Description

POSITION: Full-Time Assistant Director of Grant Development (Assistant Director): Grant Development; Haverhill Campus; 37.5 hours per week; Non-Unit Professional Position.

SUMMARY: The Assistant Director of Grant Development is a key member of the Institutional Advancement team and is responsible for coordinating and managing critical aspects of the college's public and private grant portfolio. The position supports the full lifecycle of grant activity, including proposal development, budget preparation, submission coordination, compliance review, award administration, reporting, and institutional grant record management.

Working independently and collaboratively across the college, the Assistant Director of Grant Development partners with faculty, staff, administrators, funding agencies, and external stakeholders to facilitate the successful development, implementation, and administration of grant-funded initiatives. The position also contributes to broader Institutional Advancement functions as needed.

This position reports to the Associate Vice President, Strategic Relations & Resource Development.

RESPONSIBILITIES:                

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Proposal Development (40%)

• Assist faculty and staff with grant development activities across academic, workforce development, student services, institutional advancement, and administrative divisions.
• Review Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), application guidelines, sponsor requirements, and submission instructions from federal, state, municipal, and private funding agencies.
• Coordinate proposal development processes and timelines to ensure completion of required documents and adherence to submission deadlines.
• Develop and maintain proposal budgets, budget narratives, funding requests, budget revisions, reallocations, and additional funding requests in collaboration with project directors, department leaders, and Finance staff.
• Review proposal packages for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and compliance with sponsor requirements and institutional policies.
• Complete and coordinate internal proposal approval processes, including preparation of Proposal Approval Forms and routing documentation through DocuSign for required approvals.
• Submit grant applications and supporting documentation through a variety of federal, state, municipal, and private funder electronic submission systems and sponsor portals.
• Communicate directly with funding agencies regarding proposal requirements, application status, submission questions, and administrative matters.
• Maintain awareness of emerging funding opportunities, including periodic monitoring of agency websites and funding announcements.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and in accordance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.

Grant Compliance and Award Administration (20%)

• Review grant award documents, contracts, amendments, and related materials to ensure terms and conditions are acceptable to the institution and consistent with proposal submissions.
• Coordinate review and processing of Interdepartmental Service Agreements (ISAs) and other grant-related agreements with Finance, Procurement, and other offices.
• Verify contract dates, budgets, scopes of work, and funding amounts to ensure consistency with approved proposals and award notifications.
• Facilitate internal approval and signature processes for grant agreements and related documents.
• Maintain organized and accurate grant records to support compliance, monitoring activities, audits, and institutional reporting requirements.
• Assist departments and project directors in understanding sponsor requirements and institutional grant administration procedures.
• Facilitate grant kickoff meetings and support coordination of grant startup activities to ensure responsibilities, reporting requirements, and compliance expectations are clearly communicated.
• Apply grant management best practices throughout all aspects of proposal development and award administration.

Grant Reporting and Records Management (20%)

• Assist with the preparation and submission of required grant reports and supporting documentation for federal, state, and private funding agencies.
• Coordinate recurring institutional grant-related compliance activities, including federal and state registrations, certifications, filings, and applications (e.g., annual SAM.gov renewals and indirect cost rate proposals), ensuring timely completion of all required deadlines and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate monthly Board of Trustees grant motions for public and private grant awards, ensuring all supporting documentation and submissions are completed in accordance with institutional governance requirements and established timelines.
• Maintain comprehensive electronic filing systems and records related to grant development and administration, ensuring proposal, award, budget, contract, and correspondence files are complete, organized, and accessible.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve institutional grant tracking systems, databases, workflows, and reporting tools, including Raiser's Edge and internal grant management records, to document and monitor proposal submissions, pending applications, awarded and declined grants, grant expenditures, reporting requirements, and related grant activity throughout the grant lifecycle.
• Compile and distribute grant logs, funding summaries, award tracking reports, and other grant activity reports for institutional leadership, external reporting, and strategic planning purposes.
• Provide executive scheduling and calendar management for the Associate Vice President of Strategic Relations and Resource Development.

Institutional Advancement Team Activities (10%)

• Serve as an active member of the Institutional Advancement team and participate in cross-functional activities and initiatives.
• Provide support to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement and other Institutional Advancement functions as needed.
• Assist with departmental purchasing, invoice processing, subscription renewals, supplies management, and operational activities.
• Consistently reflect and support the mission, values, and strategic priorities of Northern Essex Community College.

Other Duties (10%)

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• May be required to work occasional evenings or extended hours to meet grant submission deadlines, reporting requirements, or other time-sensitive deliverables.

About Northern Essex Community College:

Northern Essex Community College (NECC) serves more than 5,000 students annually across its campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Massachusetts, conveniently located within easy reach of Boston and the scenic beaches and state parks of New England's coastline.  Recognized as one of the 2026 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges by NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development), NECC's success is driven by a mission-centered culture and a highly engaged workforce.  As the first federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution in New England, NECC remains committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that reflects and supports the communities it serves.

Rooted in the Merrimack Valley, NECC plays a vital role in strengthening the region through workforce development, expanded access to affordable higher education, increased degree attainment, and strong partnerships with businesses.

NECC employees are united by a shared commitment expanding access to educational opportunities, supporting students in completing their academic journey in a timely and equitable manner, and preparing graduates for long-term success in the workforce.  The college invests in its people through ongoing professional development opportunities, collaborative leadership, and a supportive work environment.

SALARY: Anticipated starting salary range is $86,000.00 - $90,000.00 annually with complete fringe benefit package including competitive health insurance, dental insurance, basic life insurance, long-term disability insurance, paid sick, vacation and personal leave, educational benefits for employee/spouse/dependents, and excellent retirement benefits.  Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.

ANTICIPATED START DATE: ASAP

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience in grant administration, sponsored programs, or related functions.
• Five (5) or more years of experience in grant administration, proposal development support, sponsored programs, or closely related experience in a grant-funded public, nonprofit, or higher education setting.
• Experience supporting grant lifecycle activities, including proposal coordination, budget development assistance, proposal submission, and post-award administration.
• Experience interpreting and applying funding opportunity guidelines, including federal, state, and/or private Requests for Proposals (RFPs) or Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs).
• Experience assisting with the preparation and monitoring of budgets in collaboration with finance or administrative staff.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a detailed, high-volume environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and experience using databases, spreadsheets, or tracking systems.
• Experience in maintaining accurate records and supporting reporting requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Seven (7) or more years of experience in higher education grants administration, preferably within the Massachusetts public higher education system.
• Experience with grant programs, including familiarity with Massachusetts and federal grant compliance requirements (e.g., Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200).
• Experience supporting both pre-award and post-award grant processes.
• Demonstrated experience developing or enhancing grant management, tracking, and reporting systems to support proposal development, award management, compliance, and institutional decision-making.
• Experience with electronic grant submission systems (e.g., Grants.gov, SAM.gov, state portals, private foundation systems).
• Experience using CRM or development systems such as Raiser's Edge or similar platforms.
• Experience providing support to senior leadership, including scheduling, document preparation, and coordination of meetings.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Experience working with and supporting a culturally diverse population

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as noted above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience has prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• All candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States. Northern Essex Community College does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.
• Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check which will include CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information).

Application Instructions:

TO APPLY: To be considered for this position click on the "Apply Now" button, you will be prompted to setup a new account or login to an existing account. You will be able to upload the following required documents for consideration:

• Cover Letter, describing your qualifications and/or how you may be best suited for the role
• Resume/CV

Review of applications will begin 5 business days from the posting date and will continue until the position is filled.

**Please note that finalist candidates will be asked to provide contact information for three (3) professional references, including current supervisor (or at least two previous supervisors)

Northern Essex Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statues and college policies.  The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence.  Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Elizabete Trelegan (Assistant Director of Human Resources, B-219,978-556-3928/ etrelegan@necc.mass.edu), the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.  Northern Essex Community College will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Prospective employees are encouraged to review the College's Annual Security Report (ASR), in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which can be found on the disclosure page of the College's website at: http://www.necc.mass.edu/clery