Founding Head of Grant Development and Management—Part-Time

Organization: Urban Ag Innovations Initiatives, Inc.

Location: Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona

Work arrangement: Metro Phoenix, AZ / (Hybrid or Fully Remote – U.S.)

Schedule: Up to 20 hours per week

Initial term: Six months

Reports to: Executive Director

About Urban Ag Innovations Initiatives

Urban Ag Innovations Initiatives, Inc. (UAII) is an emerging nonprofit developing community-centered approach to local food production and economic opportunity.

UAII is planning a metro Phoenix learning and demonstration project that will integrate controlled-environment berry production, rooftop or ground-level agriculture, solar energy, Internet of Things technology, workforce development, community participation, and cooperative marketing.

Our broader purpose is to help families and community-based producers participate in resilient local food systems while creating pathways to skills, enterprise ownership, improved food access, and community wealth building.

About the position

UAII is seeking an experienced grant professional to build and operate its organization-wide grant development and management system.

In this founding role, you will do more than write proposals. You will help translate UAII’s vision into well-defined, fundable programs; establish a disciplined funding pipeline; coordinate competitive applications; and create the systems needed to manage grants responsibly from initial research through award closeout.

This position is suited to someone who enjoys building practical systems, working across disciplines, and helping an early-stage nonprofit develop sustainable institutional capacity.

What you will do

• • Assess UAII’s grant readiness and identify priority capacity gaps.
  • Convert approved initiatives into fundable programs with clear objectives, activities, outcomes, budgets, timelines, evidence, and responsibilities.
  • Research and maintain a diversified pipeline of foundation, corporate, government, and other institutional funding opportunities.
  • Recommend which opportunities UAII should cultivate, pursue, postpone, or decline based on mission fit, eligibility, readiness, restrictions, timing, risk, and organizational capacity.
  • Lead or coordinate proposal narratives, budgets, attachments, reviews, submissions, and authorized funder communications.
  • Establish reusable templates, organizational narratives, evidence files, calendars, dashboards, procedures, and document controls.
  • Coordinate award review, startup, compliance, reporting, amendments, renewal, and closeout with leadership, finance, program contributors, advisers, and partners.
  • Prepare concise funding, performance, compliance, and risk reports for management and the Board.
  • Develop a diversified sustainability strategy for UAII’s continuing grant-development function.

What you bring

Required qualifications

• • Demonstrated experience in several stages of the grant lifecycle, such as prospect qualification, proposal development, budgeting, award review, reporting, renewal, or closeout.
  • Experience building or improving a grant pipeline, calendar, dashboard, procedure, records system, or cross-functional review process.
  • Strong proposal-writing, program-design, research, budgeting, and project-management abilities.
  • Working knowledge of restricted funding, grant documentation, reporting obligations, and collaboration with finance and program personnel.
  • Ability to communicate clearly with Board members, organizational leaders, technical advisers, community partners, and funders.
  • Sound judgment, discretion, attention to detail, and the ability to distinguish verified information from assumptions.
  • Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, professional development, and relevant experience.

Preferred qualifications

• • Experience with nonprofit, foundation, corporate, state, or federal grants.
  • Familiarity with federal grant requirements, including 2 CFR Part 200.
  • Experience related to food systems, agriculture, community development, workforce development, climate resilience, renewable energy, technology, cooperative enterprise, or capital projects.
  • Grant Professional Certified or another relevant professional credential.

Appointment, compensation, and benefits

The initial appointment is six months and will not exceed 20 hours per week or 520 total hours. A formal continuation review will occur at approximately 90 days. Renewal is not automatic and would require separate written authorization.

Compensation is not based on a percentage of funds raised and does not include commissions, finder’s fees, or payment contingent upon securing a grant or donation. Although you will help develop sustainable funding for the grant function, UAII remains responsible for all wages earned.

How to apply

Submit the following through info@urbanaginnovations.org by 10/23/2026 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time:

• • A cover letter explaining your interest in UAII and relevant experience;
  • A current résumé or curriculum vitae;
  • A brief description of a grant system or process you personally built or improved; and
  • One redacted, nonconfidential writing sample demonstrating proposal development, program design, grant management, or executive communication.

Please do not submit confidential, proprietary, or personally identifiable information.

UAII is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Eligibility for health, retirement, vacation, holiday, or other benefits will be stated in the final employment agreement.

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