The Parks and Recreation Private/Public Partnership Grants Manager position leads the development and implementation of the department’s private and public grants strategy, including all steps in the process from identification of grant resources, matching parks and recreation objectives with those resources, application preparation, and supporting staff in reporting and close out. This position is also responsible for developing partnerships to increase engagement and funding opportunities in the private sector, such as the William Penn Foundation.  The ideal candidate will take a detail-oriented approach to identify, track, apply, and comply with grant and funding requirements. Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills are needed to articulate the rules, regulations, and requirements of myriad grant programs.

Essential Functions

• Identify potential grant resources from government agencies, foundations, and corporations to meet the strategic, financial, and operational needs of PPR.
• Maintain a library of grant program guidelines and a catalogue of grant applications to track and evaluate application results.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with funders, such as the William Penn Foundation and work with The Philadelphia City Fund to manage private grants.
• Create shared resource of grant opportunities that identifies typical timelines, qualifications/limitations for scope, funding match requirements, funding potential, additional considerations, and other applicable info.
• Manage planning and development of grant proposals for parks and recreation projects. Submit grant applications on behalf of PPR.
• Understand the primary roles and functions of the portfolio departments, specifically Program, Strategy and Engagement, and the Capital Infrastructure and Natural Lands and Operations divisions of Parks and Recreation.
• Manage and supervise a grant development and coordination team including consultants, and key stakeholders in other departments, to achieve City goals.
• Serve as a liaison among PPR and other City departments (as applicable), and funders. Coordinate with the Budget Office, the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other City departments (as applicable).
• Analyze federal, state, and City legislative and policy initiatives to determine potential funding impacts on the city’s parks and recreation programs and offer recommendations to PPR’s senior staff regarding the City’s position. Work with PPR to scope, develop, and maintain a six-year capital plan.
• Work with PPR to identify and develop strategies that prioritize projects to optimize the grants administration process.
• Support non-profit partner submissions for projects on PPR properties, or for acquisition of properties, including pre application phase with grant funder and prospective grantees.
• Submit grant applications on behalf of Parks and Recreation and assist partner groups with submissions.
• Grant preparation and reporting, with support from project staff as needed.
• Track deadlines and deliverables to ensure staff meets grant-related responsibilities.
• Oversight and submission to meet the grantor’s closeout requirements, with support from a project manager.
• Provide quality assurance that the grant proposal is complete and in accordance with a funder’s requirements.
• Monitor paperwork and other related documents connected with grant-funded programs.
• Monitor payments and receivables and track funding received.
• Work with Deputy Commissioners to facilitate quarterly grant meetings within PPR, and including other partner departments, as needed.
• Assist PPR in fielding requests for application support from third parties, such as other City departments or non-profit organizations.
• Support the policy and planning work at PPR, as required, including assisting with public engagement and data analysis on parks and recreation projects including programming, strategy and engagement, and capital infrastructure and natural lands projects.
• Other duties as assigned

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• State and Federal Grant Literacy. Proficient in identifying diverse funding opportunities
• Planning and evaluating. Possess exceptional organizational skills; demonstrated time management skills, including an ability to prioritize tasks while maintaining attention to detail; analytical skills; basic financial management skills, including developing and monitoring budgets and financial reporting.
• Written Communication. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Oral Communication. Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information makes clear and convincing oral presentations;
• Interpersonal Skills. Develops and maintains effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Supervisory and/or project and program management experience is preferred but not required
• Ability to work independently with clear direction.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Master’s degree preferred. Optimal candidate has a planning, urban studies, or related degree with experience in the grant writing/grant administration field.
• Five or more years of experience in grant writing, administration, or equivalent experience.
• Experience and knowledge of federal and state grant funding.
• Experience working with non-profit partners, planners and design consultants on project development.

Desirable:

• Experience and knowledge of transportation capital funding, and of the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in particular.
• Experience working with non-profit partners, architects, planners, design consultants and community engagement and programming staff on project development.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

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