Senior Director, Federal Grants

Standard Work Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM

Position Overview

The Senior Director of Federal Grants will oversee the management of federal grants across all regions, serving as the principal authority on application processes and financial oversight for competitive and non-competitive federal, state, and public grants. This role is vital for securing and overseeing public funding, ensuring compliance, and aligning resources with overarching strategic objectives. The Senior Director will lead a team, provide professional development, and collaborate with various departments to strengthen financial analysis, reporting, and compliance processes.

This position includes a dynamic mix of in-office and fieldwork, fostering connections with teams in multiple regions. The role requires two days per week in one of the regional offices or a school, with locations including New York, Brooklyn, New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, or Providence. Additionally, the Senior Director will visit a different region monthly to engage with regional public grants staff and school communities, promoting a hands-on approach to supporting the mission and maximizing grant impact.

Key Responsibilities

Team Management

• Supervise and mentor a team of three full-time regional staff members.

• Establish and monitor performance goals, fostering growth and collaboration across departments.

• Oversee consultants and part-time staff funded through grants, managing grants exceeding $1 million.

Public Grants Strategy

• Manage Title Budgets and Entitlement Funds, totaling around $13 million across three states.

• Direct the oversight of multi-year, multi-million dollar federal grants, including those from the Department of Education and the Charter School Program.

• Work in partnership with finance and regional managers to ensure grants are allocated and utilized in accordance with strategic budgeting objectives.

• Identify and support programmatic and staffing needs in collaboration with the superintendent and finance teams.

Federal Grant Management and Compliance

• Lead the monitoring and compliance efforts for public grants network-wide.

• Ensure timely reporting to grant authorities and maintain up-to-date calendars for all grant-related deadlines.

• Collaborate with regional teams to develop a comprehensive grant guidebook outlining application procedures, fund usage, and compliance.

Prospecting and Evaluation of New Grants

• Create an evaluation framework for the identification and assessment of new federal, state, and local grants.

• Assist regional managers in establishing a system for prospecting and evaluating potential funding opportunities.

Project Management

• Lead cross-functional initiatives within finance and program areas to enhance processes and improve grant management efficiency.

Qualifications and Skills

Candidates must uphold core values, foster innovation, and effectively manage projects to ensure high standards are met across all areas. A bachelor’s degree is required, with an M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Administration preferred.

The ideal candidate will possess the following experience and qualifications:

• Over 7 years of experience in public grants management.

• Familiarity with Title grants in large school districts, preferably in New York or Connecticut.

• Proven success in managing grants ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

• Proficiency in grant writing, project management, and data analysis.

• Strong communication and organizational skills.

• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, Office 365, or Google Suite.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with school staff and stakeholders.

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational abilities.

• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Competency in data management and tracking metrics.

Key Characteristics for Success

• High ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Confidence in interacting with and influencing individuals at all organizational levels.

• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively as needed.

• Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, and a proactive attitude.

• Commitment to the mission and educational model.

About Aston Carter:

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Aston Carter, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I are embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent

• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection

• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes

• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com (%20astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com) for other accommodation options.