Director of Grants and Planning

Description The Director of Grants and Planning is central to the Partnership’s ability to secure and sustain the government and private funding behind its programs — leading competitive proposal development across a large and growing portfolio, and turning organizational strategy into coordinated, accountable action. Working closely with organizational leadership, program teams, and the finance department, this position guides the grant pipeline from opportunity to award and strengthens the processes that support grants administration. The Director also leads implementation of strategic initiatives, promotes a culture of shared accountability across departments, and drives organizational effectiveness through clear processes, coordinated planning, and strong internal partnerships. Essential Functions Lead the organization's competitive grant pipeline: monitor private, state, and federal NOFOs and RFPs, maintain the funding calendar, and anticipate periods when multiple proposals will be due at once Facilitate decisions on grant proposal submissions and prepations with stakeholders including weighing mission fit, capacity, financial impact, and competitiveness Write private, state, and federal proposals during peak periods, sharing the writing load with the primary grant writer so that no proposal is understaffed, and serve as a senior voice on grants with internal stakeholders, external partners, and funders Project manage each grant proposal and renewal: lead the kickoff, assign sections and inputs to named contributors across departments, set internal deadlines, and track progress to submission Keep proposals on schedule through proactive project management: hold regular check-ins, anticipate bottlenecks, help contributors balance proposal tasks with their other responsibilities, and resolve obstacles early, escalating to senior leadership as needed Serve as the voice for competitiveness throughout proposal development, partnering with program leads and Finance to shape program designs, service targets, and budgets that respond fully to funder priorities, balancing program capacity and organizational financial goals with the need to produce competitive proposals Provide final quality review of proposals for alignment with funder criteria, internal consistency, and the organization's voice In partnership with the Chief Financial Officer, map current grants administration workflows from award through closeout, and identify delays, duplicated efforts, and unclear handoffs Design, document, and roll out standard processes for renewals, budget development timelines, contract and award setup, budget or program modifications, and contract closeouts Establish and maintain a single grant compliance calendar covering reporting, budget, and renewal deadlines across the portfolio, ensuring grant processes begin early enough to ensure adequate time for consideration and input from all stakeholders Provide input to Chief Financial Officer on the performance of grants administration staff within finance department Supervise the Manager of Strategy & Innovation, providing regular feedback, professional development, and day-to-day guidance Develop implementation plans for strategic initiatives led by the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, defining goals, sequencing of activities, roles and responsibilities, decision-making, milestones, and risks Coordinate execution of strategic initiatives across departments, keeping initiatives on track by supporting owners, anticipating challenges, and adjusting plans as needed Track progress across active strategic initiatives and lead regular reviews with the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer on status, challenges, and decisions needed Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Requirements Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred 7 or more years of grant writing experience required, including writing and leading successful governmental proposals 3 or more years of supervisory experience required, with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff Experience in maternal and child health, public health, or community-based human services required, specific experience with NJ Department of Health and NJ Department of Children and Families initiatives preferred Experience developing and planning long-term strategic initiatives required Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling, funder-aligned narratives, and to communicate clearly with program staff, leadership, partners, and funders Prior experience managing projects, leading cross-departmental teams to deadline without direct authority, with a collaborative orientation focused on building shared ownership, balancing competing priorities, and keeping work on track required Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and federal or state grant submission systems (e.g., Grants.gov, NJ SAGE) required DEIB Drivers for Success PMCH aims to foster a workplace culture that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our collective vision is to create an antiracist organization through: Encouraging bidirectional and transparent communication Promoting a culture of belonging Practicing cross-program collaboration and engagement Engaging in continuous learning/enrichment Embracing inclusive representation and practices Functional Requirements of the Role This role may involve a range of physical, sensory, and cognitive tasks. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to support individuals in performing essential functions. Immunization Policy All PMCH employees must comply with the guidelines of our Immunization Policy. #J-18808-Ljbffr Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey