Department: Development

Employment Class: Part-time Regular

Expected Hours: Up to 20 hours/week

Start Date: April 1, 2020

Reports To: Development Director

At Keystone Science School, we believe that the power of inspiring curiosity and critical thinking, through the lens of science, changes lives and strengthens communities. We create future leaders who can problem solve and work together in an ever-evolving world and workplace environment.

Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Keystone Science School’s historic campus serves as base camp for our diverse suite of inquiry-based learning programs. We combine hands-on science education with outdoor adventure to create engaging experiences for our students. At KSS, we change lives, we bring fun and laughter to everything we do, we care about each other and those we serve, we strive for excellence, we offer competitive compensation and generous benefits, and we are committed to serving students from diverse backgrounds. We’re proud to be Summit County’s #1 Best Non-Profit and #2 Best Place to Work (2019)! Visit​ KeystoneScienceSchool.org to learn more!

Program Overview and Job Summary

Keystone Science School’s strong brand is built on a longstanding reputation of providing high-quality educational and character-building programs to youth and adults for over 40 years. A key element to our success is in our capacity to fundraise through grant writing and strong relationships with generous individuals. The Grants and Evaluations Manager works in partnership with the program team, Development Director, and volunteers to effectively write grant proposals and reports. The most successful candidate in this position will bring passion for our mission and will be adept at communicating KSS’s impact to a wide variety of audiences. Two key strengths we seek in the ideal candidate are exceptional communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, as well as a strong understanding of and skillset for grant and evaluation management. 

Keystone Science School invites candidates to apply who are energetic, enthusiastic, smart, hard-working, and fun. Our tagline, Science. Adventure. Fun! summarizes what we seek in our employees: passionate about our work, willing to seek adventure and take risks to improve KSS, and able to laugh along the way. The Grants and Evaluations Manager will oversee an important revenue stream for the sustainability of KSS and as such, must be dedicated to the work while maintaining a good sense of humor. We work hard so we can play hard!

Main areas of focus:

• 70% Grant management;
• 30% Evaluation management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Grant Management

• Work within and assist with managing the system for ensuring grants and reports are written and submitted on time and in partnership with the Development Director, Director of Programs and Operations, and Program Managers;
• Draft and review grants to obtain funding for programs and operations;
• Research of grant proposals to new funders and partner with the Development Director to draft, review, and submit proposals to expand KSS’s funding and provide additional financial support to programs and operations.

Evaluation Management

• Partner with program team to obtain pertinent evaluation and impact data in an organized and timely manner for effective grant reporting and to fulfill grant requirements;
• Provide support to Program Managers, as needed, in drafting effective evaluations that meet grant requirements;
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Minimum Requirements

• Exceptional and effective verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to efficiently write grants in a timely manner;
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills;
• Possess a disciplined process of skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, and evaluating information;
• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete;
• Ability to build collaborative relationships among staff;
• Manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment;
• Demonstrated ability to increase productivity and continuously improve methods, approaches, and departmental contribution;
• Committed to continuous learning;
• Demonstrated ability to see the big picture to provide useful advice across the organization.

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university;
• Minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience;
• Current First Aid and CPR certification or ability to obtain within 60 days of employment;
• Excellent driving record and a valid driver’s license;
• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check.

Preferred Skillsets

• Desired computer skills include proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), experience managing a donor database (DonorPerfect preferred), familiarity with QuickBooks (non-profit accounting version);
• Comprehension of the Spanish language via written and/or verbal form.

Physical Demands of this Position

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or hold objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit for extended periods of time, stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

This position requires the employee to work in close contact with his/her teammates. The office space is open and the employee must have the ability to stay focused while others are working in close proximity. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Keystone Science School is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.