Senior Development Manager

Position Overview

TFFJ seeks a mission-driven, enthusiastic, and very detail-oriented individual to serve as our Senior Development Manager. This person will write grants; collaborate closely with our Executive team, specifically our Deputy Director, to identify new corporate, foundation, and government grant opportunities; and work with our Finance, Executive, and Marketing teams to manage TFFJ’s portfolio of funding from city, state, and federal government sources, foundations, and corporations, with a large focus on government funding. 

This role will ensure that the funding for TFFJ’s curricular day, afterschool, and food distribution programming is effectively managed, monitored, and reported on to relevant third parties. This position will also work closely with TFFJ’s Program and Farm teams to collect and manage performance data related to grants and contracts and will assist our Program, Communications, and Executive teams in monitoring progress and compliance. Further, this role will be responsible for cultivating and managing TFFJ’s individual donors and for establishing systems and processes for doing so, including by launching TFFJ’s first CRM system. 

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Grant Writing and Prospecting

Researches institutional and corporate funding prospects and strategizes approaches for proposals that will support existing and developing TFFJ program components Prepares/writes letters of inquiry and grant proposals for a variety of funders Develops project management structures enabling all stakeholders to provide proposal information, and coordinates writing, draft review, approval, and grant submission Manages and coordinates grant renewal timelines, grant calendars, and grant content input across the organization Maintains and updates TFFJ’s grant boilerplate document and accompanying data sources Liaises with institutional funders as needed

Grants & Contracts Administration 

Works with TFFJ’s Finance, Communications, and Executive teams to launch and subsequently manage TFFJ’s fundraising CRM system  Responsible for submission and implementation of grants and contracts for TFFJ’s funders at city, state, and federal levels Works with the Finance team to:
Establish grant budgets and allocate grant spending by program, personnel, and supply purchases Track grant fund spending on an ongoing basis to ensure budget allocations are met Support invoicing and collection of grants and government contract payments Report all grant fee schedules changes and update them monthly Notify the executive team of changes and variances per TFFJ grant management policies
Manages all grant contracts and fee schedules using contract management and billing software

Grants & Contracts Reporting

Writes and submits accurate reports on deadline for all TFFJ grants and contracts  Is responsible for communicating funding requirements to Farm, Marketing, and Program team managers Collects program and grant performance data from Program Team to ensure that programs meet promised outcomes; quickly updates the Executive team if goal adjustments need to be made with a funder Works with the Farm and Program teams to gather grant and contract reporting information Maintains the calendar of all TFFJ grant and contract reporting deadlines

Grants & Contracts Management

Submits and maintains all documentation related to grants and contracts, including backup documentation, work orders, and maintenance of updated records in all electronic portals

Responsible for timely dissemination of foundation and donor acknowledgment letters and other forms of acknowledgment as needed Establishes and implements internal systems to organize and track progress toward grant and contract goals for reporting purposes Manages all activity related to government funding Supports activity related to grant research, marketing, financial analysis, as well as communication with current and potential partners and funders. Ensures that all TFFJ licenses and permits are updated across funder portals Maintains compliance with all company policies and procedures as well as those of local, state, and federal jurisdictions and authorities with which TFFJ does business and has contracts

Required Qualifications and Competencies

Bachelor’s degree and/or 5 years of experience in a related field Working-to-expert knowledge of New York City, New York State, and Federal government contracting processes, portals, and forms Proficiency using fundraising CRM platforms (i.e., Salesforce, Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge)  Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with internal and external audiences Extensive experience with contract compliance Demonstrated ability to prioritize work and keep multiple projects moving in a timely manner while adhering to deadlines Keen attention to detail Excellent research and organizational skills Strong ability to collaborate and communicate across teams Demonstrated ability to measure and reach funding goals Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills Proficiency in using, managing, and organizing Google Drive shared folder architecture Proficiency using Google Office Suite and MS Office (Word and Excel)

Position Type: Full-time, salaried

Reports To: CEO and Deputy Director

Hours: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm, Monday - Friday

Location: Flexible; TFFJ is currently operating in a hybrid model of remote and in-person hours

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: Please note that TFFJ requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for religious or medical exemption will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Organizational Overview

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is a 501c3 nonprofit fighting food insecurity and diet-related disease through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming, providing local, sustainably-grown produce to food desert communities and building health equity for all New Yorkers and beyond. TFFJ works within Title I middle and high schools in food deserts, training students to maintain indoor hydroponic farms growing thousands of pounds of produce annually that is served at school lunch and distributed to surrounding communities. Further, students learn nutrition and health skills to share with peers/neighbors, leading themselves and others towards healthier futures.   

TFFJ embraces inclusivity and wants our employees to be as diverse and multifaceted as the communities in which we operate. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but also our reputation and the organization's achievements.

TFFJ’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and diversity applies to all aspects of employment: recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; and terminations. TFFJ does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, unemployed status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. 

To apply, please email a resume and a cover letter to work@teensforfoodjustice.org. Include the words “Senior Development Manager” in the subject.