Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity, and respect. Our programs are staffed by experts who help over 325,000 clients each year and advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our services include 100% affordable housing at 21 locations, family violence services, Holocaust survivor assistance, geriatric social work, crisis intervention and the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 101 food pantries, affordable housing sites, and affiliated JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York City.

Position Summary:

The Director, Government Grants is responsible for supporting Met Council’s efforts to maintain, diversify and pursue funding resources with a focus on government sources. The Director, Government Grants is responsible for the initial research of funding opportunities and is an integral part in aiding Met Council’s program development and fiscal soundness. The position will report directly to the Chief Development Officer. The director will also collaborate with the Development Department, executive and administrative services staff, and each program department as needed while pursuing new and current foundation funding.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Identifies and researches funding opportunities from city, county, state, and federal government agencies.
• Summarizes and reports on recently released requests for proposals and monitors the development and release of forthcoming government grant opportunities that Met Council may be interested in pursuing. This may include tracking new legislation supporting new grant resources, the State Financial Services (SFS) and City Passport systems and other government platforms.
• Complete thorough and professionally written applications in response to government grant opportunities.
• Apply a clear understanding of agencywide priorities and funding and programmatic needs to develop fundraising strategies.
• Assures the grant process remains aligned with the core mission and with grant timelines in coordination with executive leadership, program staff, fiscal and contracts.
• Develops grant application budgets in collaboration with the program directors and the Met Council budget director.
• Works closely with department data management staff to ensure current and appropriate data is provided for government applications and reports.
• Ensures all organizational and administrative documentation required for applications is current and properly vetted and/or reviewed by the Met Council legal department.
• Maintain a calendar of government application and reporting deliverables in the Development Department’s Salesforce database platform.
• Supports program staff in reporting narratives as the need arises.
• Keep abreast of best practices and strategies in the field of grants management and educate the development department as appropriate.
• Key contributing member of the Development Team to coordinate, communicate and collaborate with the department, as well as with other departments within Met Council.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with key government staff, as needed.
• Additional responsibilities as required.

Competencies:

• Exceptional written communication and presentation skills, with the ability to teach these skills to staff
• Strong analytical and reasoning abilities
• Ability to think creatively and develop innovative solutions
• Accountability and dependability
• Excellent organization skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks
• Strong attention to detail
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to work collaboratively with others and across functions
• Strong grant writing skills and experience with securing government funding
• Ability to build and maintain relationships

Skill and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (required), Master’s degree (preferred).
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in grant writing in the Social Services not-for-profit sector with a focus on government grants.
• Experience in researching and prospecting government grants with a broad knowledge of city, state, county, and federal government funding sources, (preferred).

Compensation: $135,000 to $145,000 per year.

Benefits: Major medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; pre-tax commuter benefits; FSA; 403(b) with employer contribution; plus generous vacation, sick leave, and holidays.