ECEAI Vertical Specialist - Cohort Grant Research

Position Overview

Black Owners of Solar Services' (B.O.S.S.) Equitable Clean Energy Advancement Initiative (ECEAI) is seeking an ECEAI Vertical Specialist – Cohort Grant Research responsible for identifying and researching grant opportunities that align with the specific vertical or sector focus of the organization's cohort programs. This role involves developing and implementing strategies to secure funding, working closely with the ECEAI program team, and ensuring that grant applications are aligned with both the organization's mission and the objectives of the cohort initiatives. The Vertical Specialist will also track grant performance and provide regular updates to stakeholders.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

1. Grant Research and Identification: Conduct targeted research to identify state and federal grant opportunities relevant to the organization’s cohort-based program participants Tier II & Tier III. Analyze grant opportunities to ensure alignment with the specific goals and objectives of the cohort participants business services.
2. Grant Proposal Development: Review grant proposals, ensuring they are compelling, accurate, and aligned with the funder's priorities. Provide one-on-one client assistance, addressing technical queries, troubleshooting issues, and offering personalized support to business owners pursuing the Clean D.B.E. certification.
3. Post-Award Grant Management: Provide templates to manage the tracking and reporting of grant expenditures, ensuring that all costs associated with cohort programs are properly documented and within budget. Monitor grant timelines and deliverables, providing regular updates to program staff and leadership.
4. Compliance and Regulatory Adherence: Update and maintain reports on the progress of project tasks and deliverables as outlined in the Statement of Project Objectives. Ensure education of compliance requirements with all state and federal regulations governing grant funding, including reporting requirements and financial management standards.
5. Funder Relations and Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for state and federal funders regarding cohort participant  matters related to cohort programs, including reporting deadlines, compliance questions, and budget modifications. Support the development of funder stewardship strategies, including the submission of narrative reports and impact statements for cohort programs.
6. Grant Lifecycle Management: Develop and maintain a grant management calendar that tracks key deadlines, reporting requirements, and renewal opportunities for state and federal grants.Identify opportunities for process improvement within the grants administration function related to cohort programs and implement best practices.
7. Training and Capacity Building: Organize and facilitate mentoring sessions for black business owners, connecting them with experienced professionals in the solar industry and providing guidance on overcoming barriers. Provide one-on-one client assistance, addressing technical queries, troubleshooting issues, and offering personalized support to black business owners pursuing the Clean D.B.E. certification.
8. Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with grant-making organizations, foundations, and other potential funders within the vertical. Serve as a liaison between the organization and funders, providing updates on program outcomes and impacts.
9. Data and Reporting: Monitor the progress and impact of funded cohort programs, ensuring they meet the objectives outlined in grant proposals. Prepare regular reports on grant performance, including success rates, funding secured, and program outcomes. Provide insights and recommendations for improving grant-seeking strategies based on data analysis.

The ideal candidate will possess the following MINIMUM qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (from and accredited college or university) in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Grant or Public Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in grant writing, grants administration, grants research, or nonprofit development, with a focus on cohort-based programs preferably within a specific sector or vertical.
• MUST reside and work in GA.
• Knowledge of various types of funding sources, including foundations, government agencies, corporations, and individual donors.
• Familiarity with the full cycle of grant processes, including research, application, management, and reporting.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with previous experience in writing successful grant proposals.
• Understanding of the components of a strong grant proposal, including needs assessments, project narratives, budgets, and evaluation plans. Understanding of the specific vertical or sector focus, including key trends, challenges, and funding priorities.
• Superior research/prospecting skills and experience using online grant databases.
• Familiarity and experience with state and federal regulations governing nonprofit grant funding and grant procurement processes, pre-award and post-award activities, as well as ensuring compliance with such grants, including.
• Experienced with assisting minority-owned startup businesses, and minority-owned small businesses with networking, funding, scaling and brand development needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders. Fluency in written and oral English; Spanish desirable.
• Knowledge of cohort-based program models and their unique funding needs.
• Comfort with quantitative and qualitative data; experience in developing metrics for measuring and communicating success.
• Commitment to advancing B.O.S.S.'s mission and values.
• Understanding of government bid and reporting portals, SAM.gov, etc.
• Advanced-level proficiency in using technology and software for grant research, grant management, productivity, project management, training, communications, statistical analysis (e.g., CRM systems, funding databases, project management tools, mentoring platforms, organizational tools, communications/productivity platforms, learning management systems).
• Advanced-level proficiency with solid, measurable experience in using a variety of software applications, social media platforms, and other databases (e.g. Google Workspace -Gmail, Google Docs; MS Office Suite; Stata, Qualtrics, Zoom, Social Media apps).
• Proof of eligibility to work in the US. Ability to travel throughout the contiguous 48 states as necessary to accomplish certain project tasks.