Development Manager, Grants & Proposals

The Development Manager is a full-time, remote position that will improve the lives of children and families in our most underserved communities, driving impact through state and federal grants, cross-functional collaboration, and a portfolio of strategic projects.

What you’ll be responsible for:

The Development Manager will be responsible for securing sustainable funding and partnerships that are integral to achieving PLA’s mission of helping children and families excel. Your portfolio will include school-based state and federal grants, workforce development grants, charter renewals, and growth proposals. As the grant manager for a portfolio of network schools, you’re responsible for grant budgeting, applications, amendments, and coordination of grants, collaborating with school leadership and functional departments to strategically allocate grant resources based on need and guidelines. 

What you’ll do:

With guidance and support from Department Leadership, you will manage a portfolio of government grants; pursue and convert new opportunities for growth; provide implementation guidance to constituents; and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders in service of the mission. Below are some recent examples of how the Development team created positive impact:

• Secured new competitive grants and supported Talent and HR to launch a successful staff development program, helping to train, grow and retain teachers 

• Collaborated with School Leadership, Academics, Finance and Operations to strategically invest grant funding to support mental health, safety and healthy meals   

• Won the organization’s first state and federal workforce development grants, and negotiated sustainable budgets with state agencies to launch new programs preparing adult learners for good-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing, IT, and healthcare

• Led the charter application process to launch a new charter school 

Main responsibilities

Grant Management

• Secure, manage and strategically allocate state and federal grants to support academic improvement and financial sustainability

• Manage a portfolio of government grants supporting 4-5 schools, securing $3M+ annually  

• Build high quality grant budgets that are aligned with grant guidelines and strategic priorities

• Execute PLA’s resource allocation framework with exceptional fidelity, ensuring that funds are aligned to current needs 

• Reconcile actual expenses with grant budgets, ensuring that grant funds are maximized for scholar needs

• Research, identify and qualify opportunities from government sources 

Grant/Proposal Writing  

• Identify, evaluate and apply for new competitive grants from education and workforce development agencies 

• Develop proposals in response to school management RFPs  

• Prepare charter renewal and support the preparation of new charter applications

• Create and refresh language write-ups about PLA programs and systems 

• Complete narrative grant reports for accounts managed 

• Collect and synthesize network data into proposal resources   

Stakeholder Management

• Work with Academics, Finance and Operations to allocate discretionary funds 

• Provide exceptional customer service to schools and partners, including state departments, districts, authorizers, and boards 

• Support PLA departments with ongoing grant-related requests, including allowability review, grant amendments and board reports  

Project Management

• Demonstrate exceptional account ownership, leading analysis, recommendations and follow-through

• Implement standard operating procedures to ensure accurate record-keeping and timely communication with partners

Qualifications

Experience

• Bachelor or higher degree from an accredited university, preferably in fields that involve both persuasive writing and data-driven analysis 

• 5+ years of relevant experience, including developing complex, competitive government grant proposals, including narratives and budgets 

• Track record working in a dynamic, results-focused environment, strongly preferred

Skills

• Superior writing, research, project management and organizational skills

• Desire and capacity to generate strategic analysis 

• Ability to analyze project budgets and financial documents 

• Capacity to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality

• High proficiency with Excel and spreadsheet management

Competencies: 

• Demonstrate resilience and humility in the face of challenges  

• Engagement with reflecting on personal assumptions and seeking feedback in a culturally diverse work environment 

• Demonstrate high ethical standards 

• Embody PLA’s core values: Children First; Respect; Determination; Continuous Improvement; and Gratitude.

Background

Entrepreneurial Ventures in Education is a non-profit organization working to improve the educational performance and life opportunities of children who live in underserved communities. Our flagship program, Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA), is a school management operator that provides high-quality public-school education that children need and deserve.

Founded in 2013, PLA is currently serving 10,000 children and adult learners across 20 schools. Over 90% of PLA scholars come from underserved communities. Working with lifelong educators, we have developed an evidence-based educational model that has consistently elevated student performance, transforming underperforming schools into A-rated schools and accelerating the pace of academic growth for our scholars. Core pillars of the PLA model include rigorous curriculum; a coaching cycle that grows educators; daily enrichment opportunities; and authentic partnership with families. 

To further support the families and communities we serve, we recently launched Skilled US, a workforce development program that provides adult learners viable pathways to a living wage, good jobs, and a more promising future. 

This search is managed by our talent partner, WorkTogether.