Senior Grant Operations Specialist (Pre-Award)
$95,000–$110,000 year
HybridNew York City, New York, United States or New York, United States
Job Summary
Coordinate operational planning and execution for pre-award funding opportunities, including Requests for Applications and Requests for Proposals, while developing comprehensive project plans and tracking timelines. Manage the full pre-award lifecycle from application launch and intake through scientific review and funding recommendations, serving as the primary operational point of contact for applicants, reviewers, and external stakeholders. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, templates, and documentation in partnership with department leadership to ensure consistent service models. Track operational metrics related to application processing and reviewer engagement, participating in annual planning to contribute lessons learned for continuous improvement. Facilitate onboarding and training related to grants operations processes and systems. This hybrid-flex role requires in-person attendance at the Foundation's New York City office and involves supporting high-volume funding cycles and cross-functional initiatives across scientific, finance, and technology functions.
Required Qualifications
- Relevant experience serving as a project manager or operational lead for complex funding programs, scientific review processes, or comparable cross-functional initiatives
- Experience coordinating RFAs, RFPs, grant competitions, peer review, scientific assessment meetings, or similar funding processes
- Demonstrated experience applying project management methodologies to organize work, manage timelines, mitigate risks, and deliver high-quality outcomes
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent funding opportunities and competing priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail
- Strong communication, meeting facilitation, and relationship management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across scientific, operational, and administrative teams
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify operational challenges and recommend practical solutions
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and adapt effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced grantmaking environment
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Proficiency with grants management systems
- Proficiency with project management tools
- In-person attendance at the Foundation's office in New York City
Desired Qualifications
- SmartSimple
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