JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Director of Grants Strategy and Management
Status: Full-Time – Exempt
Reports to: CEO
Location: San Diego, CA
Salary Range: $90,000 - $110,000
Home Start’s vision is for every child to have a safe, stable, and nurturing home. Guided by our mission to assure the safety and resiliency of children by strengthening families and their communities, Home Start, Inc., a non-profit child abuse prevention, and treatment agency has strengthened and developed San Diego’s families and communities since 1972.
Job Summary: The Director of Grants Strategy and Management is a senior leader responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing Home Start’s comprehensive grants portfolio, spanning federal, state, county, corporate, and private funding sources. This position drives revenue growth through strategic prospecting, high-quality proposal development, writing, and supporting exceptional post-award administration.
As a member of the Executive Team, the Director serves as a strategic advisor to the CEO, CFO, VP of Programs, Director of Philanthropy, Director of Human Resources and Board of Directors—leveraging funding trends, partnerships, and opportunities to ensure the organization’s long-term financial sustainability.

EDUCATION:

• BS or BA in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• 57 years of experience and proven track record working with government grants, including writing proposals, managing funded projects, and reporting requirements.

SKILLS:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling grant proposals and reports.
• Strong knowledge of government grant regulations, compliance standards, and best practices.
• Proficiency in grants management software and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence and build trust across teams.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management skills.
• Commitment to Home Start’s mission, values, and equity principles.

• Design and execute a multiyear fund development strategy that aligns with Home Start’s mission, program growth, and longterm financial goals.
• Lead all grant writing and related fund development operations, including government contracts, private foundations and new revenue initiatives.
• Set and steward annual revenue goals for the grants portfolio, monitoring progress and reporting results to leadership and the Board.
• Identify, evaluate, and secure new funding opportunities across public, private, and philanthropic sectors to diversify and strengthen revenue streams.
• Work closely with the CEO and senior leadership to shape and implement strategies that strengthen Home Start’s role in regional economic development, attracting investment, fostering publicprivate partnerships, and unlocking largescale funding opportunities.
• Function as the primary writer and project lead for competitive grant and contract proposals, creating compelling, datadriven submissions in collaboration with program and administrative teams.
• Establish and maintain internal systems for tracking funding pipelines, forecasting revenue, and support ensuring accountability across departments.

Leadership, Strategy and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a member of Home Start’s Executive Team, contributing to organizationwide strategic planning and sustainability initiatives.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy and funding stewardship throughout the organization.
• Collaborate closely with program, finance, and compliance teams to align funding pursuits with operational capacity and strategic priorities.
• Support timely and accurate reporting for all funding sources, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local funder regulations.
• Collaborate with the VP of Programs and program leadership to ensure funder requirements, performance deliverables, and budget tracking are met with precision.
• Train and coach program managers and staff on grants management protocols, proposal development, compliance requirements, and use of grants management platforms.
• Serve as the agency point of contact for external grantwriting consultants.

Qualifications and Experience