Operation Food Search
Director of Grants Development
Operation Food Search, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63146
Director of Grants Development
Join to apply for the Director of Grants Development role at Operation Food Search.
About Operation Food Search Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long‑term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission Heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger‑free tomorrow.
Our Vision A region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals
Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high‑quality nutrition through our distribution network.
Empower long‑term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
Champion change through advocacy, innovative programs, and by addressing systemic inequities.
Position Summary Operation Food Search is looking for a passionate and experienced Director of Grants to manage a portfolio of $3 million+ in grant funding annually to support OFS’s emergency food, mobile farmers market, community nutrition, food‑as‑medicine programs, and other initiatives. The Director of Grants reports to the Chief Development Officer, supervises a Grants Specialist, and works closely with programs, leadership, and other development staff. The position requires a blend of strategic planning, grant‑writing expertise, financial acumen, and leadership skills to effectively manage the grant‑seeking process and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.
Essential Functions Lead the Grants Cycle
Collaborating with staff to develop grant revenue projections annually during budget planning, tracking, researching, writing and submitting grant applications and reports, managing stewardship, creating grant budgets, monitoring grant compliance, outcomes, and deliverables, and submitting reports and reimbursement requests.
Grants Development
Working across OFS departments, provide strategic leadership to identify, cultivate, and develop grant relationships in support of OFS program priorities.
Conduct research to vet the applicability of new funding opportunities and outreach to funding agency staff to discuss funding program interests.
Lead development of grant funding strategies for complex projects.
Develop engagement strategies to grow organization revenue from a grant portfolio of corporate, foundation, and government donors through participation in program meetings and periodic individual program strategy meetings.
Collaborate with development staff to engage new and existing corporate, foundation, and institutional partners to enhance relationships through grants, events sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, and in‑kind donations.
Gather information and support leadership in making recommendations for improving grantmaking processes, including identifying issues and implementing approved changes.
Grant Proposal and Report Writing
Manage the lifecycle of funding proposals and reports, ensuring timely submissions at each step.
Funders include private foundations, corporations, and local, state, and federal government entities.
Manage production and/or assembly of associated documents, including preparation of grant budgets, outcome forms, donor lists, receipts, and data collection.
Grants Management
Work with Grants Specialist to track grants, reports, contracts, and awards in grant software, create a grant response database, and keep it timely and relevant.
Communicate details of grant awards with associated program, finance, and development staff toward appropriate and timely funds expenditure and reporting.
Coordinate with program staff periodically about upcoming proposals/reports; Chief Financial Officer about budget development/actual expenses; and Data Strategy Manager to compile program‑related goals and actual outcomes data.
Partner cross‑functionally with Finance, Operations, and Program team members to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures governing grants and sponsored programs, including federal and state guidelines, and oversee the timely submission of required reports, documentation, and reimbursement requests.
Supports OFS in government grant audits.
Stewardship
Partner with the Chief Development Officer, senior management, and communications staff to lead corporate, foundation, and government stewardship, including cultivation meetings, social/media recognition, verbiage for acknowledgement letters, and mid‑year follow up as appropriate to provide additional stewardship touches.
Staff Supervision
Hire, train, motivate, supervise, and complete annual performance reviews for the Grant Specialist.
Requirements Education and Experience
A bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s Degree and Certified Fund‑Rescuing Executive (CFRE) and/or Grants Professional Certification (GPC) credentials are strong pluses.
A minimum of 10 years of experience with increasing responsibilities in research, writing, and grants management for non‑profit organizations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Strategic thinking with the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects and deadlines independently with purpose and accuracy under tight deadlines.
Clear, precise, and compelling writing skills.
Demonstrated ability to write successful grant proposals and develop budgets.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport, communicate persuasively, and negotiate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Detail‑oriented, organized, deadline‑driven.
Strong knowledge of St. Louis area foundations and corporations.
Experience in using a customer relationship management (CRM) system is required.
Strong computer skills with MS Office.
Special Requirements
Occasional travel required for meetings, events, and conferences.
Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after‑hours or weekend activities.
Willingness to volunteer for other OFS duties that don’t fall under regular job duties.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Sedentary inside office work with limited exposure to weather conditions.
Ability to stand for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors.
Benefits – FT Positions
Medical, dental and vision coverage.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
401(k) retirement plan.
Vacation and sick time, paid holidays.
Short and long‑term disability income.
Company paid term life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
Voluntary employee paid term life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
Employee assistance program.
Wellness support.
Potential for student loan forgiveness, if qualified.
To Apply Please submit your application and include your resume and cover letter.
Location 1644 Lotsie Blvd., Overland, MO 63132
Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.
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About Operation Food Search Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long‑term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission Heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger‑free tomorrow.
Our Vision A region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals
Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high‑quality nutrition through our distribution network.
Empower long‑term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
Champion change through advocacy, innovative programs, and by addressing systemic inequities.
Position Summary Operation Food Search is looking for a passionate and experienced Director of Grants to manage a portfolio of $3 million+ in grant funding annually to support OFS’s emergency food, mobile farmers market, community nutrition, food‑as‑medicine programs, and other initiatives. The Director of Grants reports to the Chief Development Officer, supervises a Grants Specialist, and works closely with programs, leadership, and other development staff. The position requires a blend of strategic planning, grant‑writing expertise, financial acumen, and leadership skills to effectively manage the grant‑seeking process and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.
Essential Functions Lead the Grants Cycle
Collaborating with staff to develop grant revenue projections annually during budget planning, tracking, researching, writing and submitting grant applications and reports, managing stewardship, creating grant budgets, monitoring grant compliance, outcomes, and deliverables, and submitting reports and reimbursement requests.
Grants Development
Working across OFS departments, provide strategic leadership to identify, cultivate, and develop grant relationships in support of OFS program priorities.
Conduct research to vet the applicability of new funding opportunities and outreach to funding agency staff to discuss funding program interests.
Lead development of grant funding strategies for complex projects.
Develop engagement strategies to grow organization revenue from a grant portfolio of corporate, foundation, and government donors through participation in program meetings and periodic individual program strategy meetings.
Collaborate with development staff to engage new and existing corporate, foundation, and institutional partners to enhance relationships through grants, events sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, and in‑kind donations.
Gather information and support leadership in making recommendations for improving grantmaking processes, including identifying issues and implementing approved changes.
Grant Proposal and Report Writing
Manage the lifecycle of funding proposals and reports, ensuring timely submissions at each step.
Funders include private foundations, corporations, and local, state, and federal government entities.
Manage production and/or assembly of associated documents, including preparation of grant budgets, outcome forms, donor lists, receipts, and data collection.
Grants Management
Work with Grants Specialist to track grants, reports, contracts, and awards in grant software, create a grant response database, and keep it timely and relevant.
Communicate details of grant awards with associated program, finance, and development staff toward appropriate and timely funds expenditure and reporting.
Coordinate with program staff periodically about upcoming proposals/reports; Chief Financial Officer about budget development/actual expenses; and Data Strategy Manager to compile program‑related goals and actual outcomes data.
Partner cross‑functionally with Finance, Operations, and Program team members to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures governing grants and sponsored programs, including federal and state guidelines, and oversee the timely submission of required reports, documentation, and reimbursement requests.
Supports OFS in government grant audits.
Stewardship
Partner with the Chief Development Officer, senior management, and communications staff to lead corporate, foundation, and government stewardship, including cultivation meetings, social/media recognition, verbiage for acknowledgement letters, and mid‑year follow up as appropriate to provide additional stewardship touches.
Staff Supervision
Hire, train, motivate, supervise, and complete annual performance reviews for the Grant Specialist.
Requirements Education and Experience
A bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s Degree and Certified Fund‑Rescuing Executive (CFRE) and/or Grants Professional Certification (GPC) credentials are strong pluses.
A minimum of 10 years of experience with increasing responsibilities in research, writing, and grants management for non‑profit organizations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Strategic thinking with the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects and deadlines independently with purpose and accuracy under tight deadlines.
Clear, precise, and compelling writing skills.
Demonstrated ability to write successful grant proposals and develop budgets.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport, communicate persuasively, and negotiate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Detail‑oriented, organized, deadline‑driven.
Strong knowledge of St. Louis area foundations and corporations.
Experience in using a customer relationship management (CRM) system is required.
Strong computer skills with MS Office.
Special Requirements
Occasional travel required for meetings, events, and conferences.
Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after‑hours or weekend activities.
Willingness to volunteer for other OFS duties that don’t fall under regular job duties.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Sedentary inside office work with limited exposure to weather conditions.
Ability to stand for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors.
Benefits – FT Positions
Medical, dental and vision coverage.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
401(k) retirement plan.
Vacation and sick time, paid holidays.
Short and long‑term disability income.
Company paid term life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
Voluntary employee paid term life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
Employee assistance program.
Wellness support.
Potential for student loan forgiveness, if qualified.
To Apply Please submit your application and include your resume and cover letter.
Location 1644 Lotsie Blvd., Overland, MO 63132
Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.
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