Education and Grants Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Department: AANA Foundation

Reports To Research Director

FLSA Status: ☒Exempt (salaried)

Effective Date

June, 2026

Prepared By (Your Title Only)

Education & Grants Program Manager

Summary

The Education & Grants Program Manager is responsible for overseeing administration of the grants program and educational efforts at the AANA Foundation. This individual collaborates closely with the Director of Research, Philanthropy, and Education to effectively execute all Grant and Academy programs, including the education library, Resource Center, and Research Interest groups. Support is also provided to AANA Foundation staff, including the Research and Scholarly Activities Committee. Additionally, the Education & Grants Program Manager communicates with various stakeholders within the nurse anesthesiology community.

All staff are expected to foster a workplace culture that promotes creative thinking, openness, respect and trust.

This position is considered Hybrid with an expectation to be in the Rosemont, IL office 1-3 times a month or Remote with an expectation to be in the Rosemont, IL office once a month or quarterly, based on home location, for All Staff Meetings, trainings, and department meetings.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Management of the Grants Program

Percentage

50%

• Manages all processes for solicitation, application, peer review, and award of grants from pre- to post- award, working within the electronic grants management system.

• Reviews applications for compliance.

• Coordinates primary peer review and Committee/Board review, including analysis, scoring and ultimate selection of applications.

• Processes post-award documentation and coordinates payment of award funds with the Finance department.

• Maintains database and archives of programmatic applicants and funding history.

• Works with the Membership department to ensure they maintain updated data in the membership database so that correct information integrates into the applications.

Administration of the Academy

Percentage

20%

• Supports logistics for the development of an online education program and library including webinars, toolkits, and self-paced modules.

• Supports logistics for virtual symposia (e.g., CRNA week) and virtual/hybrid trainings.

• Supports logistics for the Resource Center, assisting with solicitation, tracking, and evaluation of mentor/consultant/investigator matches.

• Supports logistics for the Research Interest Groups (e.g., coordination for annual events, conference calls, budgets) and career development programming.

Policy, Process and Compliance

Percentage

15%

• Develop, document and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to the Foundation’s grantmaking practices.

• Ensure compliance with internal policies and funding requirements, including financial and regulatory standards.

• Coordinate with the Director of Research, Philanthropy, and Education as needed to review grant agreements, budget adherence and audit readiness.

• Manage the electronic grants management system (Salesforce), including working with vendor technical support and the Information Systems department to ensure successful system deployment and operation with evaluation of software functions and quality control.

Communication and Community Support

Percentage

15%

• Assists with research marketing material for website, social media, print and other electronic communications.

• Updates and maintains researcher data in the Aptify member database.

• Reviews grants- and Academy- related website content on a regular basis; ensures that existing content remains updated; provides updates/revisions and removes outdated content as needed.

• Constructs and deploys broadcast emails to research community as needed.

• Assists with coordination of materials required for event planning (Congress, EDGE) related to the Grants program and the Academy.

Experience & Skills

Experience

• Three years of program administration work with grants or training development experience.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective participation in working groups and internal functions.
• Ability to self start, problem solve, and take initiative with an ownership mindset.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Knowledge and experience working within scientific, research, and/or education contexts, including training and development programs.
• Ability to negotiate and learn new software programs such as membership database and grant management software.
• Ability to multi-task concurrently, effectively and efficiently.
• Able to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to proof, analyze and interpret data and report findings.
• Prior work experience in a federal, non-profit, or professional organization is preferred.
• Independent decision-making abilities.
• Social skills to relate to association members.
• Ability and commitment to establish and maintain a harmonious and productive work environment.
• Ability and commitment to work effectively with a wide variety of personalities and interpersonal styles.

Education/Certifications/Licenses

• Master’s degree is preferred, with focus on health administration, science, education, information technology, or communications.

ADA Requirements

Physical Requirements:
Performs primarily sedentary work with limited physical exertion and occasional lifting of up to 10 lbs. Must be capable of climbing/descending stairs in emergency situations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must be able to operate routine office equipment. Must be able to routinely perform work on a computer for an average of 6-8 hours per day, when necessary. Must be able to work extended hours whenever required or requested by management. Must be capable of regular, reliable, and timely attendance.

Working Conditions:
This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with a combination of remote and in-office work based on business needs. Employees must maintain a professional home workspace with reliable internet access. The role requires the ability to participate in virtual and in-person meetings. Occasional travel to the office or off-site events may be required.

Mental and/or Emotional Requirements:
Must be able to perform job functions independently or with limited supervision and work effectively either on own or as part of a team. Must be able to read and carry out various written instructions and follow verbal instructions. Must be able to speak clearly and deliver information in a logical and understandable sequence. Must be capable of dealing calmly and professionally with numerous different personalities from diverse cultures at various levels within and outside the organization. Demonstrate the highest levels of member service and discretion when dealing with the public. Must be able to perform responsibilities with composure under the stress of deadlines/requirements for extreme accuracy and quality and/or fast pace. Must be able to effectively handle multiple, simultaneous, and changing priorities. Must be capable of exercising the highest level of discretion on both internal and external confidential matters.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned.

Compensation & Benefits:

AANA invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success by merit increases and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – Each department has a budget every fiscal year for you to use toward professional development or you may also be a mentor/mentee in our internal mentoring program.
• Work-Life Balance – AANA offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 15 days per year for new employees that is prorated for your first year of hire. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year as well as:
  • AANA offers a compressed work week schedule.
  • Paid Winter Closure- AANA is closed from December 25th through January 1st each year.
  • 3 Floating Holidays per year

• 1 “Culture/Heritage Day” per year for those that want to celebrate a holiday that is relative to their culture and/or heritage
• 1 “Volunteer Day” per year- exchange one workday per year for a full day of volunteering at a non-profit organization of your choice

• Tuition Assistance – We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

A Little Bit About Us:

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) advances, supports, and protects nurse anesthesiology. We are the transformative leader in driving innovation and patient-centered excellence in anesthesia and healthcare. Our core values include Integrity, Member-Centered Approach, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Advocacy, and Growth Through Excellence. Our motto is “Safe and effective Anesthesia Care for Every Patient.”

Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, and founded in 1931, AANA has a longstanding history of supporting Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), helping to improve patient care, and advancing the nurse anesthesiology profession overall. With more than 68,000 CRNAs and nurse anesthesiology resident members and 140 staff members, AANA is the transformational leader driving innovation and excellence in healthcare. Interactions with key stakeholders, such as members, professional organizations, government, and payors, will help to advance these objectives in support of the professional practice of anesthesiology.

Why work at AANA?

Our culture at AANA and appreciation for work-life balance is unmatched. At AANA, we put our employees first and understand they are our greatest asset. Leadership at AANA has open eyes, open ears, and open minds. Our goal is to continually find ways to improve both the CRNA profession and overall employee experience for our staff.

EEOC STATEMENT

As an equal opportunity employer, AANA is committed to maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. To provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, AANA strictly prohibits discrimination against all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), ancestry, age, disability, creed, genetic information, marital status, membership in the national guard, military service or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Accordingly, all employment decisions at AANA, including but not limited to in recruiting, hiring, compensation, training, promotions, discipline, and termination will be made based only on individual merit, qualifications and abilities, and AANA’s and resources.