Job Description

Title: Grants Navigator, Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center 

Appointment: Full-time, Comm Rel/Outreach Assoc 3 [8208R3] , Civil Service

Estimated Salary : $62,000 - $76,000 ($29.81 - $36.53/hour); depending on qualifications 

Program Area: Extension Department of Community Development

Office Location: St. Paul Campus; Hybrid work options available

Apply By: December 15, 2024

ABOUT THIS POSITION

The University of Minnesota Extension Department of Community Development and the Center for Science, Technology and the Environmental Policy in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota are leading the new Great Lakes Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC). The mission of the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (Great Lakes TCTAC) is to support community organizations successfully navigate funding opportunities to access the resources they need to lead in the clean energy transition, pollution clean-up, and green workforce development. 

There are immense federal funding opportunities that focus on community leadership driving solutions for climate resiliency and healthy environments. We provide services to communities in the Great Lakes regionâ“Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin and the 36 federally recognized Tribal nations within the region. We seek to help communities make the most of this incredible moment and leverage unprecedented state and federal funds to transform their communities for generations to come. 

The collaborative program engages a network that includes Environmental Protection Network, the Community Engineering Corps, and the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, and extension in EPA Region 5 (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio). Together, this network provides technical assistance to help community-based organizations with their grant application development, project design, engineering consultation and analysis, budget development, and grant management, as well as capacity building. 

The program is funded through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 

The objectives of the TCTAC are to: 

1. Identify underserved and overburdened communities who could benefit from environmental and energy-related grants and other technical assistance, 
2. Build capacity for communities to engage in environmental and energy decision-making, and 
3. Provide tailored, accessible, culturally appropriate technical assistance that allows communities to secure funding and resources that materially improve their social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

The Grants Navigator will translate often complex requirements of grant management into skill and knowledge building with community-based organizations by curating and developing tools and resources, and coaching. The Grants Navigator will join the rest of the TCTAC team in providing grant application support as described below. 

The TCTAC Grants Navigator will join a team of people that are passionate about communities. Our values include authentic engagement, holistic and equitable prosperity, creativity, and innovation, all grounded in research. Our team is a high-impact and high-performance group. The Grants Navigator will report to the TCTAC Program Director and be based in UMN Extension Department of Community Development.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Provide Technical Assistance to Community Organizations 50% 

Providing technical assistance to community-based organizations navigating funding opportunities for climate, environment and environmental justice work. Assisting communities and organizations in the management of federal grants is a primary focus for this role, in addition to grant application support, capacity building, and project scoping and design. 

• Grant management assistance including but not limited to reporting, evaluation, and compliance (emphasis on federal grants) (Examples in providing technical assistance on the grant contract negotiation process, procurement, federal regulations, like Build America, Buy America, and re-budgeting, among others)
• Grant application assistance including funding opportunity identification, eligibility determination, budget development, application requirements, and grant review, among others
• Capacity building for under-resourced organizations including but not limited to planning, budget management, organizational development, organizational start (securing 501c3) 
• Project development support on energy, climate, pollution reduction, food systems, or environmental health. 
• Increase resources available to help communities by identifying, curating, and developing templates, guides, tools and other resources related to grant management, reporting and compliance
• Provide training and coaching for community organizations through 1:1 engagement, webinars, and workshops.

TCTAC Network Coordination and Outreach 30%

• Coordinate with TCTAC partners to provide post-award technical assistance
• Provide training for fellow technical assistance providers at TCTAC partners on regulations, policies, procedures, and programmatic requirements of federal, state, local, and private foundation grants
• Support overall efforts for coordination and communication within the Great Lakes TCTAC
• Engage broader connections including national, state, and local networks to provide technical assistance
• Coordinate with national and other regional TCTACs and federal agencies as needed to share resources and best practices
• Support outreach efforts by engaging with community organizations, federal/ state/ and local governments, and related networks 

Team Collaboration, Planning, and Administration 20%

The TCTAC is a new center that is rapidly growing and evolving to support community members. Everyone on our team contributes to our organizational development and day-to-day management. 

• Work collaboratively with fellow TCTAC staff, TCTAC leadership, and TCTAC network to ensure efficient and effective program delivery, and positive team dynamics 
• Assist with external communications including newsletter, website, and materials 
• Assist with reporting and analysis for internal and external reporting and oversight 

Required Qualifications:

• Eight years of experience in grant development and management, or a BA/BS plus at least 4 years or grant development and management experience, or a combination of relevant education and experience to total 8 years. 
• Experience successfully managing federal grants, especially EPA and DOE grants, including compliance, administration, and reporting.
• Experience working with under-resourced community-based organizations.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, and interested groups.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in diverse settings with diverse groups of people.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Project management experience
• Advanced skills in Microsoft and Google suite applications
• Ability to work evenings and weekends with occasional overnight stays
• Ability to work on a computer for prolonged periods of time

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of key environmental justice and energy justice policy issues in EPA Region 5.
• Experience with project design assistance for climate, energy, environmental health, or other sustainable and environmental justice work
• Experience providing under-resourced community-based organizations with technical assistance,  capacity building assistance
• Ability to seek out, analyze, and communicate new information, data, and approaches that would be of use to communities and leaders of environmental justice organizations. 
• Demonstrated success in working with individuals, organizations, and communities with a variety of cultural, ethnic, language and/or literacy backgrounds.
• Mastery and expertise in addressing community development issues in cooperation with governmental entities, higher education, or interest-based organizations and/or foundations.
• Valid driverâ™s license and applicable insurance would be preferred

Additional Requirements: 

• Must have reliable internet if/when working outside of assigned office location.
• Must be able to work regularly at a dedicated/assigned Extension office.
• Position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Connections working at University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Job Tags

Full time, Contract work, Local area, Night shift, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,

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