Grant Manager

About our Organization

The Blackstone Watershed Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to improve social and ecological resilience within the Blackstone Watershed, from Worcester to Providence - including 39 municipalities, several tribes, and numerous small organizations. We are a collaborative with over 120 partner organizations and meet monthly to discuss news, events, jobs, and program updates on our priority initiatives, including enhancing equitable access to the Blackstone River, improving water quality, restoring natural hydrologic conditions through dam removal and culvert replacement, and restoring migratory species such as Herring through construction of fish ladders.

Since our founding in 2021, the Collaborative has transitioned from a program with a fiscal host to an independent nonprofit in 2024. Our work is diverse and focuses on capacity building and offering technical assistance to low-capacity partners. As the program has grown, we have become a go-to resource for grant support and coordination among partners. We are fully grant funded and are increasingly acting as the fiscal agent for both large on-the-ground projects as well as small educational programs through subawards.

Grant Manager Job Description

This is a full-time position contingent upon continued grant funding. The Grant Manager will assist in researching, preparing, and submitting grant proposals, with a focus on grant budgets, and will be primarily responsible for managing grant reporting, compliance, invoicing, and executing and managing subaward contracts ranging from a few thousand dollars to over $1M. This person will work with the Executive Director in financial forecasting and planning as well as special project initiatives and impact assessment. At times, the Grant Manager will work with other staff to support public education and outreach efforts, such as event tabling, meeting facilitation, or creation of educational materials.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support grant proposal development and submission—preparing and organizing materials for proposals across partner organizations, and submitting and monitoring grant applications, including:
  • Researching new funding and business development opportunities, including building sponsorship opportunities;
  • With program staff, drafting proposals/LOIs, grant application narratives, and primarily leading the preparation of budgets to finalize in partnership with Collaborative staff;
  • Ensuring acknowledgment of funders via website, e-newsletter, and social media
• Maintain grant/contract compliance and reporting, outcome measurement, and grant budgets, including:
  • Monitoring and maintaining reporting schedules and requirements within MonkeyPod and/or other software;
  • Tracking progress toward organizational and grant-specific outcomes and goals - working with staff to submit progress reports while leading invoicing and budgeting;
  • Requesting reimbursements and drawdowns as needed;
  • Drafting contracts with subawardees and monitoring progress, including processing invoices and reimbursements;
  • With program staff, drafting compelling program updates such as press releases, website updates, and social media posts to demonstrate programmatic success;
  • With program staff, assembling supporting materials and documents including budget reports, outcome measurements, success stories, etc.; for grant compliance.

Working Environment

This position is flexible in allowing for primarily remote work, with weekly in-office work in Worcester, MA. Some in-person meetings and trainings are required within the watershed and, at times, the New England region.

The Grant Manager will work closely with our two other full-time staff: the Executive Director, Stefanie Covino, and Restoration Manager, Caleigh McLaren. The Grant Manager will also have opportunities to work with our many close partners such as the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, RI Department of Environmental Management, Friends of the Blackstone, Mass Audubon, the National Park Service, Save the Bay, and many more. The selected candidate will work well independently and as part of a collaborative team that seeks to improve climate resilience and collaborative capacity within the Blackstone Watershed.

Preferred Credentials/Experience

Required

• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter, and the desire to continue learning.
• Enthusiasm and a positive attitude that prioritizes working collaboratively with diverse partnerships and initiatives.
• Strong writing, verbal communication, and organizational skills, including intermediate to expert data analysis and spreadsheet management skills, budgeting, and financial project management as well as an ability to write succinctly and clearly
• 3+ years experience managing grants and/or funding, including federal, state, and private funding sources, including subaward contracting, accurate invoicing, and timely reporting.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, especially in nonprofit administration.

Preferred

• Familiarity with Blackstone River watershed.
• Experience working with environmental nonprofits on issues such as climate resiliency, stewardship, access, stormwater management, land use planning, ecological restoration, or related work.
• Familiarity with MonkeyPod software.
• Familiarity with Google office suite and working on documents and initiatives between different organizations.
• Familiarity with private foundations in New England and experience developing relationships with funders.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher education.

How to Apply

Please email your resume and list of three professional references as a single .pdf to Stefanie Covino, Executive Director, at stefanie@blackstonecollaborative.org using the email title “Grant Manager Application”

The Blackstone Watershed Collaborative is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, LGBTQ+ persons, Veterans, and others are welcomed and encouraged to apply.

Salary & Benefits

• $70,000-$80,000
• Ability to receive employer benefits, including health, dental, retirement, vacation, and sick time.

Submission Deadline

Please submit your application by June 30, 2025.