fluxx).
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
- Flexible work location within or near Vermont; work remotely from home or work out of VTAEYC’s shared office in Washington County, Vermont.
- Hours: primarily daytime, Monday through Friday. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required
- Travel: Some travel in the state of Vermont will be required.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Paid Leave
- Sick Leave
- Retirement Plan
- Professional Development
- Flexible Schedule
- Dependent Care Account
- Flex Office Stipend
- Mileage Reimbursement
Work Remotely
Flexible work from home options available
About Us
About VTAEYC
The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) advances excellence and equity in early childhood education as the state’s largest membership organization for early childhood educators and is the state affiliate of NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children. As a nonprofit organization formed by a grassroots effort 50+ years ago and now with nearly 700 members, VTAEYC offers advocacy, workforce development, professional development and other resources to its membership and others in the early childhood education field. VTAEYC aims to meet the needs of today’s early childhood education workforce and create a stronger, more equitable early childhood education system for the future.
