ATSU - Associate Director, Strategic Grant Initiatives (remote, on-site, or hybrid)

A.T. Still University (ATSU) is seeking an exempt Associate Director, Strategic Grant Initiatives. The position reports to the Senior Director, Sponsored Programs. The purpose of the Associate Director, Strategic Grant Initiatives position is to build the capacity to secure, accept, and manage grant/gift funding for strategic entrepreneurial projects at ATSU. This position requires knowledge of state, federal, and foundation funding mechanisms, including pre- and post-award related functions and closeout reporting and requires strong analytical, organizational, documentation, and oral/written communication skills, plus 3-5 years of experience in Sponsored Programs (SP) or Advancement. The Associate Director operates under general supervision; therefore, excellent organizational and time management skills, attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and strong verbal grant writing skills are paramount. This individual must be a self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, and use a moderate degree of innovation, analysis, and independent reasoning to apply for grant/gift funding. This individual will interface with University leaders, SP +Advancement leaders/systems, and consultants on strategic initiative proposal development/submission and administration.

Work location: Kirksville, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; or possibly Santa Maria, California campus locations; telecommute and remote options also considered.

Major Job Duties

• Research, analyze, and recommend to ATSU officials viable and promising grant funding sources that match the University’s strategic priority areas and tie closely to ATSU’s mission and vision.
• Digest and incorporate current literature and subject matter expertise into the design of competitive SP grant proposals.
• Collaborate with Sponsored Programs and University Advancement to assure proposals for external funding are appropriately classified as either a grant or gift and managed according to University, funder, and IRS standards.
• Arrange on and off-site visits with potential funders and institutional representatives to facilitate enhanced relationship development.
• Support post-award functions as assigned including project management, budget management, data collection and analytics, preparing reports, and assessing effectiveness of strategic grant initiative efforts.
• Assist Sponsored Programs with overflow projects in pre- or post-award activities as assigned.

The position’s major responsibility is to lead relationship development and preaward grant preparation for strategic initiatives authorized by the University’s highest officials. The Associate Director, Strategic Grant Initiatives will collaborate with experts in Sponsored Programs and University Advancement to write/produce applications for external funding that are appropriately classified, sought, won, and managed according to University, funder, and IRS standards. The Associate Director must support and uphold all SP and UA standard operating procedures and processes to serve ATSU’s best interests.

A high-level of synergy is expected with the SP leadership team (Director Pre-award Services; Director, Post-award Compliance and Monitoring; Director of Grants Administration; and Content Director SP/Senior Strategist.) Additionally, the Associate Director Strategic Grant Initiatives will routinely interface with ATSU’s University Advancement (fundraising) team, University leaders, and external consultant(s).

Skills/Requirements

• Bachelor degree (BS/BA) in business, education, communication, general studies, or other field involving significant data analysis and writing + accompanying SP/UA experience required
  
  
• Graduate degree (MA, MS, MPH, MBA, etc.) + accompanying SP/UA experience desired
  
  
• Proven grant-writing track record of success
  
  
• Keen interest in learning and synthesizing information for actionable use
  
  
• Ability to define problems, collect data, identify evidence, and draw valid conclusions
  
  
• Buy-in for team-based approaches to service delivery (e.g. team writing, project co-management, group decision-making)
• Strong deadline management and related organizational skills, including documentation of work deliverables
  
  
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant SP software packages
  
  
• Advanced proficiency in Google and other digital platforms (email, calendar, groups, etc.)
  
  
• Be able to lead and work well in a team environment and independently
• Be adaptable to different working styles and able to give and receive constructive criticism from many directions
• Be able to quickly shift to and balance divergent tasks and responsibilities
• Possess exemplary ethics, integrity, and work ethic
• Maintain and project a professional, upbeat demeanor
• Be detail oriented yet also see the big picture
• Be able to work with various types of funding sources, multiple content/programmatic areas within ATSU and senior consultant(s)
• Be a positive role model and team player
• Display patience with consultants, faculty, and colleges, yet proactive in moving activity forward
• Be goal- and outcomes-oriented

ATSU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverages, among more. If eligible, employee-elected benefits would begin the first of the month following hire date. For more information, please visit: atsu.edu/employment/benefits .