Grant Writer - Part Time

Statement of Duties:

Under direction of the Director of Grants & External Funds, the Grant Writer researches and explores potential funding sources to support the financing of City programs and activities, and assists the Director and Deputy Director with the development and writing of proposals. This staffer will learn about and work with various departments and disciplines across the City of Somerville, from the Somerville Public Library and the Council on Aging, to the Sustainability & Environment Division, Economic Development Division, and Somerville Police Department, among others, enhancing their capacity to identify and secure resources for new and innovative projects and programs.

In addition to researching potential grant opportunities, the Grant Writer will be responsible for writing a variety of proposal materials, which may include narrative content; support letters from the Mayor's office and other department heads, City Council members, and community partners; budgets; and additional proposal materials, and ensuring these materials are prepared and submitted according to the funder’s requirements.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Identify and summarize requests for proposals (RFPs) and funding notices for City departments and conduct outreach to those departments to assess funding fit, departmental capacity, and City’s viability to secure funds via the identified competitions.
• Assist with tracking outreach efforts and monitoring internal system to follow upcoming and anticipated grant competitions.
• Draft narrative content for grant proposals, translating complex or high-level ideas into concise and accurate descriptions that are persuasive and competitive; assist in the development and creation of attachments and letters of support to accompany grant proposals. Gather statistics concerning the community and comparative state and national data for inclusion in proposals.
• Participate in proposal planning meetings about new projects and initiatives and assist with logistics planning.
• Assist with or manage independently other departmental projects or initiatives as assigned.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and three to five (3-5) years’ experience in grant writing or proposal development work; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Experience with Microsoft Excel is required. Experience with municipal procedures and organization and with the federal and national nonprofit funding landscape is preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

Knowledge: Knowledge of municipal government; standard goals and objectives of major municipal departments and standard office practices, procedures, equipment and techniques; knowledge of adult learning techniques.

Ability: Ability to work with multiple parties diplomatically; ability to work independently and handle tasks without constant supervision; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to think strategically and problem solve; ability to listen well, follow directions and synthesize multiple ideas into a cohesive proposal; ability to collaborate and deal appropriately with City employees, City officials, and funding agencies.

Skill: Excellent organizational, writing and editing skills; data and word processing proficiency in the use of personal computers and office software, databases, internet and spreadsheet applications; data analysis, interpretation, and presentation skills.

 

Work Environment: 

Physical and Mental Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills: 
Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as ledgers or photocopy and computer paper (up to 30lbs.).

Motor Skills:  
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting of materials.

Visual Demands: 
Routinely reads documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours:  Part-Time up to 19 hours/week. 
Salary: $36.06/hour, not benefits-eligible 
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: October 22nd, 2026

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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at Show phone number or View email address on cityofsomerville.applytojob.com.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Delta Dental
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.