Philanthropy Specialist Chief of Staff

Under limited supervision, performs extensive writing, editing, and strategic communication to support philanthropic projects. Must exercise accurate judgment in analyzing information, editing and proofreading. This position reports to the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Philanthropy on the Chief of Staff’s team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Writes and reviews grant and donation proposals, including preparing narratives, budgets, presentations, research, and letters of support.
• Provides technical assistance for grant implementation, including reviewing grant reports with district and school project teams for federal, state, and private funders.
• Reviews and summarizes complex federal, state and private funding opportunities into succinct synopses, often on quick turnaround.
• Writes and edits strategic communications, including summaries and analyses, talking points, presentations, explanatory memos, and meeting summaries.
• Completes technical review of proposals, analyses, and other documentation for content accuracy, style, grammar and punctuation.
• Plans, creates, and schedules content to share grant and crowdfunding opportunities through GCS newsletters, website, and social media

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs other duties as assigned

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in philanthropy, nonprofit management, communications, journalism, or a related field. Three or more years of experience in grant writing preferred, or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint and
SharePoint.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines and equipment, including computers, copiers, calculators, overhead projectors, cameras, etc. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments and/or directions to assistants or subordinates.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read correspondence, reports, forms, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, handbooks, etc., using proper format. Requires the ability to talk to groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, diagrammatic or schedule form.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate efficiently and effectively in standard English.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to determine percentages and decimals; and to apply the principles of statistics.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking; expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Key Competencies: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Fund development:

• Knowledge of fundraising, grant and proposal writing.
• Capacity to manage deadline projects effectively.
• Ability to lead goal-focused proposal development meetings.

Analytical and Communications Skillsets:

• Strong skills in interpersonal communications, developing and giving presentations, public speaking, communications planning and project management.
• Ability to craft messaging for a variety of audience
• Superior writing and editing skills using a variety of formats (electronic and print).
• Knowledge of, and willingness to learn, Associated Press and American Psychological Association style.
• Ability to synthesize complex information quickly and create presentations in multiple formats (written, Power Point, web-based).
• Knowledge of Excel for developing budgets, contact lists, and other information.

Team Leadership:

• Self-starter with the ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in a variety of work situations.
• Reflect, accurately assess own strengths and growth areas, solicit and receive feedback, and seek growth opportunities.

Influence and Communication:

• Ability to influence and engage various stakeholders in various settings including leaders, employees and public.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships on behalf of district administration.
•  Build positive relationships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to conduct effective group facilitation and consensus building.

Organizational Effectiveness and Project Management:

• Ability to develop and follow standard operating procedures to improve organizational efficiency.
• Ability to use a variety of office machines (i.e., computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs).
• Continuous approach to learning to expand and improve skills

Works with other departmental staff on projects such as representation of the school system to various organizations, staff meetings, general office reports, and general information sharing.

DISCLAIMER
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.