Development Officer - Federal Grants and Contracts Administration

VentureWell’s development team works closely with organizational leadership, program staff, and other supporting departments to enable VentureWell’s growth. VentureWell is funded through grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts from private foundations and government agencies, along with corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and gifts. As a result, our development work involves research, cultivation, proposal development, program design, and reporting across multiple program areas, most of which is accomplished through deep collaboration with colleagues. 

The Development Officer - Federal Grants and Contracts Administration will focus on the administration of grants and contracts with federal agencies, playing an important role in achieving VentureWell’s goals. Key responsibilities will include proposal coordination, grant reporting, research on funding opportunities, and overall award project management. A collaborative approach, excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and exceptional interpersonal skills are essential. 

Responsibilities

Pre-award administration:

• Coordinate proposal teams by creating timelines, scheduling meetings, and tracking progress
• Create and format supporting materials (e.g., letters of support, biosketches, charts and graphics, references)
• Provide guidance to staff in understanding applicable award policies and procedures, and ensure compliance
• Draft and edit content as needed
• Manage submission of grant proposals through online portals

Post-award administration: 

• Manage the reporting calendar for federal grants and contracts
• Coordinate, edit, and submit grant reports in collaboration with program and evaluation colleagues
• Coordinate and submit requests for no-cost extensions and other amendments
• Provide guidance to staff in understanding applicable award management policies and procedures, and ensure compliance

General responsibilities:

• Gain and maintain an understanding of VentureWell history, programs, and impact, and follow relevant trends 
• Communicate and coordinate internally to ensure that relevant stakeholders have the information they need about funding opportunities
• Ensure that information is captured accurately in our database and systems
• Contribute to development strategy, team goals, and organizational initiatives

Experience in pre-award and post-award administration of federal grants and contracts is required. Knowledge of the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of State, and/or the Department of Energy grant procedures is strongly preferred.

Other areas of expertise that we value include nonprofit program implementation, project management, writing, DEI, and climate/sustainability. Experience in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship is helpful but not essential. 

What You Bring:

• Experience coordinating successful federal grant proposals
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Exceptional written communication skills
• Ability to form strong working relationships with colleagues of all levels
• Ability to manage projects of varying types and scopes, collaborating throughout and delivering exceptional results
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities with tight and sometimes overlapping deadlines, working autonomously yet consultatively 
• A highly collaborative, team-focused approach
• Fluency with current technology, including Google and MS products, CRM software, and Zoom; ability and willingness to learn new tools and systems quickly
• Flexibility, unflappability, and humor 

Across the Board, VentureWell Staff:

• Are able to succeed and thrive in an environment with competing and changing priorities and tight deadlines
• Have track records of and ability to build solid collaborative working relationships, and are proven team players who enjoy a “customer service” orientation to collaboration
• Are committed to embedding equity in our internal practices and culture and in our programs in order to live and achieve our mission
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity
• Are curious and committed to issues of environmental sustainability
• Are self-starters with excellent attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work 
• Are active learners who independently learn new tools and work processes quickly
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills

Our Benefits:

• An attractive and equitable compensation package, including: 
• a salary range of $70,000-$80,000 commensurate with experience and internal equity
• 403 (b) with 200% match up to a maximum contribution from VentureWell of 10% when the employee puts it 5% (eligible after one year of service for the match)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• $1,000 home office stipend upon hire

• A true focus on work-life balance with work weeks that reflect that
• It’s our aim for our employees in this position to not work more than a 35-hour workweek, with the exception for big proposals and other busy times
• 20 paid vacation days PLUS the week off between Christmas and New Years
• 12 paid wellness days 

What We Offer:

• A culture where people work intentionally and collaboratively in pursuit of our mission  
• Values we believe in
• A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

About VentureWell: 

At VentureWell, it is our mission to cultivate an ecosystem of diverse entrepreneurs and innovators who are developing science-and technology-based solutions to the world’s most intractable challenges in areas like biotechnology, healthcare, and sustainable energy and materials. We aim to create spaces that increase access to education, employment, and entrepreneurial pathways for historically marginalized communities.

We foster collaboration among the best minds from research labs, classrooms, and beyond to advance innovation and entrepreneurship education and to provide unique opportunities for STEM students and researchers to fully realize their potential. The innovations developed by the 5,000+ early-stage innovator teams that have benefitted from our funding and training have reached millions of people across the globe and the resulting 2,900+ ventures have raised over $3.8 billion in investment funding.

We aspire to create an inclusive organization where each unique member of our community can learn, develop, and flourish. We know that diverse views and ideas lead to better work, which is why we celebrate our differences, value intentional inclusion, and center equity. We are committed to hiring talented, unique team members with diverse perspectives and experiences who can be their authentic selves at work. We want and encourage people across a multitude of backgrounds to apply and join us on this journey. 

Our teams are open to new ideas, embrace change, and are eager to make an impact on the world. Meet the VentureWell team.